# Quarry tile

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Building material

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Decorated quarry tile floors of a church in Gloucestershire, England

**Quarry tile** is a [building material](/source/Building_material), usually 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inch (13 to 19 mm) thick, made by either the extrusion process or more commonly by press forming and firing natural [clay](/source/Clay) or [shales](/source/Shale), at a high temperature, about 2,000 °F (1,000 °C).[1][2] and fired at a high temperature, about 2,000 °F (1,000 °C).[3] Quarry tile is manufactured from clay in a manner similar to [bricks](/source/Brick).[3]

## Sizes and shapes

The most traditional size in the US is nominally 6 by 6 by 1⁄2 inch (15.2 cm × 15.2 cm × 1.3 cm) thick. Other common sizes include 4 by 8 inches (100 mm × 200 mm) and 8 by 8 inches (200 mm × 200 mm).

In the UK, traditional surface dimensions generally vary from 6 by 6 inches (15 cm × 15 cm), to 12 by 12 inches (30 cm × 30 cm). Such tiles, given the generally local and non-standardised production, commonly vary between those dimensions, but rarely stray outside of them.

Modern quarry tiles are generally thinner than their historic counterparts, sometimes as thin as 5⁄16 inch (7.9 mm); by comparison, older tiles were rarely thinner than 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) in and could be as thick as 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) thick.

Additionally, modern tiles can be found in different shapes, such as rectangular.

## Finishes

Traditional quarry tiles were [unglazed](/source/Ceramic_glaze) and either red, grey, or black/very dark blue; however, modern "decorator" tiles come in a variety of tints and finishes. Industrial quarry tile is available with abrasive [frit](/source/Frit) embedded in the surface to provide a non-slip finish in wet areas such as commercial kitchens and laboratories.

## Uses

Quarry tile is extensively used for floors where a very durable material is required. It can be used either indoors or outdoors, although freeze-resistant grades of tile should be used outdoors in climates where freeze-thaw action occurs. Quarry tile is used less often as a wall finish and is occasionally used for [countertops](/source/Countertop), although the wide grout joints can make cleaning of countertops difficult. Most commercial kitchens require a quarry tile to be used because of its slip resistant and non-porous properties.

## Installation

For floors, quarry tile is usually set in a thick bed of cementitious [mortar](/source/Mortar_(masonry)). For wall applications, it can be set in either a thick bed of cementitious mortar or a thin bed of [mastic](/source/Mastic_(filler_compound)). For both floors and walls, the joints between tiles are usually grouted with cementitious [grout](/source/Grout). Grout joints are traditionally about 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) in width. Matching trim shapes such as [coves](/source/Cove), bases, shoes, and [bullnoses](/source/Bullnose) are available to turn corners and terminate runs of the tile.

For traditional/historic applications, tiles were generally laid in lime mortar, doubling as grout, and with very fine grout joints (sometimes butted without joints, similarly to mosaic tiles).

Due to the typically square shape, quarry tiles were historically, and still today, restricted to either square or diamond patterns.

## See also

- [Ceramic tile](/source/Ceramic_tile)

- [Ceramic tile cutter](/source/Ceramic_tile_cutter)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Ceramic Tile glossary of terms"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140320144403/http://ceramic-tile.com/glossary.cfm). Archived from [the original](http://www.ceramic-tile.com/glossary.cfm) on March 20, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014. [National Tile Contractors Association](/source/National_Tile_Contractors_Association)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** American Society for Testing and Materials Standard ASTM C 242

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-metro_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-metro_3-1) ["What Is Quarry Tile"](http://www.metroceramics.com/about-section/about---what-is-quarry-tile/). Metropolitan Ceramics. 9 April 2021.

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