Below you can find information and definitions related to general industry terms, surface types, finish types, and stone homogeneity.
Index
General Terms
Acidic
Being or containing an acid; having a pH of less than 7.
Acrylic Emulsion
A water dispersion of polymers or co-polymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or acrylonitrile. Acrylic emulsions create a topical coating on the surface onto which they are applied by the evaporation of the water and film coalescence.
Alkaline
Relating to or containing an alkali; having a pH greater than 7.
Cement-Based
This type of grout can either be sanded or non-sanded. Both varieties are absorbent and acid-sensitive. Often cement-based grout is polymer modified to prevent or minimize cracking and add strength.
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is a white crystalline deposit that is composed of salts, lime and/or other minerals. These deposits may become visible on many types of building product surfaces such as concrete, stucco, grout, masonry, brick, natural stone, clay, ceramic and even wood. These salts and minerals are water-soluble and generally come from the ground or where cementitious or alkali substances exist. These salts and minerals travel to the surface, using moisture as their carrier, where exposure to air evaporates the moisture leaving behind salts and minerals on the surface.
Epoxy Grout
Epoxy grout is impervious to liquids and does not need sealing. It will not allow bacteria to grow and it minimizes cracking. It is generally used with ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile and not with natural stone.
Fluorochemical
A chemical compound containing fluorine, especially a fluorocarbon. When used in a protective chemical such as a stone sealer, it provides repellency against both water and oil-based stains.
Grout Haze
A light haze of film of residue that has dried on the surface of the stone or tile after grouting.
Homogenous
Minerals are evenly distributed to form a visibly random crystalline structure.
Impregnating
As a protective treatment, it is one that penetrates the subsurface. It is not a topical coating. It can have both water and oil repelling qualities. These types of sealers usually do not change the COF (coefficient of friction). They are vapor permeable, breathable & generally natural looking.
Neutral
Having neither acid nor basic properties; it is neither acidic nor alkaline. On the pH scale, it measures 7.
Oil-Based Stains
These types of stains are generally not soluble in water and usually are best removed with an oil stain remover that is solvent based. This solvent can be petroleum or citrus based, for example. Examples of these types of stains include cooking oil, hand cream, shampoo and peanut butter.
Oriented
Minerals are distributed according to a certain orientation or direction.
Patina
A surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use.
Red Rosin Paper
High-quality, heavyweight building paper protective covering and liner. Is useful in a wide variety of construction applications including roofing, flooring and as a general jobsite protective covering.
Silicone
Silicone is often used as a generic term for nearly all substances that contain a silicon atom. In a sealer, silicone helps create water repellency.
Topical
This type of protective treatment forms a surface film. It can serve to minimize wear of soft surfaces. It generally repels water- and oil-based liquids and may change the COF (coefficient of friction) of a material. It does stop acidic foods from etching acid-sensitive stone.
Veined
Geologically a gneiss, not a true granite. Minerals form veins of a different color to the base color, creating a curved or swirled movement in the rock.
Water-Based Stains
These types of stains are generally soluble in water and can be removed with a water-based cleaning solution. Examples of these are cola, orange juice, tomato sauce and jelly.
Surface Types
Polished Marble | Unpolished, Honed, and Textured Marble
Marble is a crystalline rock composed predominately of one or more of the following materials: calcite, dolomite, or serpentine, and capable of taking a polish.
Polished Terrazzo and Agglomerate Marble
Agglomerate marble is a man-made product fabricated to look like quarried marble stone. Usually composed of stone chips or fragments embedded in a matrix of mortar or thermosetting resins. A type of concrete in which chips or pieces of stone, usually marble, are mixed with cement and are ground to a flat surface, exposing the chips which take a high polish.
Less Absorptive Polished Granite-Homogenous Granite | More Absorptive Polished Granite-Veined and Oriented Granite
Granite is a very hard, crystalline, igneous rock. Contains granular, flecks of minerals spread consistently throughout the stone to form a visibly even crystalline structure.
Black Granite
Black granite must be tested PRIOR TO installation. Read more information about testing black granite.
Polished Limestone | Unpolished, Honed, and Textured Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcite or dolomite. The varieties of limestone used as dimensional stone are usually well consolidated and exhibit a minimum of graining or bedding direction. Often contains remains and fossils of sea creatures that lived in the warm seas millions of years ago.
Polished Travertine | Unpolished, Honed, and Textured Travertine
Travertine is a variety of limestone. Usually has voids on the surface formed by water elements and pressure over time. These voids are either filled or left unfilled.
Natural Slate
Natural slate is fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from clay and shales, which possesses a cleavage that permits it to be split readily into thin, smooth sheets.
Sandstone & Flagstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock consisting usually of quartz cemented with silica, iron oxide or calcium carbonate. It is durable, has a very high crushing and tensile strength and a wide range of colors or textures. Flagstone is thin slabs of stone used for flagging or paving walks, driveways, patios, etc. It is generally a fine-grained sandstone, bluestone, quartzite, or slate, but thin slabs of other stones may be used.
Saltillo, Terra Cotta, and Clay Brick
Terra Cotta is low-fired clay, either glazed or unglazed. Clay is a natural mineral aggregate consisting essentially of hydrous aluminum silicate. It is vitrified when fired to a sufficiently high temperature.
Concrete or Cementitious Brick
Concrete is a composition material consisting of cement, aggregate, and water. When mixed together, will result in a chemical action that will set and harden into rock-like mass. Cementitious brick is block of clay, made from or composed of cement, baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material.
Ceramic, Porcelain, and Quarry Tile with Cement-Based Grout
Ceramic is a mixture of clays which have been shaped and fired at high temperatures resulting in a hard body. This hard body may then be left untreated or it may receive a glazed wear layer. Porcelain is a ceramic mosaic or paver tile, generally made by the dust-pressed method, of a composition that produces a dense, impervious, fine-grained tile with smooth and sharply formed face. Cement-based grout can either be sanded or non-sanded. Both varieties are absorbent and acid-sensitive. Often cement-based grout is polymer modified to prevent or minimize cracking and add strength.
Ceramic, Porcelain, and Quarry Tile with Epoxy- or Urethane-Based Grout
Epoxy grout is impervious to liquids and does not need sealing. It will not allow bacteria to grow and it minimizes cracking. It is generally used with ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile and not with natural stone.
Cantera and Adoquin
Cantera is a volcanic quartz-based stone with qualities similar to Adoquin, but not as dense; quarried in Mexico. Adoquin is a volcanic quartz-based stone containing a variety of colored aggregates and pumice in a quartz matrix. Quarried in Mexico and available in several colors.
Finish Types (applicable only to stone)
Polished
Glossy smooth surface that reflects light and emphasizes the color and markings of the stone. Generally only possible on hard, dense materials.
Unpolished / Honed
Satin smooth surface with relative little light reflection.
Textured
A rough surface finish that tends to subdue color and markings; obtained by bush hammering and machine chiseling.
Uniformity (applicable only to stone)
Homogenous
Minerals are evenly distributed to form a visibly even crystalline structure.
Oriented
Minerals are distributed according to a certain orientation – directional.
Veined
Minerals form veins of a different color to the base color, creating a curved or swirled movement in the rock.