A to ZGlossary
Remodeling words, in plain English.
Grout, niche, pan, thinset and more. Search a term and see what it means.
- Alcove tub
- A tub set into a three-wall nook, usually with a shower above it.
- Backer board
- A cement or foam panel on walls and floors that tile can bond to without rotting.
- Bullnose
- A tile or trim piece with a rounded edge, used where tile ends.
- Caulk
- A flexible sealant used at corners and where tile meets a tub, vanity or floor.
- Cement board
- A rigid, water-tolerant panel used behind tile in showers and tub surrounds.
- Curbless shower
- A shower with no step at the entry, so the floor flows into the shower.
- Escutcheon
- The trim plate that covers the hole where a pipe or valve comes through a wall.
- Flood test
- Filling a shower pan with water to check that it holds before tile goes down.
- Frameless glass
- Thick tempered glass held by small hinges and clips instead of a metal frame.
- Grab bar
- A sturdy bar anchored into the wall to help with balance in a shower or by a toilet.
- Grout
- The material between tiles that fills joints and locks the tile in place.
- Linear drain
- A long, narrow shower drain that lets the whole floor slope one way.
- Membrane
- A waterproof layer applied over a shower floor and walls under tile.
- Mortar bed
- A sloped layer of mortar that forms a shower floor and carries water to the drain.
- Niche
- A recessed shelf built into a shower wall for soap and shampoo.
- Pan
- The waterproof base of a shower, sloped to the drain.
- Pony wall
- A short wall, often a half wall beside a toilet or shower.
- Rain head
- A large, flat showerhead that lets water fall like rain.
- Rough-in
- The plumbing and wiring installed inside the walls and floor before finishes.
- Edge trim
- A metal or plastic profile that finishes tile corners and ends cleanly.
- Slip resistance
- How well a floor tile grips when wet, often shown as a friction rating.
- Solid surface
- A seamless, man-made material used for panels, tops and tubs.
- Spacer
- A small plastic cross or tab that keeps tile joints even while tile is set.
- Subfloor
- The structural floor under tile, usually plywood or concrete.
- Thinset
- The cement-based adhesive that holds tile to the surface.
- Thermostatic valve
- A shower valve that holds a steady water temperature.
- Undermount sink
- A sink mounted beneath the countertop for easy wipe-down.
- Vanity
- The cabinet and top that holds the bathroom sink.
- Vapor barrier
- A layer that slows moisture moving through a wall or ceiling.
- Wainscot
- Wall covering, often tile or paneling, that runs partway up the wall.
No term matches that. Call or text 615-357-7797 and ask us.
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