Glossary 

A

ABRAISON RESISTANCE
The degree to which a floor tile’s surface will with-stand friction i.e. the wear of foot traffic

ADHESIVE
Cement based mortar, readymixed, epoxy or polymer modified materials used  to install tiles.  The choice of the adhesive is determined by the selection of tile and the requirements of the installation to be tiled. 
 

B

BALCONIES
Due to the complexity of this subject call the Biscem helpline on: 01924 362081

BED
The layer of mortar or adhesive that the tiles are to be laid into.  See Thin, Thick & Solid bed.

BISQUE OR BUISCUIT
The structural portion of the tile, the mixture or the material from which the body of the tile is made.

BS 5385-3:2003
Wall and floor tiling — Part 3: Code of practice for the design and installation of internal and external ceramic floor tiles and mosaics in normal conditions.

BUTTERING
Applying adhesive directly to the back of the tile to provide additional coverage when achieving a solid bed.
  

C

CERAMIC TILES
A flat cladding or building material of relative thinness, composed of  clays and fired to a hardness.  The surface may be glazed or unglazed.

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
The ability of grout, tile or adhesive to withstand damage from chemicals. acids, alkalis and swimming pool salts.

CLAY
A natural earthen material, plastic when wet.  The basic raw material for ceramic tiles.

CONDUCTIVE TILES
Tiles specially manufactured to absorb electrostatic charges and conduct them to ground. Mainly used in hospital operating theatres and computer installations. 

CONSTRUCTION JOINT
The surface where two successive layers of concrete meet
  
COTTO
See Terracotta

CRAZING
The fine hairline cracking which sometimes appears on the face of a glazed tile.  Usually caused by the tensile stress between the tile body and glaze. With certain ranges this may be produced for artistic effect.

CURING
Process allowing new tile installations to set.
  

D

DUST PRESSED TILES
Tiles produced by the dust pressed method in which the finely milled raw materials are shaped in moulds at high pressure before firing.

DEFLECTION
Vertical movement within the substrate. If there is excessive  deflection within the installation  the adhesive may remain adhered but  raised stresses may be  large enough to crack the brittle tile surface.
  

E

EFFLORESSENCE
A crystalline deposit that sometimes appears on the surface of grout joints or unglazed tiles as a whitish powder or crust, caused by the moisture reacting with the impurities in the mortar.

EPOXY RESIN
A resin used in mortars to produce water flooring proof adhesive and grouts of high strength and chemical resistance.  See Biscem Speed-E-poxy.  Biscem have a range of epoxy products to suit most ceramic and soft flooring applications.

EXPANSION JOINT
See Movement Joints

EXTERIOR TILES
Tiles suitable for outdoor applications because of their resistance to very low temperatures and high humidity.

EXTRUDED TILES
Tiles formed by the extruded method where the still malleable plastic raw material is forced through a mould and then cut into shape before firing.
 

F

FAIENCE TILES
A highly decorated glazed earthenware tile.

FIRE RESISTANCE
The ability to withstand burning by flame. Ceramic tiles are fireproof at any temperature and will not feed a fire or release any toxic emissions

FIRING
The  final stage of tile manufacture where the raw materials are baked at high temperature to harden the body and glaze. Fully vitrified tiles are fired in excess of 1250ºC.

FLAT BACK TILES
Tiles without buttons on their back.

FLOATING FLOOR
A floor constructed of a foam insulation layer covered by tongue and groove/ interlocking chipboard or plywood. Due to the complexity of this subject call the Biscem helpline on 01924 362081

FLOOR TILES
Glazed or unglazed or natural stone tiles of sufficient strength, impact and abrasion resistance to withstand the weight and wear of foot traffic.

FROSTPROOF TILES
See Exterior tiles   

FULLY VITRIFIED TILES & STONEWARE
Dust pressed ceramic tiles with water absorbs ion levels of <0.5% and high mechanical and chemical characteristics.  The surface of these tiles may be glazed or unglazed. Porcelain tiles are fired at 1300ºC where ceramics are fired at only 1250ºC.  Also see Vitrified and Semi-Vitrified.
 

G

GLASS MOSAIC
Mosaic tiles composed of glass, rather than ceramic material. The mosaics face is usually coated with a layer of coloured or transparent glass.

GLASS TILES
Tiles composed of glass, rather than ceramic material.  The  body of the tile is made of  coloured or transparent glass.  The backs may be painted with a special coating.

GLAZE
The glassy coating fired on a ceramic tile surface.

GRANITE
In the tile industry the term Granite is used to describe a whole variety of dense course to medium grained igneous rocks.

GREEN SCREED
Term used for a cementitious screed that has not fully cured.

GROUT
Materials specifically manufactured to fill the joints between tiles. See Product guide.

GROUT JOINT
Space left between tiles to be filled with grout.  This space my be narrow or wide depending on the required installation and / or it’s aesthetics.
 

H

HDF
High density fibre board, in most cases not suitable to receive ceramic tiling. Call the Biscem helpline on: 01924 362081

HANDMADE/ PRESSED TILES
Special tiles pressed by hand into moulds for a decorative effect.
  

I

IMPACT RESISTANCE
The ability of a ceramic tile to resist breakage.  Either throughout the body of as surface chipping. In general a ceramic tile is not the most resilient material due to the result of a heavy blow. Glazed tiles are more susceptible to surface chipping than unglazed, fully vitrified and porcelain tiles.

ISO
International Standards Organisation
  

J

JOINTS
See Grout joints and expansion joints.
 

L

LATEX SCREED
Latex screeds are generally used to even out rough textures in sub bases and can be laid from as little as 1mm to as much as 30 mm in conjunction with a bulking aggregate. 

Designed for fast track application they can be covered after 24 hours with impermeable coverings such as tiles. The screed should be sound, clean and free from loose deposits of dirt, dust, grease and residual adhesives.  If the latex screed is an old recently uncovered screed and is dusting or the porosity is high priming will be required. 

Use Biscem Flexibond at a dilution rate of 1 : 5 - 6 parts clean water or LFP5 and apply using a mop or brush.  Coverage would depend on porosity and regularity of the surface.  Drying period would be best judged on site, this would also depend on temperature and humidity.

LIMESTONE
A sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcite.  Most Limestone’s are hard enough to mechanically ground to a polished finish. 

LIPPAGE
In the finished installation, the condition where the edge of a tile or substrates is higher than the adjacent one. This may be unavoidable for certain types of tiles.
 

M

MDF
A medium density fibre board in most cases not suitable to receive ceramic tiling.  Call the Biscem helpline: on 01924 362081

MARBLE
A metamorphosed limestone in which calcium forms the greater part and other minerals in the minor quantity gives it  colour and decorative features. For internal use only in the UK. 

MOSAIC TILES
Tiles are generally defined by their size, mosaics tend to be less than 6’’ square. Their composition is the same as a ceramic tile and they may be glazed or unglazed on a mesh or as single tiles, clay, glass, vitrified or fully vitrified.

MOVEMENT JOINT
A movement  joint is a stress relieving profile, compensating for the movement of tiles.  The joint should be able to cope with the stresses which may occur within the tiled installation as a result of drying shrinkage, thermal or moisture movement.  The Architect or Structural Engineer should have incorporated movement joints at the design stage.

Generally with larger floors the tiling will be divided up into  sections (bays) and movement joints placed  approximately  every 8 - 10m. On walls at all internal vertical corners  and at 3 - 4.5m centres vertically & horizontally.
Movement joints should be located in the tiling installation to coincide and be continuous with all existing structural movement joints, although they will actually be formed as separate joints isolated by a suitable thickness of back-up materials.  Essentially, any movement joints within the substrate should be followed through to the surface. 

In addition to movement joints to coincide with those in the concrete sub-base the Designer will normally specify that additional movement joints within the tiling be positioned at the following locations:

• Over existing structural movement joints.
• Where tiling abuts other materials.
• Where tiling is continuous across a junction of different materials or backgrounds.
• In large tiled areas and at all vertical internal corners and at 3m to 4.5m centres vertically and horizontally.
• Where any stresses are likely to be concentrated.
• Where large degrees of thermal movement or vibrations could be experienced

Also known as expansion joints.
 

N

NARROW JOINT GROUT
Cementitious grout with joint width from 1 to 3mm

NON VITRIOUS TILES
Tiles with a water absorbsion level of >6%

NOTCHED TROWELS
The use of a suitably notched trowel will improve adhesion and create an adequate bed of adhesive Biscem have arrange of notch trowels to suit most tiling applications . Call the Biscem helpline: on 01924 362081
  

P

PENCIL TILES
Narrow rectangular tiles sometimes with rounded surfaces , used on walls as accent pieces . Also known as Cigar tiles.

PORCELAIN TILES & STONEWARE
Dust pressed ceramic tiles with water absorbsion levels of <0.5% and high mechanical and chemical characteristics.  The surface of these tiles may be glazed or unglazed.

PRIMING
Prime  surfaces to be tiled with Biscem Flexibond at the standard dilution ratio of 1 : 5 - 6 parts clean water.
 

Q

QUARRY TILES
The traditional term for single extruded natural clay tiles usually not exceeding 6% water absorption. 
 

R

REINFORCED DECOUPLING MATTING SYSTEM
An underlay for floor coverings that consists of a perforated and specially formed plastic film reinforced with a fibreglass mesh.  When used as an underpayment for tiles floor coverings using the thin-bed method it decouples the floor covering from the substrate . Humidity in the substrate is ventilated via the channels formed in the matting.   
 

S

SAND CEMENT RENDER
Cement sand plasters are the preferred surface to receive ceramic wall tiles.  In the ceramic tile industry these materials are traditionally termed renders to distinguish them from gypsum based plasters, which must be treated very differently.  As with all other cementitious materials, cement based plasters must be treated differently depending upon whether they are old existing materials or new build.  For new build a plaster is often required to improve the regularity of masonry to a condition where it can appropriately receive ceramic tiling.

SANDSTONE
A sedimentary rock quartz (silica) grains.

SCREEDING
Levelling the substrate with cement based or latex screeds before tiling commences.

SEALING
Biscem Flexibond at the standard dilution ratio of 1 : 5 - 6 parts clean water, but this operation must be repeated until there is no suction at the plaster surface ( generally 4 coats minimum). 

SLATE
A dense rock produced by metamorphosis of fine-grained sedimentary silts, mudstones and marls.  Slates are characterised by distinct cleavage planes, which allow the rock to be split into thin, smooth sheets.  These can be supplied in many colours as cut tiles or slabs with a smooth finish. 

SPACERS
Small plastic pieces used during installation to maintain an even joint width between tiles.

SUBSTRATE
Base on to which the tiling installation is to be fixed.

SWIMMING POOL GRADE ADHESIVES & GROUTS
Due to the complexity of this subject call the Biscem helpline on: 01924 362081
 

T

TANKING SYSTEMS
Waterproofing, damp proofing materials.  See Bis-Watertite waterproofing kits. For more information on this subject call the Biscem helpline: on 01924 362081.  Also see Waterproofing.

TERRACOTTA or COTTO
Traditional Italian raw material to produce unglazed, red body tiles generally extruded at ½’’ thick or more.  The surface may be rustic, smooth, polished, oiled or waxed for lustre.

TERRAZZO
Produced from varying sizes of aggregate (marble or granite) set into white OPC cement, ground, polished to give the desired finish. May also be available in a resin binder also as tiles or can be laid insitu.

THIN BED
For the thin bed method of application the adhesive should be applied to the substrate using the flat edged side  of the trowel.  A thin coat at a uniform thickness of about 3mm is spread then ribbed using the notched side. The tiles should then be pressed in to the ribbed adhesive, with a slight twisting action within the open time of the adhesive. In situations where the installation is subjected to frequent or occasional wetting, and areas of high humidity the adhesive should be applied as a solid bed by spreading the adhesive in a thin layer, or alternatively, as a ribbed bed, but to ensure solid bedding a thin coating may be buttered over the backs of the tiles before fixing. 

THICKBED
For thick areas or with uneven thickness of tiles such as slates and natural stone, consideration should be given to the use of a Pourable Thick Bed adhesive such as Vitri-flow where the adhesive can be laid in a single application up to a thickness of 25mm.  This will help in giving full coverage in awkward positions or with uneven tiles. For thick bed application in the case of surfaces that are not sufficiently true or flat  to permit thin bed fixing  traditional floor adhesives may be applied as a floated 3-6mm thickness not exceeding 12mm. 

TILE BACKER BOARDS
Tile backer boards consist of an extruded hard foam coated on both sides with a fibreglass reinforced mesh layer of special mortar.  They are particularly suitable where any exposure to moisture is expected e.g.  splashbacks and around showers, baths etc.  All recommendations given by the board manufacturer should be followed, though in general, when fixing to timber frames or batons, 12.5mm board should be specified as a minimum thickness and ring nails or screws must be used to positively fix the boards over the complete area.  Ensure that the boards are rigid and the fixings do not protrude.  Backer Boards fixed by adhesives should be allowed to stand for a minimum period of 10 days prior to the commencement of tiling. Always follow the manufacturers installation recommendations.

TRAVERTINE
Travertine is a limestone formed as a result of the precipitation of calcite from the surface of ground water. The name Travertine is also used to describe beige linear veined and pitted marbles
 

U

UNDERFLOOR HEATING
Heated screeds or electrical elements laid underneath tiles or hot water pipes within a screed. Always follow the manufacturers installation recommendations.  Due to the complexity of this subject please call the Biscem helpline on: 01924 362081

UNGLAZED TILES
Tiles which are left untreated after firing and derive their colour and texture from the raw materials or may be coloured by means of oxides dispersed throughout the body of the tile.
  

V

VITRIFIED  AND SEMI-VITRIFIED TILES
Vitrified tiles can be dust pressed or extruded and have a water absorption of between 0.5 to 3%.  Semi-Vitrified  water absorption levels of 3 to 6%.The surface of both these types of  tiles may be glazed or unglazed. Also see Fully Vitrified Tiles.

VITRI TECHNOLOGY
Fully Vitrified and porcelain stoneware is manufactured to offer state of the art flooring and without question a floor covering that provides durability and superior impact resistance.

With extensive modifications in the manufacturing process in recent years these tiles have become more advanced and  their demand has increased immensely. Porcelain tiles are fired at 1300ºC but complete vitrification of the tile body occurs at 1200ºC and therefore we are fixing in real terms, an impervious tile and for this reason standard cement based adhesives do not provide the adhesion and bond strength to grab and secure the back of the tile.

To do this we need polymer modified adhesives and therefore Biscem have introduced a range of products incorporating Vitri Technology an additive included at the production stage  to enhance  performance and bond strength to alleviate the problems traditionally associated in fixing fully  vitrified tiles and porcelain stoneware.  Find out more about Biscem Vitri-Technology.
    

W

WATERPROOFING
Preparing a surface to be protected from exposure to water. In cases of high humidity such as steam rooms  power showers, wet rooms we would recommend tanking the installation with  BIS-WATERTITE.

WIDE JOINT GROUT
Cementitious grouts with widths from 3 to 15mm