Natural Stone Tile Terms

From nominal sizes to the definition of natural stone, we have covered the basics of solid stone knowledge.

But, there’s something else you will need in your back pocket if you’re in the market for natural stone tile. And that’s a great handle on the most common terms used to describe natural stone tiles.

So today, we’re offering you a crash course in natural stone tile terminology. From edges and surface types to color names, keep reading to discover the terms that you might hear whilst looking for the perfect natural stone decorative tile!

Natural Stone Tile Edges

First up, we have the various terms used to describe stone tile edges. Edges refer to the sides of the tile and can have various appearances depending on how the natural stone was cut and formed into tiles. The most common types of edges for natural stone tiles are:

• Straight Cut Edges
• Micro-Bevel Edges
• Tumbled Edges
• Chiseled Edges

Discover the specific characteristics of each edge type, below!

Straight Cut Edge

Straight cut edges refer to natural stone tiles that have been cut so there are relatively straight edges on all sides of the tile. We say “relatively” straight because natural stone is a product of Mother Nature. Because it’s a naturally occurring material, it’s subject to disparities, like one edge being slightly more straight or even than the other.

Micro-Bevel Edge

Tumbled Edges

Next up, we have tumbled edges. To create tiles with tumbled edges, straight cut edge tiles are first put into a tumbling machine. A tumbling machine is essentially a big shaker. It’s filled with gravel or ceramic and either vibrates or rotates the tiles until their edges are rounded. Once the edges of the tiles are rounded out, the tiles are removed from the tumbler. Below is an example of several natural stone tiles with tumbled edges.

Tumbled edges are a very common way to finish natural stone tiles. Rounded, imperfect edges are a great complement to the other characteristics of natural stone. And, tumbled edges can help invoke a rustic aesthetic in any interior. Pair this edge type with a Honed Durango stone and an American-Country-inspired tile design and you can create a warm, inviting space in no time.

Chiseled Edge

Finally, we have the chiseled edge. Chiseled edges are rough and irregular and give the natural stone tile an aged and distinguished appearance. According to The Build Direct Learning Center, chiseled edges are created by mechanically chipping away at the edge of the tile. Usually, you will see chiseled edges paired with more rustic stone types, like Travertine or Honed Durango.

Below, you can see a visual example of chiseled edges on a Travertine tile:

Natural Stone Tile Surface Types

Now that we’ve covered the most common types of natural stone tile edges, let’s look at the different tile surfaces.

In this section, we’ll cover the following terms used to describe different natural stone tile surfaces:

• Honed Tile
• Polished Tile
• Filled Tile
• Unfilled Tile

Honed Tile

Polished Tile

Another popular surface type? Polished stone. Like honing, polishing involves sanding or abrading tile until it is smooth. But, unlike honed tiles, polished tiles are created with smaller grit sanders and have a smooth and shiny finish.

Filled Tile

Filled tiles are smooth, natural stone tiles that have had their natural holes, pits, and cracks filled in. Usually, a polymer or synthetic material is used to fill natural stone tiles. This is because polymers or synthetic materials are smooth substances and very hard once dry. Often, the filler is a similar color to the rest of the stone, so it blends in and adds to the natural texture of the tiles.

But, remember: filler is not the same thing as grout.  Filling occurs during manufacturing, while grouting occurs only during installation!

Unfilled Tile

Unlike filled tiles, unfilled tiles do not have any holes, pits, or cracks filled in. It’s the raw, wild, and unpretentious stone, just as if you just chopped a chunk off the quarry walls yourself. As you can see with the example below, unfilled tile looks the most antique and provincial.

Natural Stone Tile Color Names

Fortunately, the names used to describe colors of natural stone are not as extensive as those used for paint colors.

What you need to know is that natural stone color names will vary by manufacturer and distributor. What one store calls Ivory, another might call Beige or Cream or Crema or Light or Classic.

The words used to describe the colors of different natural stone tiles are not universal. You will find some consistency in the naming and often hear similar terms used, but remember to inspect the product for yourself. Order samples or schedule a showroom visit to see how the colors live up to their names and your expectations for your interior.

And if you are going to shop around, write down the names of the tiles that you like along with the name of the store where you found them. You might fall in love with the Chocolate Tumbled Classico Antiqued tiles at Shop A. But if you walk into Shop B and ask for Chocolate Tumbled Classico Antiqued tiles, you could be met with blank stares (or if they are smart, Store B will whip out their Rustic Ancient Noce Classic tiles and tell you why Rustic Ancient Noce Classic tiles are so much better than Chocolate Tumbled Classico Antiqued tiles).

Wrapping It Up