Abrasion Resistance: A tile's ability to withstand surface wear from foot traffic or other friction. It is a key factor for durability, especially for floor tiles.

Absorption Rate: The amount of water a tile can absorb, expressed as a percentage of its dry weight. This determines a tile's suitability for different environments (e.g., high absorption for dry areas, low for wet areas).

Acclimatisation: The process of allowing the wood to adjust to the ambient temperature and humidity of the room where it will be installed. Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts with changes in moisture content. By leaving the flooring in the room for a period, typically 48 to 72 hours, before installation, you allow the wood to adjust to the heat and humidity of your home. This is a crucial step that helps prevent flooring from buckling, warping, or developing gaps after it's been laid.

Adhesive: A substance used to bond tiles to a substrate, such as a floor or wall. Also known as tile mortar or thin-set.

Aggregate: A granular material used as a filler in cement-based products like tile mortars and grouts. Typically, aggregate consists of fine sand, crushed stone, or other inert materials. Its primary purpose is to add bulk, strength, and stability to the mix, reducing shrinkage and improving workability.

Back Buttering: The process of applying a thin layer of mortar to the back of a tile before placing it on the floor or wall. This ensures 100% mortar coverage and prevents voids, which can lead to tile cracking.

Backer Board: A rigid, moisture-resistant panel, typically made of cement, used as a sub-surface for tile installation. It provides a stable and waterproof base for tiles.

Bevelled Edge: A bevelled edge on a tile is a sloped or angled cut along its perimeter, creating a subtle bevel rather than a sharp, straight edge. This design feature, also known as a cushion edge, is common on many ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles.

Bullnose: A rounded trim tile used to finish the edge of an installation. It provides a clean, finished look and is often used on countertops or stair treads.

Ceramic Tile: A type of tile made from clay and other natural materials that are fired at high temperatures. Ceramic tiles are often glazed and are suitable for a variety of applications.

Cure Time: The period required for a tile adhesive or grout to fully set and reach its maximum strength. It's crucial to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cure time to ensure a lasting installation.

Engineered Wood Flooring: Engineered wood flooring is a type of timber flooring created by binding multiple layers of wood together. Unlike solid wood flooring, it's not a single piece of lumber. The top layer, known as the wear layer, is a thin slice of real solid wood (e.g., oak, walnut). This is the part you see and walk on. Below this is a core made of multiple plywood or high-density fibreboard (HDF) layers arranged in a cross-grain pattern. This unique construction makes engineered wood flooring much more stable and resistant to the expansion and contraction caused by changes in temperature and humidity.

Epoxy Grout: A type of grout made from epoxy resins and a filler powder. It is highly resistant to stains, chemicals, and water, making it ideal for high-traffic or wet areas like showers and commercial kitchens.

Expansion Joint: A space left in a tile installation and filled with a flexible material to allow for movement of the substrate and tiles without causing cracking. They are typically required for large tiled areas.

Floating Floor: A floating floor is a type of flooring installation where the floorboards are not permanently attached to the subfloor or to each other using adhesives, nails, or staples. Instead, the individual planks or tiles are interlocked and simply rest on top of the subfloor - such as laminate or engineered wood flooring.

Glazed Porcelain: A type of tile made from a dense porcelain body with a durable, liquid-glass glaze applied to its surface. It is fired at extremely high temperatures, which fuses the glaze to the body, creating a hard, non-porous tile.

Glazed Tile: A tile with a glass-like coating applied to its surface and fired at high temperatures. The glaze provides color, protection, and is easy to clean.

Grout: A dense fluid mixture, typically made of cement, sand, and water, used to fill the spaces between tiles after they have been installed. It provides stability and seals the joints.

Herringbone: Herringbone pattern is a distinctive flooring or tiling layout where rectangular planks or tiles are arranged in a zig-zag design.

Laminate Flooring: Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring product composed of multiple layers fused together with a lamination process. It is a popular and durable alternative to real wood, but it does not contain any solid wood in its construction.

Lappato: Lappato is a type of tile finish that is a semi-polished or semi-glossy surface.

Lippage: A condition where one edge of a tile is higher than the adjacent tile, creating an uneven surface. This can be caused by uneven subfloors, improper installation, or warped tiles.

Mortar: A general term for the cement-based adhesive used to bond tiles to the surface. It is also known as thin-set.

Mosaic Tile: Small tiles, typically 2 inches or less in size, that are pre-mounted on a sheet for easier installation. Mosaics are often used for decorative purposes, backsplashes, and shower floors.

PEI Rating (Porcelain Enamel Institute): A numerical rating system (from I to V) that measures the durability and wear resistance of glazed ceramic tiles. A higher PEI rating indicates greater resistance to abrasion.

Porcelain Tile: A type of ceramic tile made from a very fine, dense clay and fired at extremely high temperatures. Porcelain tiles are highly durable, non-porous, and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Porosity: The amount of voids or empty spaces in a tile body. It's inversely related to the absorption rate—the more porous a tile, the higher its absorption rate.

Rectified Tile: A tile that has been mechanically ground or cut to a precise size after firing. This allows for very uniform dimensions and the use of smaller, straighter grout lines, creating a sleek, seamless look.

Sealer: A liquid applied to the surface of a tile or grout to protect it from stains and water. It is commonly used on porous materials like natural stone and unglazed grout.

Shade Variation: Shade variation is the intentional or inherent difference in colour, tone, and pattern among tiles from the same production line. It is a fundamental characteristic, particularly in products designed to replicate the organic look of natural materials like stone or wood, and is not a manufacturing flaw.

Slip Resistant: A slip-resistant tile is designed to provide maximum traction, significantly reducing the risk of a person slipping, particularly on wet surfaces. This quality is achieved by incorporating abrasive particles or a textured surface that increases friction underfoot. R9 has the lowest degree of slip resistance, while R13 has the highest - and is suitable for very wet or heavily trafficked commercial areas.

Substrate: The underlying surface to which the tile is applied, such as a concrete slab, wooden subfloor, or plaster wall. The preparation of the substrate is a critical step for a successful tile installation.

Thin-Set Mortar: A cement-based adhesive used for setting tiles. It is a mixture of cement, sand, and water retention agents.

Trims: Trims are finishing pieces used to provide a clean and professional edge to a tiled area. They serve both an aesthetic and a protective function, covering the raw, exposed edges of tiles and preventing chipping.

Trowel: A hand tool with a flat, serrated blade used to apply and spread thin-set mortar or adhesive onto a surface before setting tiles. The size and shape of the notches (called trowel notches) vary depending on the tile size and type.

Underlay: An underlay is a thin layer of material that is placed on top of the subfloor before installing the final flooring, such as laminate or engineered wood.

Wood Effect Tile: A type of ceramic or porcelain tile that is designed to replicate the look and texture of real wood flooring.