The different uses of tile edging include finishing the tile trim on back splashes, floors, bathroom walls, and windows. Tile edging may also be used to create frames around mirrors, sconces, and artwork. Materials used for edging include ceramic, metal, and glass.
Ceramic tile edging has one straight edge and one rounded smooth edge. The straight edge is placed beside a regular ceramic tile and the smooth edge is on the outside so it creates a finished look and prevents sharp edges. The rounded smooth edge is known as a bull-nosed edge. This type of edging is most often seen surrounding a bathtub, shower stall, or bathroom walls because it is waterproof and can be easily cleaned.
Tile edging for back splashes may be constructed of a number of materials. Though the most common material for back splashes is ceramic, tiles may also be made from natural stone, glass mosaics, or even metals such as tin. The tiles and edging are put in place using a mastic adhesive that will dry over a several hour period. Once completely dry, grout is pushed into the cracks between each tile to create a seal. For tin tiles, small nails may be used instead of mastic to create a rustic look.
When tiles are used for floors, they may not need edging. For tiles that cover an entire room, wood baseboards and quarter-round usually cover any rough edges. If the tile is used to create a walkway around a sitting area, for example, there may need to be edging to prevent rough edges and ease the transition from one area to the other. The flooring crew will place the tiles and other flooring down, such as carpet or hardwoods, then cover the seam between the two with edging.
The casings around windows can also be constructed from edging. The casing is the frame around a window and is usually made from the same wood as the floor boards and crown molding. Some rooms, however, will utilize ceramic tile and tile edging instead of wood molding. In those cases, the tile edging will be cut at a 45-degree angle in the corners so the end result is a right angle.
This same concept is used to create frames for mirrors, artwork, and wall sconces. Tile edging is used to enhance the architectural detailing in a room or to create a focal point to show off artwork. The tile edging may be used strictly by itself of along side a tiled back drop.