Bathroom glossary A–Z

A bath made from heat-formed acrylic sheet reinforced with laminate from underneath. It is lightweight, warm to the touch, and affordable.

Level-access shower without a threshold or tray, which can be entered directly from the bathroom, even with a walker or wheelchair. The floor needs to have a fall (gradient) towards the drain.

A small handheld shower next to the toilet that replaces a separate bidet and saves space. It requires a water supply next to the toilet.

A prefabricated bathroom and toilet core made of laminate panels, which has been installed in prefab blocks of flats since the 1960s. Today, it is often replaced with a brick core with wall tiles.

Types of white Italian marble based on veining. Carrara has a grey-white background with fine dense veining, while Calacatta has a pure white background with prominent wide veins.

A number that indicates how accurately light shows colours. For mirrors, a CRI of 90 or above is recommended for natural-looking skin and makeup.

Outdoor tiles, usually 2 cm thick, laid without adhesive on adjustable supports – pedestals. Water drains through the joints under the tiles.

A function where the fan continues to run for a few minutes after the light is turned off to remove residual moisture from the bathroom.

Hard material for toilet seats with a smooth surface similar to ceramics. It is more resistant to scratching and cleaning agents than regular plastic.

Two sinks side by side or one wide sink with two taps for a family bathroom. Common widths are 120 and 140 cm.

Areas around the bath and shower where the standard STN 33 2000-7-701 specifies stricter rules for electricity. In zone 0, the device must have at least IPX7 protection, and in zones 1 and 2 at least IPX4.

Two-component grout of class RG according to STN EN 13888, which does not absorb water or dirt. Suitable for showers and light-coloured joints.

Cement adhesive of class C2 according to STN EN 12004: T means that the tile on the wall will not slip, E allows for a longer laying time, and S1 indicates flexibility. Used for large formats and underfloor heating.

The size of the tile, for example, 60 × 120 cm. A larger format means fewer joints but requires a flatter substrate and a more experienced tiler.

A coloured protective top layer of laminate products, such as some baths. It gives the surface colour and shine and protects the material underneath.

Dense tiles pressed and fired at around 1,200 °C with a water absorption of no more than 0.5%. Suitable for floors, walls, showers, and outdoors.

A fixed shower head mounted at a height of 200 to 215 cm. It is called a rain shower when it has a large diameter and a gentle flow.

Waterproof layer under wall tiles and floor tiles in the shower, around the bath, and on the floor. Neither the tiles nor the grout are waterproof on their own.

Paintable waterproofing, usually a two-component cement-based product marked EN 14891 for showers. It is applied in two layers and reinforced with sealing tape in corners.

Bath with jets that massage with a stream of water or air. It requires electricity according to the manufacturer's instructions and access to the pump for servicing.

A moisture sensor in the fan. The fan turns on automatically when humidity in the bathroom rises and turns off when it decreases.

A protective coating that seals the pores of natural stone or cement joints to prevent water and dirt absorption. Gres does not require impregnation.

Green plasterboard (type H2) that can withstand increased humidity in the bathroom. It still requires waterproofing in the shower and around the bath.

A steel frame with a tank that supports a wall-hung toilet or bidet. It is covered with an installation wall and tiles, leaving only the flush button visible on the wall.

Data on the box regarding the exact size and colour shade of a single production batch. Buy tiles for one area from the same batch.

The cartridge in a single-lever mixer that mixes hot and cold water. When the mixer drips, it usually suffices to replace the cartridge.

The radiator output in the catalogue is valid according to EN 442 for water at 75/65 °C and a room temperature of 20 °C. In a bathroom at 24 °C and with low-temperature heating, the actual output is lower.

Adhesive is applied with a notched trowel to the substrate and in a thin layer to the back of the tile to avoid voids under large formats. Adhesive consumption is higher.

The code for the resistance of electrical devices: the first number applies to dust and touch, the second to water, X means it has not been tested. For example, IPX4 indicates resistance to splashing water.

A finely ground surface of the floor tiles with a subtle sheen, between matte and glossy. Suitable for floors only with verified slip resistance.

Reflects light and visually enlarges the space, hence it is mainly used on walls. For floors, a matte tile is safer when wet.

A mixture of crushed stone and resin cast into a mold. Shower trays and sinks made of cast marble are solid, heavy, and quiet.

A surface that does not reflect light. It shows less limescale and is safer on the floor when wet.

The format on the box is the nominal size; the actual size may differ by a few millimeters. Rectified tiles 60 × 60 often measure 59.8 × 59.8 cm.

A horizontal line on the wall exactly 100 cm above the future finished floor. The plumber and tiler measure all heights from it.

Thin cement screed that can be applied seamlessly to walls and floors. A simpler alternative with the same appearance is gres with a concrete look.

Two valves in the WC cistern: the filling valve fills the cistern and stops the water with a float, the draining valve releases water into the bowl when flushing. If the WC keeps running, the fault lies with one of them.

How much water the material absorbs. Gres from group BIa has a maximum of 0.5% and is suitable for showers and outdoors, while wall tiles from porous material (BIII) above 10% are only for walls.

Tools for aligning the edges of large tiles during installation to prevent steps between adjacent tiles.

A bath covered with a brick or drywall wall with tiles instead of a plastic panel. An access panel to the waste trap must not be missing.

Heated film behind the mirror that prevents it from fogging after showering. However, it does not replace bathroom ventilation.

Tiles with various patterns in one collection, laid randomly next to each other like patches.

The resistance of the glaze to wear from foot traffic rated from I to V. PEI II is sufficient for a home bathroom, while PEI III is needed for the same tiles throughout the apartment.

A coating that unifies the absorbency of the substrate before gluing or waterproofing, allowing the adhesive and screed to bond better. The type is chosen according to the substrate.

A mesh at the end of the mixer outlet that mixes air into the water. The flow is soft, does not splash, and uses less water.

A drain in the floor with a grate and waste trap. In a level-access shower, the floor slopes towards it from multiple sides.

Underfloor heating – electric (mats or cables under the tiles) or water-based (pipes in the screed connected to heating).

A mixer whose body is hidden in the wall, with only the control and outlet visible. The body is installed before tiling, so it needs to be selected earlier.

Ceramic wall tiles with higher water absorption (group BIII, above 10%), lighter and easy to cut. Suitable only for interior walls.

A leveling layer of the floor made of cement or anhydrite, on which the tiles are laid. In a level-access shower, a fall is made towards the drain.

A wall in front of the original wall, usually made of drywall on metal profiles or brick. It conceals the installation frame and pipes and can create a shelf above.

An opening at the top of the sink or bath that allows water to drain before it overflows. Sinks on countertops often do not have it, hence they require a plug for sinks without an overflow.

Class for bare feet (DIN 51097): A for bathroom floors, B for level-access showers, C for steps into pools and underwater areas.

Class according to shoe testing (DIN 51130) – the higher the number, the less slippery the tiles. R9 to R10 is sufficient for bathroom floors, R10 to R11 for level-access showers.

A radiator made of horizontal pipes on which towels can be hung. It is usually water-based, electric, or a combination with a heating rod.

Tiles with machine-ground edges and precise dimensions that can be laid with a narrow joint of about 2 mm.

Removable cover in the wall tiles, allowing access to the waste trap, valve or cistern without demolition. In the case of a wall-hung toilet, it is replaced by an opening for the flush button.

Toilet bowl without a flushing rim where dirt accumulates. Water flushes the entire bowl, making cleaning quicker.

Distance between the centres of two water connections for wall-mounted taps – usually 150 mm, 100 mm for older installations.

Flexible sealant with mould inhibitors for corners and joints between wall tiles and the bath, shower tray, and sink. Grout is not suitable for corners as it cracks there.

Curved part of the waste under the sink, bath or drain, where water stands. This stops odours from the sewer.

Hardened polymer from which lightweight and affordable shower trays are moulded.

Slight slope of the floor towards the drain to prevent water from standing. In a level-access shower, 1 to 2% according to the drain manufacturer, meaning 1 to 2 cm per metre.

Flat tray under the shower enclosure made of cast marble, acrylic, SMC or ceramics. A low tray looks almost like floor tiles, while a deeper one is useful where the drain cannot be recessed into the floor.

Toilet with a built-in shower that washes with warm water after use. Requires a water supply and an electrical outlet near the toilet.

Long narrow drain at the wall or entrance to the shower. The floor slopes towards it in one direction, which is suitable for large-format tiles.

The height required by the channel or drain with a waste trap in the floor. Low channels have a height of 70 mm, standard ones from 100 mm – the exact figure is in the technical data sheet of the drain.

Vertical pipe for water and sewage that runs through all floors of the building. In a prefab block of flats, it cannot be moved, and its replacement is handled by the building manager.

Material for the joints between tiles. For bathrooms and kitchens, cement CG2 WA is suitable, while for showers and light joints, epoxy RG (STN EN 13888) is recommended.

Light colour in kelvins (K). Around 3,000 K is warm light for evenings and relaxation, while 4,000 K is neutral light for makeup and shaving.

Mixer that maintains the set temperature even if someone else turns on the water elsewhere. A stop at 38 °C protects against scalding, making it good for children and seniors.

Material made from stone and marble fragments in a binder. Nowadays, porcelain stoneware tiles with a terrazzo pattern are mostly laid in bathrooms.

Flexible tape integrated into waterproofing at corners, joints between walls and floors, and around drains where the membrane could tear.

Porous stone with typical holes and bands in warm shades. Porcelain stoneware tiles with this appearance are most commonly chosen for bathrooms.

Glass for shower screens that shatters into small blunt pieces when broken. Requirements for it are specified by the standard STN EN 12150-1.

Glass wall at the edge of the bath, allowing for showering in the bath without splashing. It can be fixed, hinged, or folding.

Tiles with a longer side of 120 cm (60 × 120, 80 × 160, 120 × 120, 120 × 240, 120 × 280 cm), which result in minimal joints on the wall or floor.

Vinyl flooring – click SPC with a solid core or fully bonded vinyl. In bathrooms, only according to the manufacturer's instructions and not in showers.

A bath that does not stand against a wall and is not built-in. It requires a floor drain and a tap standing on the ground or wall.

How many times per hour the fan replaces the entire air in the room. A fan with a capacity of 90 m³/h will exchange air in a bathroom with a volume of 8 m³ approximately 11 times per hour.

Shower without doors, only with a fixed glass wall, usually without a tray or with a flat tray.

Toilet that stands on the floor with the cistern placed directly on the bowl. The waste can either be rear into the wall or bottom into the floor.

Bowl hung on an installation frame with no contact with the floor, making it easy to clean underneath. It is usually installed 40 to 42 cm above the finished floor.

Cabinet with mirrored doors above the sink. Provides storage space that a regular mirror does not have.

A trowel with teeth used to spread adhesive on the substrate. The depth of the teeth is chosen according to the size of the tile – from 4 mm for mosaics to 12 mm for formats over 30 cm.

A tool on this website where you can enter the dimensions of your bathroom for free, arrange the sanitary ware, and choose the wall tiles. You will receive the tile calculation via email.