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Enscape 2025 04 08 12 57 54

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Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
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  • Kitchen + Backsplash
  • Bathroom + Shower
  • Floor Tile
  • Wall Tile
  • Commercial Use
  • Outdoor Tile
  • Pool Tile
2023 img hi res full usage design Atypical design Studio photo jordan Layton wainscott offset cardamom 3x9 floor tile iron ore 2 hexagon FC596427 1

Original Ceramic tiles showcase handmade qualities with unique variations in color, crazing, and finish.

  • All Original Ceramic Colors
  • Studio Glazes New
  • Ceramic Stains New
  • Shop Shapes
  • Shop Patterns
  • Trim + Architectural Moldings
Resources
  • All Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Guide to Tile Trim

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
2024 residential full usage 4x4 terre verte satin red jasper satin indigo satin 2x2 red jasper satin bathroom checkerboard straight set 6x12 cove base indigo satin Pluck Architecture Leonid Furmansky FC796720 2

Our budget-friendly ceramics line, Natural Press is made with your largest indoor and outdoor projects in mind.

  • All Natural Press Colors
  • Shop Shapes
Resources
  • All Natural Press Resources
  • Spec Sheet
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Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Modern blue subway wall glass tile 2

Our radiant Glass Tile provides a freshness that pairs perfectly with today’s modern designs indoors or out.

  • All Glass Colors
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Resources
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Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
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Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

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Agrarian
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Classic Cuerda Seca
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Resources
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Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Glazed Thin Brick Destination Eichler Blue Brick Fireplace

Brick’s hand-mixed glazes enrich its surface, delicately exposing its unique textures and variations with the colors of the environment around us.

  • All Brick Colors
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Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

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2022 img hi res full rights residential photo design plural design studio bathroom floor tile mini star and cross antique white grout FC 407104 2

Our bestselling tile products all ready to ship in five days or less.

  • All Quick Ship Tile
  • Ceramic Tile
  • Glass Tile
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  • Handpainted Tile
Budget-Friendly Tile
  • $12 Essentials
  • $18 Foundations
  • Factory Sale
Trade callout

As a member you’ll receive exclusive access to new products, a professional discount, plus personalized service from our trade team who can help bring your vision to life.

Learn More →
Residential Specifiers
  • Find Your Rep
  • Custom Projects
  • Design Packages
Commercial Specifiers
  • Find Your Rep
  • Custom Projects
  • Commercial Pricing
  • 2025 Resource Book
Meet Your Partners
  • Virtual CEU
Enscape 2025 04 08 12 57 54

Visualize our tile in your space with our comprehensive design packages.

Design Packages
  • All Design Packages
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Pool + Fountain
Custom Tile
  • Our Custom Capabilities
  • Book A Free Consultation
  • Overview
  • FAQ
  • Book a Free Consultation
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Get Help
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Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
Blog
  • All Blog Posts
  • Design + Inspiration
  • Project Spotlight
  • Tile School
Gallery
  • All Gallery Entries
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Commercial
Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
Blog
  • All Blog Posts
  • Design + Inspiration
  • Project Spotlight
  • Tile School
Gallery
  • All Gallery Entries
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Commercial
Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
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  1. Home
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  3. Our Definitive Guide to Tile Terminology: M - R

Know Before You Buy

Our Definitive Guide to Tile Terminology: M - R

Crush  Series   Debris  Series   Hexagon   Malcolm  Fearon  Malcolm  Fearon  Photography    All  Rights  Reserved 6 1050 700

Crush_Series__Debris_Series__Hexagon__Malcolm_Fearon-Malcolm_Fearon_Photography_-_All_Rights_Reserved-6_1050_700.jpg

Our Crush 100% Recycled Glass Tile mosaic in Forget Me Not, Icicle, Dusty Olive, Plankton, and Island Flower

It's week three of our month of Tile Terminology!  This week we are covering the M's throught the R's!  Study up and be sure to let us know if we are missing anything!

M

Mastic – A ready to use organic glue.

Monocottura – Method of producing tile by a single firing in which body and glazes are fired in kilns at temperatures over 2000 degrees.

Mortar – The setting material used to bond tiles to a given surface. Different types of mortar are suitable for different backing and conditions.

Mosaics – Ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal or stone tile mounted on mesh for ease of installation. May come in squares, octagons, hexagons or random shapes.

Mounted Tiles – Tiles assembled into units or sheets by the manufacturer for easier installation. Back and edge mounted tiles are bonded to material (mesh, paper, resin or other) that becomes part of the installation. Face mounted tiles are bonded to a material that is removed prior to grouting.

Mud – A slang term referring to thick–bed mortar consisting of sand and cement.

N

Natural Stone – A stone such as granite, marble, limestone, slate, travertine, or sandstone that is formed by nature

Nominal Size – During the firing process, ceramic tile will shrink, on average, by about 10% in size.

Non-Vitreous Tile – Tiles that absorb 7% or more moisture. They are suited for indoor use only.

ogee_600.jpg

Our Debris Series in Ogee

O

Ogee – A stone molding with a reverse curved edge: concave above, convex below.

P

Patina – When the surface of a material has changed in color or texture due to age or exposure to various elements, it is referred to as patina.

PEI Rating – This rating is established by the Porcelain Enamel Institute to rate the resistance of glazed ceramic tile to visible surface abrasion. Commonly referred to as "abrasion resistance", this is probably the most commonly used industry rating for wear.

Pillowed – A tile finish that features softly rounded edges, thus giving the tile a pillowed look.

Porcelain Tile – Characterized by a dense and impervious body generally made of the dust–pressed method.

Pointing – The act of cleaning the mortar between the tile using a pointed trowel tool

Porosity – The amount and size of the pores in a stone.

Atlantic__Quarter_Round.jpg

Quarter Round 

Q

Quarry Tile – A slang term usually 6x6 impervious unglazed tile.

Quarter Round or Bead – A narrow, convexly curved piece designed to create continuity where 90 degree angles occur.

R

Rectified Edge – A process wherein finished tiles are ground on each side to a precise final dimension.

Red Body – The color of the body is determined by the color of the clay used by the manufacturer. The body of a red body tile will be red in color.

Return – The right-angle turn of a molding.

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