glossary of definitions - the what is dictionary from Walls and Floors Tiles

Granite Tiles: A hard igneous rock originating from the slow crystallisation of molten magma cooling deep beneath the earth’s surface, this is the hardest stone in our range. Available in a polished finish this shows off the ornate crystals which serve to make up Granite.
Limestone Tiles: Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed by the consolidation of sediments, seashells and other organic matter. Each limestone tile exhibits its own characteristic colours and markings. Some degree of edge chipping can be expected together with occasional surface pitting, fossilised shells, fissures and mineral striations.
Sandstone Tiles: A coarse-grained sedimentary rock formed by compressed sand deposited by water or wind. It is commonly characterised by a granular surface. Sandstone is a hard yet very porous stone that requires thorough impregnation and surface sealing when used internally. Sandstone tiles in its large flag format are a very popular external choice.
Slate Tiles: Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock that is characterised by its ability to be split into broad sheets. Slate is a durable stone which presents a diverse range of colours and textures. We offer ‘riven’ slate tiles, which have a naturally cleft surface and is rustic by its nature, with chips and chisel marks present on some surfaces. Some of our ‘riven’ slate varies in thickness or is ‘uncalibrated’ and therefore requires ‘bedding up’ with the appropriate thick bed adhesive during installation. We also offer ‘honed’ and ‘brushed’ slate tiles that are machined to create a smooth, even surface. Some of the dark honed slate can be prone to scratch marks.
Terracotta Tiles: Terracotta is made from natural clay which has been moulded and then kiln fired to bake the clay and produce rigid tiles. The clay is either moulded by hand, these tiles offer a more rustic feel, or machine-moulded for a more consistent finish. All Terracotta tiles will be subject to edge chipping and variation which is part of the finished look of an authentic Terracotta floor. Terracotta tiles, when untreated, are very porous and as such any unsealed tiles will look very different from your finished floor.
Travertine Tiles: Travertine is created by hot mineral springs. Resulting in a honey-combed structure which when finished has visible surface pitting and voids. Our travertine tiles are available in either ‘filled’ or ‘unfilled’ finishes. With an unfilled travertine tile the surface voids will be filled with grout during the installation process. Filled travertine tiles have had these pits and voids filled at source with a colour matched stone resin. Whilst this gives a smoother surface, through general usage, some small areas of fill may dislodge or previously unexposed holes may become visible. This is not unusual and the holes should be re-filled with a suitable resin or grout.

Glossary and Terms

- The Walls and Floors ‘what is’ dictionary for Tiling