Glossary

ANTIQUE

A broad term that encompasses various ageing/distressing methods used to achieve a worn look to the stone. The effect of the various antiquing methods will vary dependent upon the stone and the country of origin.

BRUSHED

A method of finishing stone that gives only slight surface texture and can give a subtly softened edge. The effect of brushing and the edge finish created can differ depending on the stone type; some may have a chipped edge finish applied.

CALIBRATED

Indicating the tiles are of a nominally uniform thickness.

COBBLE

Generally a smaller stone of greater thickness which is used externally.

CROSS-CUT

Exclusively relates to travertine indicating the blocks are cut so that the planar face of the tile is at right-angles to the predominant course of the veining.

FABRICATION

The process of creating bespoke worktops, vanity tops, bath surrounds, stair treads & risers etc. from large stone slabs.

FILLED

This term is related primarily to travertine, which is characterised by surface pits and holes. These holes can be pre-filled at source by a stone resin which is as similar as possible to the colour of the stone. Once filled the stone is then worked to a honed or polished finish. Not every single pit/hole will be completely filled, and therefore even a pre-filled travertine may require some filling by grout during the fixing process. It is not unusual for any natural stone tile to have some degree of surface fill present. Ongoing resin filling may be required as part of your maintenance regime.

FISSURE

This is a thin line of mineral veining which normally contrasts with the base colour of the stone and so can be mistaken for a crack in the tile.

FLAG

Generally used to refer to a larger stone tile of a greater thickness which can be used externally or internally.

FOSSILS

Fossils are remnants of past animals or plants. Fossils are generally found in limestones, marbles and occasionally sandstone and can take many forms.

FREE LENGTH

A laying format for tiles, where the width of the stone is static i.e. 400mm or 600mm and the lengths of the tiles vary randomly or are a mix of a minimum of two different lengths, offering a look which is reminiscent of traditional stone floors.

HERRINGBONE

A method of laying whereby tiles are laid perpendicular to each other to give a staggered ‘V’ pattern. This fixing pattern works well with small rectangular tiles but can be achieved with any rectangular tile format.

HONED

A smooth non-polished finish to the face of the stone. Edges are either straight or bevelled which gives a contemporary look.

MINERALS

One, two or more minerals combine to form rock. They are non-living solids that are found in nature and may be sensitive to prolonged exposure to moisture, giving various results. Quartz and Calcite are two of the minerals most commonly found in stone.

MOSAICS

Small pieces of stone are arranged on a mesh backing or have a plastic sheet on the face for ease of installation. The pieces can vary in size and format from squares or rectangles through to hexagons. This covering is designed to hold the pieces together during transportation and installation, so excessive handling should be avoided. Because of this method of production, nominal variation of both the pieces and spacing should be expected.

NOMINAL

A small variation from stated sizes and thicknesses which occurs due to production methods used. This variation should always be expected and can be more pronounced the larger the tile.

OCTAGON

In tile format, a large square tile that has each corner cut off in order to accommodate a smaller ‘inset’ tile, normally of a contrasting coloured material.

OPUS

A repeating modular pattern made up of at least three different tile sizes in order to give a random effect to the floor. There are various Opus patterns available in specific stones. Please note you cannot choose a stone to come in a particular Opus, a stone will come in an Opus specified by us. Please see individual product pages and Stone Layouts. NB. Where a product is available in an Opus pattern, tiles are sold to the nearest full module but priced per m².

RIVEN

A naturally cleft face which is achieved by splitting blocks of stone along natural laminations. This term usually relates to Slate, Schist, Sandstone and occasionally Limestone.

SET LENGTHS

Achievable in ranges that have several tiles which share a common width. Tiles are laid in courses of the same width and the sizes alternated to give a more random appearance.

SLAB

A large piece of stone which can be fabricated into worktops, vanity tops, bath surrounds etc.

SPLITFACE

A method of hand finishing which gives a highly textured, variegated and tactile surface. Often used as a feature wall. Splitface products come in many different materials and are available in cladding blocks and wall panels. This method of finishing is also used to give texture to the external surfaces of some stone basins.

TUMBLED

A method of ageing stone, whereby the tiles are ‘tumbled’ to give them a rounded, antique edge finish. On certain stones, this process may also leave the surface more open and slightly textured.

UNCALIBRATED

These materials vary in thickness both between tiles and across individual tiles. Normally found in Riven materials. Expected thickness variation is detailed in the sizes of the tiles. Grading is required prior to fixing and more adhesive is generally required for bedding up.

UNFILLED

This term primarily relates to travertine which is characterised by surface pits and holes. An unfilled finish leaves these holes open. Unfilled travertine will need to be ‘slurry grouted’ across the surface of the stone in order that the holes are filled. Small holes can sometimes be found in limestone and marble which can be left unfilled or filled with grout dependent on preference.

VEINING

The occurrence of irregular lines of minerals found in stone, most notably marble although it can be present in all-natural stone.

VEIN-CUT

A travertine-specific term which means the tiles or slabs are cut so that the planar surface runs parallel to the natural veins present in the stone. These striations give a banded appearance to the finished surface of the tile or slab.

CERAMIC

A tile formed from clay and fired at lower temperatures than Porcelains, usually glazed.

CRACKLE GLAZE

A unique firing method that gives a cracked and glossy surface, where no two tiles are the same. Unusually for manmade tiles, crackle glaze tiles require sealing.

CHEVRON

Chevron tiles are cut so that the short edges are at an angle, enabling them to create this on-trend ‘arrow head’ pattern. Left and right Chevrons will be supplied and should be fitted accordingly.

DECOR

Decor tiles are strikingly patterned or have an ornate shape to serve as a counterpoint to more neutral base tiles within their range.

DECORATIVE

Decorative tiles have intricate and beautiful, hand-designed patterns applied to the surface by various means.

EXTRUDED PORCELAIN

Extruded Porcelain tiles are formed by a process in which the wet clay or raw material is forced through a mould and then cut into shape before firing. As these dry out during the firing process, they can become less dimensionally consistent than pressed tiles.

GLAZED

A coloured glaze is applied to tiles prior to firing; colours range from muted neutral shades through to bold, vibrant tones.

GLOSS

A reflective lustre is applied to porcelain or decorative & glazed tiles.

MATT

A non-reflective, more natural finish applicable to porcelain, decorative or glazed tiles.

NON-RECTIFIED

Non-rectified Porcelain or Ceramic tiles are cut to size prior to the firing process. The firing process then causes expected shrinkage and warpage. These tiles are graded after firing but do not undergo any additional cutting. Because of this, greater variation in size between tiles should be expected than with a rectified tile. Sizes within ranges should not be mixed.

POLISHED

A highly reflective finish applied to a porcelain tile which offers more shine than a standard gloss finish.

RECTIFIED

This term is applied to porcelain or ceramic tiles that are cut to size after the firing process. Rectified tiles are ‘dimensionally stable’ and will exhibit little variation in the size of tiles from one production run. Tiles from different production runs will tend to exhibit greater variation and so enough tiles to complete the installation should be ordered in the first instance. Different sizes within ranges will vary significantly however so should not be mixed.

RIGATO

A mesh-backed tile designed to give the appearance of thin strips. On installation, the wall or floor will have a grooved linear appearance.

SLIP RESISTANCE

A term referring to how much grip a tile offers. This can be measured in several ways, the two most common methods being the Pendulum or Ramp test. This property is more relevant to commercial applications than residential, however, additional grip in wet areas or externally is always preferable to increase safety. This information is readily available for porcelain products.

WARPAGE

As porcelain or ceramic tiles are fired they can shrink and bow or warp. This is usual with man-made tiles but can be more pronounced with larger tiles. To avoid emphasizing this warpage, larger tiles should not be ‘brick-bonded’.