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Tiler terms explained — Harlow glossary

The Tile Association(TTA)

The UK trade body for tiling, publishing the technical standards most specifications reference. Membership is voluntary, so it signals a contractor who works to a written standard rather than by habit.

Tanking

The waterproof membrane applied behind tiles in a shower or wet room before tiling begins. Tile and grout are water-resistant, not waterproof — the membrane is what actually keeps water out of the wall, and it is invisible once tiled.

Decoupling Membrane(Uncoupling mat)

A layer between substrate and tile that absorbs small movement, used over timber floors and underfloor heating. It is the standard defence against hairline cracking where the floor flexes or the temperature cycles.

Substrate

The surface being tiled onto — plasterboard, backer board, screed or ply. It must be flat, dry, rigid and appropriate to the location. Tiling straight onto standard plasterboard in a shower is the most common cause of a bathroom failing within a few years.