A Listello is a band of decorative tile or mosaic tile that serves as a visual break of larger tiled areas. If tiling an entire wall with the same tiles from floor to ceiling, consider breaking up the monotony with a Listello. Listellos can also be utilized on floors as well, although not as common. These tiles come in a wide variety of material including ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal and combinations. A Listello may be the same design but textured or cut differently than the larger tiles.

A Bullnose tile is recognizable by its rounded edge or edges and is considered a trim piece for tile. It is used to eliminate sharp or rough edges of a finished tile design. Many tile lines have matching bullnose pieces. Bullnose tiles are a good option for finishing up your tile work because they look beautiful, function well for decorative trim and also protect your corners. Bullnose tiles also can be used to replace baseboard on a tiled floor. Corner bullnose tiles have two rounded edges and are used to finish off corners.

Porcelain is generally harder than ceramic offering a greater design flexibility. Both porcelain and ceramic are made from clay and fired in a kiln. Both have naturally occurring materials, but porcelain is typically more refined and purified, fired at a higher temperature and a greater pressure than ceramic and therefore, extremely more dense and hard. After some years, porcelain has proven to be long-wearing, leaving a greater mark on the industry than ceramic. Porcelain is ideal for colder climates because the moisture absorption rate is around .5 percent or less and makes it less likely to crack and impervious to staining.

When choosing tile, look for a “through body color.” Some tiles are glazed with color, then when chipped will expose the white, tan or red base of clay on the underside. For flooring, look for a high coefficient friction rating- scales from 1 to 10- 10 being the most slip-resistant. What’s great about porcelain, is that it can be rectified (each tile cut to precise identical sizes), allowing the contractor to set tile with tight grout lines.

A mosaic tile is an inlay design consisting of tiles around the size of 2” square. Patterns vary greatly. Some feature a multitude of different materials while others may vary in color or shapes. They may be made from glass, stone, metal or porcelain. Styles available may be square, arabesque, mini-brick, penny round, basketweave, hexagonal, chevron, herringbone and others. These tiles are used to design a space that is intended to make a statement or show intricate design. Good choices are backsplashes, small area walls, fireplaces and surrounds.