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Antique Stone

Stone that has been re-claimed from applications that are at least one hundred years old. All antique stone from ANN SACKS comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Back Butter

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

Base

Creates a transition from the wall to the floor.

Beak

A corner piece for a quarter round.

Beveled

The angle or inclination of a line or surface that meets another at any angle but 90°.

Bisque

An unglazed white porcelain.

Blending

Combining stone in a way that highlights the natural variations of color and texture.

Bullnose

Tile piece that finishes off a run of tile. These pieces can also be used to turn a corner vertically or horizontally.

Bush Hammered

A stone finish in which a hammer, whose face is cut up into projecting points, is used to give the stone face a very rough finish.

Butt Joint

The act of placing two tiles together closely as to create the smallest grout joint as possible.

Calibrated

Hand selected for thickness and finished so both sides can be used.

Ceramic

Items, including tiles and pottery, made from clay and fired in a kiln.

Cove Base

Creates a right angle transition from the wall to the floor.

Craze

The random pattern of fine lines or cracks on the surface of a crackle-glazed tile.

Diagonally Set

Turning a square tile 45 degrees and setting it with the point touching the already placed tile.

Dry Laying

The process of laying out stone before installation. This allows one to take advantage of the stone's natural beauty by blending the variations to create the most pleasing installation.

Earthenware

Ceramics made of opaque, slightly porous clay that is fired at a relatively low heat.

Extruded

Tile or trim unit that is formed when clay mixtures are forced through a 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.

Face Mounted

Tile that is held together on the front by tape or paper. Usually used on mosaics.

Field

An area of tile covering a wall or floor. The field may be bordered by tile trim.

Fired

The controlled heat treatment of ceramic ware in a kiln or furnace, during the process of manufacture, to develop the desired properties.

Float

To move from place to place, especially at random. Also used as term for tool that spreads adhesive or grout.

Gauged Stone

Machine cut on one side to specific thickness while maintaining the cleft for variation on the other side.

Granite

Granite is igneous - meaning it is formed by extreme heat and volcanic action. Its characteristic colors include a huge variety and mixes of color. Granite can take a high polish.

Greek Key

A classical pattern of right-angled vertical and horizontal lines that is generally used for borders.

Grout

A rich or strong cementitious or chemically setting mixture used for filling tile joints.

Herringbone

A pattern consisting of rows of short, slanted parallel lines with the direction of the slant alternating row by row.

Honed

A stone finish that gives a smooth, even appearance without a high polished gloss.

Igneous

Produced by the action of fire. Formed by volcanic action or intense heat, as rocks solidified from molten magma at or below the surface of the earth.

Kiln

A special oven used to dry and harden clay objects in a process called firing.

Limestone

Limestone is sedimentary - meaning it is formed by the action of water and great pressure. Its characteristic colors include neutrals, off-white, beige, tan, taupe, light blue grey. The look of limestone is created by the interaction of sediment deposits and shells with geological activity. Limestone finishes are usually honed and typically do not hold a high gloss polish.

Marble

Marble is the metamorphic product of limestone - meaning it is formed when heat and great pressure are applied to limestone. Its characteristics include a huge variety and mixture of colors. The veins found in marble are created by the interaction of mineral deposits with geological activity. Marble can take a high polish due to its hard surface.

Matte

A ceramic glaze having low gloss.

Milled

Machine cut on one side with inherent thickness variation.

Miter

To cut on an angle so that two edges join without a space.

Molding

Provides a decorative or architectural accent as it finishes off a run of tile.

Mosaic

Small pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic assembled on mesh, tape, or paper to form a picture, pattern, or field.

Netted

Pieces held together by a fabric backing.

Pavers

Flat tile or stone blocks designed specifically for use on floors and walkways.

Pillow-cut

A type of tile with edges softly tapered to create a shape like a puffy pillow.

Porcelain

Hard, transparent, nonporous white clay, fired at a very high temperature used for decorative tiles and fine tableware.

Porous

Capable of absorption. All stone is naturally porous to some degree and subject to absorption of water, oil, grease, dirt, etc. Just like wood, stone can be sealed to limit its porosity, and to make it easy to maintain.

Quarry Tile

A tile made from clay that is fired at a very high temperature to make it durable.

Quarter Round

Used to turn a 90-degree corner with a rounded edge either vertically or horizontally.

Relief

A figure or pattern that stands out from the surface of a tile.

Running Bond

Also known as brick bond. A tile pattern that when installed, alternates every other course to make the classic "brick" pattern.

Sealant

A product applied to stone to protect against porosity and provide ease of maintenance.

Sedimentary

Formed by matter that settles to the bottom of liquid.

Slate

Slate is metamorphic - meaning it is formed under great pressure from sediment. It has a huge variety of characteristic colors that often vary widely. Slate has a natural cleft finish.

Soldier Course

Oblong tile laid with the long side vertical and all joints in alignment to make a rectangular grid pattern.

Stoneware

Ceramics made of strong, opaque, nonporous clay that is fired at a high temperature.

Terra Cotta

Literally translated it means "baked earth." Made from hard brown, red, or buff unglazed clay. A hard molded and fired clay that is used for tile, floor pavers, and sculpture. The most common terra cotta is a dark red-orange, but colors vary depending on the trace elements it contains.

Travertine

Travertine is a banded, compact variation of limestone. Its characteristic colors include neutrals, off-white, beige, tan and yellow. The look of travertine is created by the interaction of gas, shells, and water with geological activity. Travertine finishes are usually honed, but some will hold a polish.

Trim

Finishing pieces of tile that transition two areas.

Trowel

A flat bladed hand tool for leveling, spreading, or shaping substances such as cement or mortar.

Tumbled

Stone finish achieved by putting the stones in a machine that “tumbles” the stone around together causing uneven rough surface and edges. This finish has a rustic appeal.

Un-gauged

No defined thickness of stone causing extreme range and the ability to use both sides of the stone.

Variation

As stone is a natural product, a range of color and geologic activity is typical and must be expected.

Wainscot

The lower part of an interior wall when finished in a material different from that of the upper part.