Easy Granite Tile Glossary - Part II
Pitted thru Warpage
Go To: Tile Glossary Part I - Back-Butter
thru Outside Corner
Pitted
Indentations in the finished surface of individual tiles other
than at the corners and edges.
Pitting
Development of relatively small cavities in a surface, due to
phenomena such as corrosion or cavitation, or, in concrete, localized
disintegration.
Plumb
Perpendicular to a true level.
Pot Life
The period of time during which a material maintains its workable
properties after it has been mixed.
Quality Assurance
A system of procedures for selecting project or portion thereof
to perform the functions intended, and assuring that these levels
are obtained.
Quality Control
A system of procedures and standards by which a constructor, product
manufacturer, materials processor, or the like, monitors the properties
of the finished work.
Rubber Trowel
The rubber trowel used for grouting is a non-porous synthetic
rubber- faced float that is mounted on an aluminum back with a
wood handle. This trowel is used to force material deep into tile
joints and to remove excess material for a perfect finish.
Rubbing Stone
A Carborundum stone or sharpening stone that is used to smooth
the rough or cut edges of tile.
Sealer
A material that is applied to a natural stone surface after installation
and after the grout has completely dried which protects from stain
damage.
Self Edge
Trim or facing on the side or in front of a countertop, also known
as an apron.
Set
The condition reached by a cement paste, mortar, or concrete when
it has lost plasticity to an arbitrary degree, usually measured
in terms of resistance to penetration or deformation; initial
set refers to first stiffening; final set refers to attainment
of significant rigidity; also, strain remaining after removal
of stress.
Setting Bed
The layer of mortar on which the tile is set. The final coat of
mortar on a wall or ceiling may also be called a setting bed.
Shade
The gradation of color.
Shrinkage
The decrease in volume, or contraction, of a material by the escape
of any volatile substance, or by a chemical or physical change
in the material. Shrinkage crack. Crack due to restraint of shrinkage.
Spacers
T-shaped, Y-shaped and cross shaped, they are used in installations
to separate tile on walls and floors. They are manufactured in
thicknesses of 1/16", 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", and
1/2".
Staining
Discoloration caused by a foreign matter chemically affecting
the material itself.
Steel Square
The steel square is one of the most important tile setting tools.
The large arm of the square is 2? wide and 24? long and is called
the body or blade. The smaller arm is at a 90-degree angle to
the blade and is 1½?wide and 16? long; it is called the
tongue. The point where the outside edges of the blade and tongue
join is called the heel. The surface with the manufacturer's name
is called the face; the opposite surface is called the back.
Stoning
The use of a carborundum stone to smooth rough edges caused by
cutting.
Straight Joint
The usual style of laying tile where all the joints are in alignment.
Straightedge
A straight piece of metal, a level, or lumber that is used to
align tile.
Substrate
The underlying support for the tile installation.
Tile Saw
A diamond bladed wet saw specifically designed to cut natural
stone tile.
Triple Sided Bullnose
A type of trim with the same convex radius on three sides so that
the tile may be split down the middle to make two pieces of backsplash
which yields a left and a right hand finished corner.
Trowel, Notched
Notched trowels are available in the V-notch, square tooth, and
round designs. The teeth are made in various sizes. The correct
tooth size and depth must be used to apply the thickness of bonding
mortar specified. These trowels are used to apply all of the various
kinds of bonding materials for stone tile. The notched trowel
is what is used to create the mortar bed.
Void
An unfilled space in a material of trapped air or other gas.
Warpage
A concave or convex curvature of a tile so that the surface is
not perfectly flat
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