CAULKING: A flexible material used to fill corners and edges of tile installations. Between counters + backsplashes or tubs/shower pans + tile surrounds are two examples of areas where caulking should be used instead of grout. Our acrylic caulking is available by special order in all Mapei colours.

CEMENTITIOUS BACKERBOARD: Made up of mostly Portland cement and fiberglass mesh, cementitious backing units are the best substrates for wet areas. CBU’s provide mold-resistance and much more support for tiles than green drywall or plywood. It’s available in either ½” for walls or ¼” for floors and either 3’x5’ or 4’x8’ sheets.

CERAMIC: These floor tiles are suitable for interior floor and wall applications. They are rated for residential foot traffic and have an enamel glazing on their surface.

DYELOT: Each batch of tile is given a dyelot code to ensure batches are not mixed together. When inspecting different dyelots of the same tile, you may find considerable differences. Colours and sizes are very rarely consistent between batches. Kiln temperature and humidity are examples of the conditions which may change the look of the finished product.

FLOAT: A flat rubber tool used for spreading grout into grout joints. Various sizes are available for smaller/larger tiles or smaller/larger areas.

FLOOR TILE: These tiles usually measure ¼” to 3/8” thick and can be used for flooring AND wall covering. Some varieties can be used outside. Floor tiles range in size from 1”x1” all the way up to 48”x48” and everything in between.

FULL-BODY: Dyes are mixed with the clay before it’s fired rendering a consistency of colour all the way through the body of the tile. These tiles are usually unglazed, meaning they are more slip-resistant for exterior and wet-area applications.

GLASS TILE: There are many different varieties available: clear, acid-etched (matte), painted-back (coloured and glossy), recycled etc. Glass is impervious making it ideal for wet or constantly submerged areas. Most popular are the smaller mosaics usually used for accents or borders within a backsplash or shower surround.

GLAZED: Glazed tiles have an enamel coating (which is baked on), making them impervious to staining and water absorption. This feature makes them great for areas where spills of all kinds are inevitable.

GLOSS: Gloss refers to a shiny-finish glazing or sealing as opposed to a flat-finish glazing or sealing. It could also be described as wet-look, or reflective.

GRANITE: A variety of natural stone which crystallizes as magma deep below the Earth’s surface cools very slowly. Usually, granites are polished, but they also come in flamed and honed finishes. Make sure to view full size samples before confirming orders as colours and patterns do vary. Like all natural stones, these are porous and should be sealed with a stone sealer in every application. Also, be sure to use cleaners which are safe for sealed surfaces.

GREASE PENCIL: A waterproof marker used to define areas to be cut on tile. Grease pencil will not come off while cutting tiles on a wetsaw, whereas felt pen/pencil/chalk all wash away.

GROUT: Grout is coloured portland-cement mix used to fill the gaps (grout joints) between tiles already fastened with thinset. Unsanded grouts fill gaps up to 1/8” wide, while sanded grouts will fill gaps from 1/8” to 3/8” wide. If unsanded grout is used in a grout joint which is wider than 1/8”, it will shrink and crack as it dries. Portland-cement based grouts are porous and need to be sealed with a grout sealer approximately 7 days after installation. Epoxy-based grouts are impervious and very effective in wet areas.

GROUT SEAL APPLICATORS: It’s much easier to apply grout sealer with a proper applicator. They have a reservoir which you can refill with sealer and an applicator tip which is constantly fed from the reservoir. Applicators also help eliminate spillage onto the tile (glazed products will not soak up a sealer like a porous grout surface will).

LIMESTONE: A variety of natural stone formed in shallow sea waters from primarily fossilized sea shells. It is usually filled and honed, but also comes in a tumbled finish. Variations in colour are not as extreme as in slates, but are still expected. Like all natural stones, these are very porous and need to be sealed with a stone sealer in every application. Also, be sure to use cleaners which are safe for sealed surfaces.

IMPERVIOUS: Anything impervious will not absorb more than 0.5% moisture and extremely stain-resistant. These products do not require sealing

MATTE: Matte refers to a flat-finish glazing or sealing as opposed to a shiny-finish glazing or sealing. This could also be described as a dry-look.

MARBLE: A variety of natural stone formed by the same principles as limestone. It is usually polished, but also comes honed or tumbled. Colour variance is not as problematic with marbles as it is slates, though you should still expect each piece to be a little different than the last. Like all natural stones, these are very porous and need to be sealed with a stone sealer in every application. Also, be sure to use cleaners which are safe for sealed surfaces.

MASTIC: Mastic is pre-mixed glue used for fastening tiles no larger than a 6”x6” to a properly prepared wall surface. This is for use on interior walls only. Larger tiles and exterior applications require thinset for proper adhesion.

MIXING PADDLE: This is an attachment that fits into a drill. Mixing by hand will take a lot longer and won’t necessarily yield consistency. If you’re in a pinch, a bent metal coat hanger will also do the trick.

MOSAICS: Mosaics are small tiles (3” or smaller) which usually come on a square-foot sheet with a mesh-backing holding them together and at the proper spacing. They can also be paper-faced, film-faced or dot-mounted. Whichever variety, they are all installed with the netting still attached to keep spacing consistent.

PORCELAIN: These floor tiles are suitable for interior or exterior floor and wall applications. They are rated for very heavy commercial foot traffic and can be glazed or unglazed. Because porcelain tile is extremely dense and absorbs very little moisture, they can withstand the elements and abuse which outside applications have to endure.

POROUS: Anything porous will absorb moisture, be it water, oil, etc. and is extremely stainable. Porous tiles should be sealed with an appropriate sealer and cleaned with a product which is safe on sealed surfaces.

SALTILLO: A clay-bodied tile which is baked outside in the sun instead of in a kiln like ceramic and porcelain varieties. There are inconsistencies from tile to tile in body colour and surface due to the natural process in which it is manufactured. Saltillo is very porous tile and needs to be sealed in every application. Be sure to use cleaners which are safe for sealed surfaces.

SCORE ‘N’ SNAP: This is a cutting tool which uses a small carbide cutting wheel to scratch lines onto the surface of a glazed tile. This method is effective for straight cuts only. The tile is then “snapped” along the score-line. When doing notch or corner cuts, it’s better to use a wetsaw.

SEALER: This is used to protect porous surfaces from moisture and staining. Most sealers are water-based, but they can also be silicone or solvent-based depending on the desired finish and the type of tile material. Finishes can be matte, glossy or in between. The best way to clean a sealed surface is either with specialized cleaners or plain water and a small amount of dish soap.

SLATE: A variety of natural stone (primarily shale/clay) formed by heat and pressure from the Earth. Slate is extremely varied in colour and thickness. Please make a point of viewing several full size samples before purchasing to ensure you’re happy with the mix. It usually has a rough or cleft surface, but also comes smooth or honed. Like all natural stones, these are very porous and need to be sealed with a stone sealer in every application. Also, be sure to use cleaners which are safe for sealed surfaces.

SPACERS: Small plastic crosses used to achieve consistent spacing between tiles. Spacers are an essential part of any installation; even the pro’s use them every time. They are available in different sizes depending on the desired thickness of the grout joint. Skinnier grout gives a more “seamless” look, while larger grout looks more “old-world” or “hand-made”.

TILE NIPPERS: A hand-held cutting tool used for roughly removing small chunks from tiles. This method is not as accurate as using a wetsaw.

THINSET: Also called mortar, thinset is used to fasten tiles to a prepared substrate. It is most often Portland-cement based, and can also be polymer-modified or epoxy based, depending on your application. Thinset can be used for floors and walls.

TRAVERTINE: A variety of natural stone formed as calcium carbonate is deposited in layers by hot or cold spring waters. It is usually tumbled, but also comes filled and honed. Colours in travertines don’t vary as much as slates do, but as with all natural products, some variance is expected. These tiles are very porous and need to be sealed with a stone sealer in every application. Also, be sure to use cleaners which are safe for sealed surfaces.

TROWEL: A flat metal or plastic tool used for spreading adhesive on floors, walls or the back of the tiles. Different thicknesses or sizes are available for smaller or larger areas or tiles.

WALL TILE: These tiles usually measure 3/16” thick and can be used for interior wall covering only. Wall tiles can NOT be used on the floor and we strongly recommend against using them on countertops. Usually ceramic in body, wall tiles come in a staggering variety of colours, shapes and sizes.

WATERPROOF MEMBRANE This is used in wet areas like showers, steam rooms, pools or decks. Usually a very thin plastic sheet system installed with thinset before the tiles are installed over top.

WETSAW: A saw for cutting tile which utilizes water for cooling purposes. Water sprays from the blade shroud while the tile is being cut to eliminate sparks and dust. This method will yield the nicest cuts.