Tiles aren’t just for the bathroom or the kitchen anymore. Porcelain, ceramic, and stone tiles are versatile materials that may today be found in nearly every room of a modern home. The tiles are exceptionally robust, do not shatter or distort as the temperature rises or falls, and are water-resistant. They’ve come a long way in design, texture, and color.
Mud Cap Tile vs Bullnose: Difference Between the Two
You will likely come across various tile shapes and sizes while looking for new tiles. Mud cap tile and bullnose are two of the most perplexing tile shapes. So, what exactly is the distinction between the two?
Mud cap tiles, also known as cove tiles, have a curved, concave radius on one edge and are used to produce a junction between the wall and the floor or an inside corner when placing wall tile. The bottoms of these tiles are flared to create a smooth transition from one surface to the next. There are two types of mud cap tiles:
- Stack-on Cove Base: The bottom of this wall tile trim stretches out to form a smooth transition to the floor. It has a flat top edge and is utilized on walls where the tile will be put above it.
- Sanitary Cove Base: It is a floor tile trim with a rounded finished top to cover up the tile’s body.
On the other hand, Bullnose tile, also frequently referred to as a surface cap, is utilized as a cove base replacement. A single bullnose has one rounded edge and can be used to complete an area or change direction horizontally or vertically.
To help you better understand tile shapes and sizes, the next section of this article will walk you through the different tile shapes and sizes and the application of each shape.
Types of Tile Shapes and Sizes
Field Tiles
A field tile is a tile used to cover a wall, countertop, or floor. These tiles are usually flat, have a single color, and require a border or trim tile to finish the installation’s edges.
The most typical shape for field tiles is square, but they are also available in rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal, and customized designs. These tiles come in various sizes, ranging from one-inch mosaics to 24-inch and bigger format tiles.
Mosaic Tile
Mosaic tiles are small tiles (usually less than 3″x 3″) composed of porcelain, ceramic, colored glass, natural stone, and even pebbles. They come in various shapes, including round (dots) and hexagonal.
To make handling and installation easy, mosaic tiles are frequently placed on paper, mesh, or adhesive dot-attached sheets. Mosaic tiles can be laid down straight or separated and mixed with other colors to create a surface design, decorative inset, or unique pattern.
Trim Tile
Trim tiles cover the cut or raw edges of field tiles, especially on walls and countertops. These tiles are an essential transition component that protects the raw edge of the field tile; without them, the field tile could be destroyed easily.
Trim tiles come in various shapes and sizes to help you achieve the sanitary and architectural look you want for your installation.
The two broad categories of trim tiles include:
- Surface Trim: Often the same thickness as the field tile and is put directly to the wall or countertop surface.
- Radius Trim: A curving trim tile used to cover a deep setting bed or a tile piece.
The typical surface and radius trim shapes include the already discussed bullnose and mud cup, plus quarter-round and V-cap.
Border Tiles
Border tiles are mostly decorative field tiles that define a transition. The forms, sizes, designs, colors, and textures of these tiles distinguish them from the field tiles.
Some border tiles can also be used as trim tiles, such as the v-cap of a counter, which can be a different color or have a design or hand-painted element that acts as a border. Many manufacturers are also now producing ceramic versions of traditional wood moldings for use as borders, including profiles for the base, crown, and chair rails that match the wall tile and add a more aesthetic touch to the installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference Between V-Cap and Quarter Round?
V-Cap, also known as apron trim, is a v-shaped trim placed on the front border of a countertop. The front edge of this tile is softly curled upward to prevent water from spilling onto the floor. On the other hand, quarter round, also known as Bead, is a trim piece used to finish piece edges. It seems to be a quarter of a circle when viewed from the side. Variations of this include a half-round trim.
What are Porcelain Tiles?
All porcelain tiles are ceramic tiles. But not all ceramic tiles are porcelain. Porcelain tiles are ceramic tiles that have a water absorption rate that is below 0.5 percent. This is why these tiles can be utilized indoors and outdoors in exterior settings; their significantly low water absorption rates keep them stable during freeze-thaw cycles.
Porcelain tiles are created from fine clays, feldspar, and quartz and fired at a high temperature, making them denser and more water-resistant than the standard ceramic tile. It’s worth noting that certain manufacturers are now producing high-density ceramic tiles that are more dense and strong than porcelain tiles.
While porcelain’s structure provides durability, cutting and adhering the tile to vertical surfaces can be challenging.
Where are Tiles Used?
Tiles are most typically used on interior floors, walls, and worktops are the most typical in homes. To endure foot traffic, floor tiles are thicker and more durable than wall tiles. They can also be glazed or unglazed. To improve slip resistance, floor tiles often have a more textured surface.
Floor tile can be used on a wall or a countertop, but wall tile should only be used on walls and countertops. The majority of wall tiles have a high-gloss or semi-gloss finish. This glazed, glossy surface has a low slip resistance and becomes highly slick when wet, making it unsuitable for use as a floor tile.