Tile Principles and Installation

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the history, definitions, materials, and installation methods of tiles based on lecture notes.

tegula

The Latin word from which 'tile' is derived, meaning 'to cover.'

Mesopotamia and Egypt

Ancient civilizations where tile use dates back to around $4000$ BCE for flooring and drainage systems.

Greek Pottery

featured detailed hand-painted designs, reflected scenes from mythology, life, and nature

Mosaics

A Roman tilework technique using small colored pieces to create intricate patterns and pictures.

Islamic Artistry

Tilework featuring intricate geometric patterns, Arabesque motifs, and calligraphy, reaching new heights during the Islamic Golden Age.

Islamic Artistry

This form of art emphasizes symmetry and repetition, often showcasing vibrant colors and complex designs.

The Moors

• Occupied Spain and Portugal

• Vibrant Islamic tilework

Renaissance Elegance

• Broader range of colors and intricate details

• Symbol of elegance and sophistication

• Tile originated from ceramic clay pottery

Renaissance

Ceramic clay was left to bake and harden in the hot sun to create tiles

Ceramic clay pottery

After its creation was the invention of kiln-firing pottery

Florence

The Italian city that became the hub for tile production during the Renaissance, known for hand-painted tiles.

Chinese Artisans

Focused on ceramic vase work, decorative table wear art, and ceramic sculptures of mythical animals and deities

Encaustic tiles

Decorative tiles popular during the Victorian era featuring bold and colorful patterns, valued for their ability to be easily cleaned and sanitized.

1870

Tile industry in America began

Europe

The U.S. was almost exclusively importing tiles from other countries in _____

The Victorian era

push for cleanliness.

• Tile became a high-demand due to its ability to easily be cleaned and sanitized

Art Nouveau

A design style from the late 19th to early 20th century characterized by flowing lines and stylized nature-inspired motifs.

Art Deco

A design style from the late 19th to early 20th century featuring geometric patterns and bold colors inspired by futuristic design.

Industrial Revolution

Machinery allowed for mass production techniques. Tiles became more accessible to the public

Delft

A Dutch city famous for potters who produced huge quantities of hand-made blue and white pottery tiles between 1700 and 1900.

800 million tiles

Delft hand-made ____ over 200 years

18th Century

• Tile flooring gained popularity in Europe

• Machine pressing dry clay

Ceramic tiles

• Malleable Clay

• Fired

• Fired in a kiln

• Tiles are glazed or applied with a sealant

Digital Printing Techniques

enable the replication of intricate patterns, textures, and photographic images.

Abrasion Resistance

The measure of how a tile or surface stands up to wear and tear caused by friction, graded using the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating.

Porcelain Enamel Institute Rating

A scale from $0$ (wall applications only) to $5$ (heavy-duty floor traffic) used to measure the hardness of a tile's glaze.

Pivot-points

Specific areas, such as in front of a sink or refrigerator, where there is noticeably more wear on glazed tile products.

Absorption

The ratio of the weight of water absorbed by a tile compared to the weight of a dry tile.

Adhesive

Comprise of aggregates and bonding agents derived from either natural or synthetic sources

Biscuit

The main base structure or core of a glazed tile, typically made of clay or porcelain.

Bowing/warping

• Caused during the tile manufacturing and cooling process

• Acceptable amount is related to the size of the tile and the degree of warp across the length of the tile

Butt Join

When two tiles are installed next to each other without a grout joint

Cove

• Trim tile unit that has one edge with a concave radius

• Used to form a junction between the floor and the bottom wall courses or to form an inside corner

Crazing

Cracks in fired glazes or ceramic coatings caused by critical tensile stress from temperature changes and vibration.

Cure time

A period that a tile installation setting material must be undisturbed and allowed to set for it to reach full strength

Varies widely and is dependent on the type of compounding used and the thickness of the tile

Expansion Joint

extends through tile, mortar, and reinforcing wire to the substrate, typically found in larger tiled floors and walls.

Grout

A mixture of silica sand, cement, and chemical fix used to fill tile joints and prevent moisture from reaching the back of the tiles.

Spacers

Plastic pieces used in installation to evenly separate tiles

Tanking

A waterproofing membrane system applied to a shower enclosure before tiling to protect the underlying substrate from water penetration.

Tile density

will depend on the materials, how it is compressed, and the temperature it is fired at.

The Tile Body

The core or biscuit

Provides structural integrity and durability

Three materials are used:

• Ceramic

• Porcelain

• Natural Stone

The Glaze

Outermost layer of a tile and serves multiple functions, both practical and aesthetic

Applied to the tile’s surface

A backer board or underlayment

may be used between the subfloor and the tiles

Provides additional stability and help prevent issues like cracking or shifting

Ceramic Tiles

• Most commonly used flooring tiles

• Durable and non-porous

• Made up of silica and clay

• Fired at high temperatures

• Can be glazed and unglazed

• Stain and water-resistant

• Versatile; Can be used for kitchens and bathrooms

• Moderate foot traffic areas (living room and bedroom)

Porcelain Tiles

Tiles made from finer, denser clay and fired at higher temperatures than ceramic, resulting in a harder and less porous material.

Vitrified Tiles

Durable tiles with low water absorption and high density, available in variants like Glazed ______ Tiles (GVT), Polished GVT and Full Body Tiles.

Natural Stone Tiles

• Made of marble, granite, and travertine

• Very durable and give a raw, rustic look to walls

• Highly scratch-resistant

Travertine

porous, outdoor walls (garden), porous

Marble

decorative floorings

Glass Tiles

Thin flat tiles made of glass, available in different shades, shapes, and transparencies and does not fade in the sunlight

Carpet Tiles

• Alternative to the rolled carpet

• Often used in commercial and public buildings

Ceiling Tiles

• Lightweight and are used to cover ceilings

• Placed in a supporting grid and can provide thermal insulation

Vinyl Tiles

Can be used as an alternative to sheet flooring in spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, or in industrial spaces

Mosaic Tiles

A variety of decorative composite tiles, such as pebbles embedded in resin, glass, or metal tiles bonded onto mesh, and so on

Encaustic Cement Tiles

Developed in medieval times, these are created by dying cement tiles with mineral pigments to create intricate and bold patterns

Hardwood Tiles

Crafted from real wood like oak, maple, and walnut, to replicate the classic hardwood floor appearance

Faux Wood Tiles

• Also known as wood-look tiles

• Crafted from ceramic or porcelain, capturing the look of real wood at a more budget-friendly price

Thin-Set Over Concrete

An installation method using a layer of Portland cement, sand, and water-retaining agents approximately $3/16"$ to $1/4"$ thick.

Double Plywood Floor Method

A method using two layers of $5/8"$ exterior-grade plywood to provide stiffness for interior light-duty floors.

Thick-Bed (Mud Bed) Method

An installation method involving a mortar mixture of 1 part cement to 4-5 parts sand, applied in a layer $3/4"$ to $2"$ thick.

Cement Backer Board (CBU) Installation

an alternative to the mortar bed. It uses pre-fabricated cement or fiber-mesh boards.

Epoxy Method

A chemical-cure installation system using a resin and hardener mixed in an exact $2:1$ ratio, offering high bond strength and water resistance.

Mastic/Organic Adhesive

A pre-mixed, glue-like paste consisting of acrylic/latex resins that dries via evaporation, used primarily for dry-wall areas.

Tanking Method

A waterproofing system applied to shower enclosures before tiling to prevent water damage to the substrate.

High Traffic Areas

Areas requiring durable tiles that withstand heavy use such as kitchens and cabinets

The Double Bond Method

A tile installation technique that involves applying an adhesive on both the substrate and the back of the tile, creating a stronger bond that minimizes movement and enhances durability.

Uncoupling Method

The use of a membrane between the subfloor and tile to allow them to move independently, preventing cracks in the grout of large open areas.

Self-Leveling Underlayment (SLU)

A high-flow, polymer-modified cementitious mixture designed to be poured over uneven concrete or wood subfloors. Because it is self-leveling, the material naturally spreads to create a perfectly flat, level base, while its fast-setting properties allow for quick installation of subsequent flooring.

Ready-Mixed Adhesives (Mastics)

Pre-mixed adhesives that are glue-like pastes made primarily from acrylic or latex resins. They cure by evaporation and are commonly used for tile installations in dry-wall areas where quick application and ease of use are essential.

Powdered Adhesive (Thin-set Mortar)

A standard, cement-based adhesive for floors and heavy-duty walls that cures via chemical hydration to become waterproof and highly durable. It comes in unmodified forms (pure cement and sand) or as Large Format Mortar (LHT) to support heavy tiles without sagging.

Grout

The final layer in a tile installation that fills the joints between tiles. It provides structural support to tile edges, locks the tiles together, and creates a protective barrier that prevents water, debris, and contaminants from penetrating the joints and reaching the subfloor.

Cordless mixers

High mobility and flexible for sites without access to power

Spiral paddles

Pulls and “flips” mixture/material from the bottom up to prevent dry pockets

Lippage

A condition where the edge of one tile is higher than its neighbor, often corrected using mechanical leveling systems like T-Lock or Spin Doctor.

Trowel

An application tool with notched edges (Square, V-notch, or U-notch) used to control the mortar depth and coverage.

Suction Cups

Tools designed to safely lift, maneuver, and position large-format tiles. They utilize rubber vacuum pads with integrated pumps to create a secure grip on the tile surface.

Manufacture Errors Allowance

A standard practice of adding $10\%$ to the total number of tiles calculated to ensure sufficient supply despite breakage or bad cuts.

Furan Grout

A specialized grout made from furfuryl alcohol resins used in industrial settings requiring extreme acid resistance.

20% Extra Cost

Extra cost in estimating the cost of the tile.