Section 11: Appendix

11.1 Glossary of Ceramic Tile and stone Industry Terms

ABSORPTION: The relationship of the weight of water absorbed to the weight of the dry specimen, expressed in percentages.

ACCELERATORS: Materials used to speed up the setting of mortar.

ACOUSTICAL SEALANT: A sealant with acoustical properties used to seal the joints in the construction of sound rated ceramic tile installations.

ACRYLIC: A general class of resinous polymers used as additives for thin-set mortar and grout. See Portland Cement Mortar or Grout.

ADMIXTURE: A material other than water, aggregates, or hydraulic cement, used as an ingredient of grout or mortar and which is added immediately before or during its mixing.

AGGLOMERATED PRODUCT: A man made stone product generally consisting of either crushed natural marble, natural granite or quartz chips with a matrix of resins and mineral pigments. The product is available in assorted tile sizes as well as large slabs.

AGGREGATE: Granular material such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone, used with a cementing medium to form a hydraulic-cement or mortar.

APRON: Trim or facing on the side or in front of a countertop, table edge or windowsill.

BACK-BUTTER: The spreading of a bond coat to the backs of ceramic tile just before the tile is placed.

BACK WALL: The wall facing an observer, who is standing at the entrance to a room, shower or tub shower.

BACKING: Any material used as a base over which ceramic tile is to be installed. See Substrate.

BENCH MARK: Permanent reference point or mark.

BOND COAT: A material used between the back of the tile and the prepared surface. Suitable bond coats include pure Portland cement, dry-set Portland cement mortar, latex Portland cement mortar, organic adhesive and epoxy mortar or adhesive.

BOND STRENGTH: A bond coat's ability to resist separating from the tile and setting bed. Measured in pounds per square inch (psi).

BOX SCREED: Essentially a box screed is a jig used to apply mortar onto the back side of large-sized ceramic, marble and granite tiles which may vary in thickness, in order to achieve a uniform unit of thickness of the tile and mortar combined.

BUTTONBACK TILE: Tile that has projections on the bondable side. Many of these projections are round and therefore the term "buttonback". Some projections are quite thick and can also be other shapes, such as square.

CAP: A trim tile with a convex radius on one edge. This tile is used for finishing the top of a wainscot or for turning an outside corner.

CEMENT GROUT: A cementitious mixture of Portland cement, sand or other ingredients and water, to produce a water resistant, uniformly colored material used to fill the joints between tile units.

CEMENTIOUS: Having the properties of cement.

CHALK LINE: Usually a cotton cord coated with chalk. The cord is pulled taut and snapped to mark a straight line. The chalk line is used to align spots or screeds and to align tiles.

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE: The resistance offered by products to physical or chemical reactions as a result of contact with or immersion in various solvents, acids, alkalis, salts, etc.

CLEAVAGE MEMBRANES: A membrane that provides a separation and slip-sheet between the mortar setting bed and the backing or base surface.

CLINKER (KLINKER): Red body formed by either the extrusion process or dust pressing. Sometimes referred to as red stoneware. This tile can be glazed or unglazed with a water absorption of 0.7%.

COLD JOINT: Any point in concrete construction where a pour was terminated and the surface lost its plasticity before work was continued.

COLORED GROUT: Commercially prepared grout consisting of carefully graded aggregate, Portland cement, water dispersing agents, plasticizers and color fast pigments.

COMPACTION: The process whereby the volume of freshly placed mortar or concrete is reduced to the minimum practical space usually by vibration, centrifugation, tamping or some combination of these; to mold it within forms or molds and around imbedded parts and reinforcement and to eliminate voids other than entrained air.

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH: A material's ability to withstand a load measured in psi.

CONDUCTIVE MORTAR: A tile mortar to which specific electrical conductivity is imparted through the use of conductive additives.

COPING: The material or units used to form a cap or finish on top of a wall, pier, pilaster or chimney.

COVE: A trim tile unit having one edge with a concave radius. A cove is used to form a junction between the bottom wall course and the floor or to form an inside corner.

COVE BASE (Sanitary): A trim tile having a concave radius on one edge and a convex radius on the opposite edge. This base is used as the only course of tile above the floor tile.

CRAWLING: A parting and contraction of the glaze on the surface of ceramic ware during drying or firing, which results in unglazed areas bordered by coalesced glaze.

CRAZING: The cracking that occurs in fired glazes or other ceramic coatings due to critical tensile stresses (minute surface cracks).

CREEP: The timed dependent increase in strain of a solid body under constant or controlled stresses.

CURING: Maintenance of humidity and temperature of the freshly placed mortar or grout during some definite period following the placing or finishing, to assure satisfactory hydration of Portland cement and proper hardening of the mortar or grout.

CUSHION-EDGED TILE: Tile on which the facial edges have a distinct curvature that results in a slightly recessed joint.

DASH COAT: A first coat of mortar sometimes applied to a smooth surface with a whisk broom or fiber brush in such a manner as to provide a good mechanical key for subsequent mortar coats.

DOT-MOUNTED TILE: Tile packaged in sheet format and held together by plastic or rubber dots between the joints.

DRY-SET MORTAR: A mixture of Portland cement with sand and additives imparting water retentivity, which is used as a bond coat for setting tile. Normally, when this mortar is used, neither the tile nor the walls have to be soaked during installation.

EFFLORESCENCE: The residue deposited on the surface of a material (usually the grout joint) by crystallization of soluble salts.

ELASTOMERIC: Any of various elastic substances resembling rubber.

EPOXY ADHESIVE: An adhesive system employing epoxy hardener portions.

EPOXY GROUT: A mortar system employing epoxy resin and epoxy hardener portions.

EPOXY MORTAR: A system employing epoxy resins and hardener portions, often containing coarse silica filler and which is usually formulated for mass transit, industrial and commercial installations where chemical resistance is of paramount importance.

EPOXY RESIN: An epoxy composition used as a chemical resistant setting adhesive or chemical resistant grout.

EXPANSION JOINT: A joint through the tile, mortar and reinforcing wire down to the substrate.

EXTRUDED TILE: A tile unit that is formed when plastic clay mixtures are forced through a pug mill opening (die) of suitable configuration, resulting in a continuous ribbon of formed clay. A wire cutter or similar cut-off device is then used to cut the ribbon into appropriate lengths and widths of tile.

FAN or FANNING: Spacing tile joints to widen certain areas so they will conform to a section that is not parallel.

FLOAT COAT: The final mortar coat over which the neat coat, pure coat or skim coat is applied.

FLOAT STRIP: A strip of wood about 1/4 inch thick and 1-1/4" wide. It is used as a guide to align mortar surfaces.

FLOATING: A method of using a straightedge to align mortar with float strips or screeds. Specialists use this technique when they are setting glass mosaic murals.

FURAN GROUT: An intimate mixture of a Furan resin, selected fillers and an acid catalyst. Fillers are generally carbon, silica or combination thereof into which the acid catalyst, or setting agent, may be incorporated. When combined, the components form a trowelable material for buttering or pointing tile.

FURAN RESIN: A chemical resistant acid catalyzed condensation reaction product from furfural alcohol, furfural or combinations thereof.

FURRING: Stripping used to build out a surface such as a studded wall. Strips of suitable size are added to the studs to accommodate vent pipes, shower pans, tubs or other fixtures.

GLASS MESH MORTAR UNIT/CEMENTITIOUS BACKER UNIT: A backer board designed for use with ceramic tile in wet areas. It can be used in place of metal lath, Portland cement scratch coat and mortar bed.

GRADE: A predetermined degree of slope that a finished floor should have.

GRADES: Grades of tile recognized in ANSI standard specifications for ceramic tile.

GROUT: A cementitious or other type material used for filling joints between tile.

GROUTING: The process of filling tile joints with grout.

GROUT SAW: The grout saw is saw-toothed carbide steel blade mounted on a wooden handle. It is used to remove old grout. It is also used in patching work. Care should be taken as it can easily damage adjacent tiles. The carbide steel blade is brittle and it will shatter if it is dropped or abused.

HARD SCREED: A mortar screed that has become firm.

HORIZONTAL BROKEN JOINTS: A style of laying tile with each course offset one-half its length.

HOT-MOPPED PAN: A type of shower pan made of altering layers of hot asphalt and tarpaper.

IMPERVIOUS TILE: Tile with water absorption of 0.5 percent or less.

IN/OUT CORNERS: Trim tile for turning a right-angle inside or outside a wall corner.

L CUT: A piece of tile cut or shaped to the letter "L".

LAITANCE: A layer of weak and non-durable material containing cement and fines from aggregates, brought by bleeding water to the top of over wet concrete, the amount of which is generally increased by overworking or over-manipulating concrete at the surface by improper finishing or by job traffic.

LATEX-PORTLAND CEMENT GROUT: Combines Portland cement grout with a special latex additive.

LATEX-PORTLAND CEMENT MORTAR: A mixture of Portland cement, sand and a special latex additive that is used as a bond coat for setting tile.

LATH: Metal mesh which acts as a backing or reinforcing agent for the scratch coat or mortar.

LAYOUT LINES: Lines chalked on a substrate to guide in accurately setting tile.

LAYOUT STICK: A long strip of wood marked at the appropriate joint intervals for the tile to be used. It is used to check the length, width or height of the tile work. Common names for this item are "idiot stick" or "story pole".

LEG: A tile wall running alongside a bathtub or abutment. This term is sometimes used to describe a narrow strip of tile floor.

LUGS: Protuberances attached to tiles to maintain even spacing for grout lines.

MARBLE TILE: Marble cut into tiles, usually 3/8" – 3/4" thick. Available in various finishes; including polished, honed and split face.

MASTER GRADE CERTIFICATE: A certificate which states that the tile listed in the shipment and described on the certificate are made in accordance with ANSI A137.1.

MASTIC: Tile adhesives.

MORTAR BED: The layer of mortar on which tile is set. The final coat of mortar on a wall, floor or ceiling is called a mortar bed.

MUD: A slang term for mortar.

NEAT CEMENT: Portland cement mixed with water to a desired creamy consistency. See Pure Coat.

NOMINAL SIZES: The approximate facial size or thickness of tile, expressed in inches or fractions of an inch.

NON-VITREOUS TILE: Tile with water absorption of more than 7.0 percent.

NOTCHED TROWEL: A trowel with a serrated or notched edge. It is used for the application of a gauged amount of tile mortar or adhesive in ridges of a specific thickness.

OPEN TIME: The period of time during which the bond coat retains its ability to adhere to the tile and bond the tile to the substrate.

ORGANIC ADHESIVE: A prepared organic material, ready to use with no further addition of liquid or powder, which cures or sets by evaporation.

PAPER AND WIRE: Tarpaper and wire mesh (or metal lath) that are used as a backing for the installation of tile.

PENCIL ROD: Reinforcing rod with a diameter of no greater than 1/4" (6 mm).

PINHOLES: Imperfections in the surface of a ceramic body or glaze, or in the surface of a grout.

PLASTER: A cementitious material or combination of cementitious material and aggregate that, when mixed with a suitable amount of water, forms a plastic mass or paste which when applied to a surface, adheres to it and subsequently hardens, preserving in a rigid state the form or texture imposed during the period of plasticity; also the placed and hardened mixture.

PLUMB: Perpendicular to a true level.

PLUMB SCRATCH: An additional scratch coat that has been applied to obtain a uniform setting bed on a plumb vertical plane.

POT LIFE: The period of time during which a material maintains its workable properties after it has been mixed.

PREFLOAT: The term used to describe mortar that has been placed and allowed to harden prior to bonding tile to it with thin-set materials.

psi: Pounds per square inch.

PURE COAT: Neat cement applies to the mortar bed.

RACK: A metal grid that is used to properly space and align tiles.

RAKE or RAKE LINE: The inclination from a horizontal direction.

RECEPTOR: Waterproof base for a shower stall.

REFERENCE LINES: A pair of lines chalked on a substrate that intersect at 90 degree angle and establish the starting point for plotting a grid of layout lines to guide in accurately setting tile.

RETURN: The ending of a small splash wall or wainscot at right angles to the major wall.

RODDING: A method of using a straightedge to align mortar with the float strips or screeds. This technique also is called floating, dragging or pulling.

ROUGHING IN: The act of preparing a surface by applying tar paper and metal lath (or wire mesh). Sometimes called "wiring".

RUBBER TROWEL: The rubber trowel used for grouting. A nonporous, synthetic rubber-faced float with an aluminum back and wood handle. This trowel is used to force material into tile joints, remove excess grout and form a smooth grout finish.

RUBBING STONE: A carborundum stone that is used to smooth the rough edges on tile.

RUNNING BOND: Stretchers overlapping one another by one-half unit, with vertical joint in alternate courses.

SAG: A term used when a wall surface has developed a slide.

SANDBLASTING: A method of scarifying the surface of concrete or masonry to provide a bondable surface. Compressed air is used to propel a stream of wet or dry sand onto the surface.

SAND-PORTLAND CEMENT GROUT: A site mixed grout of portland cement, fine graded sand, lime and water.

SCARIFY: A mechanical means of roughing a surface to obtain a better bond.

SCRATCH COAT: A mixture of Portland cement, sand and water applied as the first coat of mortar on a wall or ceiling. Its surface usually is scratched or roughened so that it will bond properly with subsequent coats of mortar.

SCRATCHER: Any serrated or sharply tined object that is used to roughen the surface of one coat of mortar to provide a mechanical key for the next coat.

SCREED or SCREED STRIP: Strips of wood, metal, mortar or other material used as guides on which a straightedge is worked to obtain a true mortar surface.

SCULPTURED TILE: Tile with a decorative design of high and low areas molded into its face.

SEALANT: An elastomeric material used to fill and seal expansion and control joints. This material prevents the passage of moisture and allows the horizontal and lateral movement at the expansion and control joints.

SELF-SPACING TILE: Tile with lugs, spacers or protuberances on the sides that automatically space the tile for the grout joint.

SET-UP TIME: The time adhesive or mortar, spread on a surface takes to cure or harden.

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.

SHELF LIFE: The maximum period of time that an item can be stored before it is used.

SHOWER PAN: A waterproof shower floor membrane made from metal, layers of built-up roofing or single or multiple elastomeric membranes.

SILICONE GROUT: An engineered elastomeric grout system for interior use.

SINK ANGLE: Trim shape used on a drain-board at the corners of the kitchen sink. This trim shape, which is AU 106, is also called a "Butterfly".

SLAKE: Allowing the mixtures of mortar, thin-set mortar or grout to stand for a brief period of time after the ingredients have been thoroughly combined and before the final mixing has occurs. Slaking enables the moisture in the mix to penetrate lumps in the dry components, making it easier to complete the mixing procedure.

SLIDE: A fresh tile wall that has sagged. This condition may be caused by excessive mortar, insufficient lime in the mortar or excessive moisture in the mortar. A slide may also result if the surface is slick or if the mortar is too soft.

SLOT CUT: Description of a tile that has been cut to fit around pipes or switch boxes. This tile is usually in the shape of the letter "H" or the letter "L".

SLURRY COAT: A pure coat of a very soft consistency.

SOLDIER COURSE: Oblong tile laid with the long side vertical and all joints in alignment.

SPACERS: Plastic, rubber, wood or rope used in wall or floor installations to separate tiles. Manufactured spacers are available in thickness’ 1/16" to 1/2" (1.5 mm to 12 mm).

SPACING MIX: A dry or dampened mixture of one part Portland cement and one part extra-fine sand. This mix is used as a filler in the joints of mounted tile.

SPANDREL: That part of a wall between the head of a window and the sill of the window above it.

SPLASH WALLS: The walls of a tile drain board or bathtub.

SPLIT L CUT: An improper "L" cut that is made by splitting a tile instead of cutting it.

SPOTS: Small pieces of tile placed on a wall or floor surface to align the screeds or setting bed. Spots of casting plaster also may be used.

STANDARD GRADE CERAMIC TILE: Highest grade of all types of ceramic tile.

STATIC COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION (C.O.F.): Slip resistance. The degree of slip resistance presented in a quantitative number that expresses the degree of slip resistance. Slip resistance is evaluated by the horizontal pull method (ASTM C1028). There is no current ANSI requirement. A coefficient of friction of 0.5 and above is the recognized industry standard for a slip resistant floor.

STORY POLE: A measuring stick created for a particular tile installation whose unit of measure is the width of a single tile and grout joint rather than inches. This tool gives tile setters a quick, efficient means of determining how many tiles will fit in a given area and where to position layout lines.

STONED: 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 wood or metal that is used to rod mortar and to align tile.

STRETCHER: Trim shapes of tile between trim angles.

STRIKING JOINTS: A process of removing excess grout from the joints by wiping them with a sponge or cloth, or by scraping them with a curved instrument.

STRUCTURAL DEFECTS: Cracks or laminations in the tile body that detract from the aesthetic appearances and/or structural soundness of the installation.

SUBFLOOR: A rough floor - plywood or boards – laid over joists and on which an underlayment or substrate is installed.

SUBSTRATE: The underlying support for ceramic tile installations.

TCNA: Tile Council of North America.

TERRACOTTA: Hard baked tile of variable color and water absorption. Usually unglazed, this product requires a sealer to prevent staining. Used mainly on interior floors. Sometimes referred to as Cotto.

THICK-BED MORTAR: A thick layer of mortar (more than 3/4" (19 mm) that is used for leveling.

THIS-SET: The term used to describe the installation of tile with all materials except Portland cement mortar, which is the only recognized thick-bed method.

3-4-5- TRIANGLE: A triangle with sides in the proportion of 3:4:5, which produces one 90-degree corner. Plotting a 3-4-5 triangle is a method used to establish a pair of square reference lines on a large surface. These lines can be used to determine if the installation site is square and to create a grid of layout lines for setting tile.

TIE WIRE: The 18-gauge galvanized wire used for a variety of purposes in construction work.

TRIM UNITS: Units of various shapes consisting of items such as bases, caps, corners, moldings and angles necessary to achieve installations of the desired sanitary and architectural design.

URETHANE: An elastomeric polymer with excellent chemical and water resistance. Single component (moisture cure) and 2-part (chemical cure) systems are available. Both types may be applies in a fluid state and cure (polymerize) after installation. Typical tile industry applications include sealants, caulks, waterproofing membranes and high performance flexible adhesives.

V-CAP TRIM: V-shaped trim tile used on the front edge of a countertop. The tile's top surface is gently curved upward at the front edge to prevent water from running onto the floor.

VERTICAL BROKEN JOINT: Style of laying tile with each vertical row of tile offset for one-half its length.

VITRIFICATION: The condition resulting when kiln temperatures are sufficient to fuse grains and close pores of a clay product.

WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE: A covering applied to a substrate before tiling to protect the substrate and framing from damage by water. May be applied below mortar beds or directly beneath this-set tiles.

WET AREAS: Tile surfaces that are either soaked, saturated or subjected to moisture or liquids (usually water) such as gang showers, tub enclosures, showers, laundries, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools and exterior areas.

11.2 Resources Guide – Trade Organizations and Technical Resources

Technical Design Manual
Direct Adhered Ceramic Tile, Stone and Thin
Brick Facades Technical Design Manual
Richard Goldberg, Architect AIA, CSI
c/o LATICRETE International, Inc.
1 LATICRETE Park North
Bethany, CT 06524
+1.203.393.0010
www.laticrete.com

Ceramic Tile Materials and Methods
Tile Council of North America, Inc. (TCNA)
100 Clemson Research Blvd.
Anderson, SC 29625
+1.864.646.8453
www.tileusa.com

Terrazzo, Tile & Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC)
30 Capston Gate, Unit 5
Concord, Ontario, Canada L4K 3E8
+1.905.660.9640
www.ttmac.com

Ceramic Tile Institute of America, Inc. (CTIOA)
12061 West Jefferson
Culver City, CA 90230-6219
+1.310.574.7800
www.ctioa.org

Tile Contractors Association of America (TCAA)
4 East 113th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64114
800.655.8453
www.tcaainc.org

National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA)
P.O. Box 13629
626 Lakeland East Dr.
Jackson, MS 39236
+1.601.939.2071
www.tile-assn.com

International Masonry Institute (IMI)
The James Brice House
42 East St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
+1.410.280.1305
www.imiweb.org

Natural Stone Methods and Materials
Marble Institute of America (MIA)
28901 Clemens Rd.
Westlake, OH 44145
+1.440.250.9222
www.marble-institute.com

Masonry Institute of America
22815 Frampton Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501-5034
800.221.4000
www.masonryinstitute.org

Thin Brick Masonry Materials and Methods
Brick Institute of America (BIA)
11490 Commerce Park Dr.
Suite 300
Reston, VA 22091
+1.703.620.0010
www.bia.org

National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)
13750 Sunrise Valley Dr.
Herndon, VA 20171-4662
+1.703.713.1900
www.ncma.org

Concrete, Pre-Cast Concrete
Portland Cement Association
5420 Old Orchard Rd.
Skokie, IL 60077
+1.847.966.6200
www.cement.org

Pre-cast/Pre-stressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
209 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60606
+1.312.786.0300
www.pci.org

Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI)
942 Main St.
Hartford, CT 06103
800.542.4974
www.wirereinforcement.org

American Concrete Institute (ACI)
P.O. Box 9094
Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094
+1.248.848.3700
www.concrete.org

Test Standards and Building Codes
American Society for Testing & Materials
International (ASTM)
100 Barr Harbor Dr.
P.O. Box C700
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
+1.610.832.9585
www.astm.org

Materials and Methods Standards Association (MMSA)
P.O. Box 350
Grand Haven, MI 49417-0350
+1.616.842.7844
www.mmsa.ws

International Code Council (ICC)
4051 West Flossmoor Rd.
Country Club Hills, IL 60478-5795
888.422.7233
www.iccsafe.org

United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
1015 18th St., NW
Suite 508
Washington DC 20036
+1.202.828.7422
www.usgbc.org

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
1819 L St., NW 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
+1.202.293.8020
www.ansi.org

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
1, rue de Varembé, Casa postale 56
CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
41 22 749 01 11
www.iso.org

National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
1090 Vermont Ave., NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005-4905
+1.202.289.7800
www.nibs.org

Sealants, Waterproofing and Adhesives
Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute (SWRI)
14 West 3rd St.
Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64105
+1.816.472.7974
www.swrionline.com

Adhesive & Sealant Council, Inc.
7979 Old Georgetown Rd.
Suite 500
Bethesda, MD 20814
+1.301.986.9700
www.ascouncil.org

Cement Plaster/Render
International Institute for Lath & Plaster
P.O. Box 3922
Palm Desert, CA 92260-3922
+1.760.837.9094
www.iilp.org

Expansion Joints
Expansion Joints Manufacturers Association
25 North Broadway
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Fax: 914.332.1541
www.ejma.org

Swimming Pools and Spas
The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP)
2111 Eisenhower Ave.
Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314-4695
+1.703.838.0083
Fax: 703.549.0493
www.apsp.org

Plumbing
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Three Park Ave.
New York, NY 10016-5990
800.843.2763 (USA/Canada)
001.800.843.2763 (Mexico)
973.882.1170 (Outside North America)
www.asme.org