Tile Terms You Need to Know

Monocotura:
Al this means is that the tile is fired only once in the kiln and that the glaze is applied in this single firing. It results in a thinner, denser, stronger tile. Older style "bicotura" tiles had little buttons on the bottom of them and generally were thicker but less dense and subject to chipping and cracking as they were not as strong. You still see "button backs" in imported wall tiles but do not use them for flooring.

Edging:
Bullnose:
A specially manufactured and fired tile trim piece to finish off edges of an installation. If they are the same size as the field tile they are called bullnose: if they have a finished edge but are of a rectangular size (2"x6" etc.) they are usually called "caps". Metal or vinyl are now also used in various shapes to finish off tile, particularly when large floor tile are used for countertops and shower walls. Often the metal and vinyl will be less expensive than the ceramic edges and have the added value of masking whether the material that is edged is ceramic, marble or stone. With a nice brass edge you can make a relatively inexpensive rustic tile look like a very expensive stone installation, similarly shiny marbled tile will look like marble with metal rather than ceramic edges.