Inserts
Small, sometimes decorative tiles used in combination with larger or plain tiles to create patterns. Small square inserts are also known as a taco or tozzetto.

Limestone
A rock of sedimentary origin composed principally of calcium carbonate (the mineral calcite), or the double carbonate of calcium and magnesium (the mineral dolomite), or some combination of these two minerals (ASTM CII9). (Recrystallised limestone, compact microcrystalline limestone and travertine that are capable of taking a polish are also included in the category ‘commercial marble’ and may be sold as either limestone or marble.)

Lippage
In finished installations, lippage refers to the condition where one edge of a tile is higher than an adjacent tile. Excessive lippage can cause trips and falls.

Listello
Narrow decorative border tile, often designed to compliment a range of field tiles.

Marble
A true marble is a metamorphosed limestone capable of taking a polish, which exhibits a recrystallised interlocking texture composed principally of the carbonate minerals calcite and/or dolomite. However, some stones in the industry are referred to as green marbles, many of which are composed principally of mineral serpentine and by geological definition, should not be included in the marble definition. (It is important to distinguish between these two types of marbles, since some, but not all, green marbles are dimensionally unstable.) Marble is widely used as a vanity top material and wall and floor tiles.

Modular format
Combining different tile sizes is a popular trend which may be described as ‘modular’. Generally a mixture of sizes from the same tile series are laid together to create a more interesting pattern in the installed tiles.

Mohs’ scale
Scale used to express the measure of a material’s hardness from Mohs’ 1 (hardness of talc) to 10 (diamond).

Monocottura
Tiles produced with only one high temperature firing, generally with harder glaze and denser body than wall tiles with moisture absorption below 3 percent.

Monoporosa
Single-fired tiles with higher porosity and water absorption levels than ‘monocottura’ tiles.

Mosaic tiles
Mosaic tiles are defined by their size, generally less than 15cm square. Their composition can be Marble, Metal, Glass or Ceramic tiles. They may have a variety of finishes (-Tumbled, Polished or Honed for Marble mosaics, -Polished or Brushed for Metal mosaics, -Gloss or Matt for Glass mosaics and Glazed or Unglazed for Ceramic mosaics.

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

Pencil tiles
Narrow rectangular tiles (e.g. 2x20cm) sometimes with rounded surface, used on walls as accent pieces. These are often referred to as cappings.

Porcelain stoneware
Dust-pressed ceramic tiles with water absorption levels less than 0.5% and high mechanical and chemical characteristics. The surface of these tiles may be glazed or unglazed. Often specified for exterior installations, they are also referred to as fully vitrified.

Porosity
Volume of pores relative to volume of tile body and capable of absorbing moisture (and therefore stains).

Quarry tiles
Traditional term for single extruded natural clay tiles with a water absorption level not exceeding 6%. Can be glazed or unglazed.

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