Bullnosing Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Is it possible to add a bullnose edge to ceramic and porcelain tile? Yes! But it requires careful reglazing and kiln-firing after applying the bullnose edge.

Architects and interior designers choose ceramic and porcelain tiles because they are available in so many colors and designs. These man-made, decorative tiles are produced all over the world and are a popular choice for floors, walls, steps, counter tops, vanities, fireplace surrounds, window sills, entries, and fountains.

What's the difference?

Ceramic tile is made from a variety of clays found all over the world, may be sun-dried or kiln-fired, and is generally softer than porcelain tile. Ceramic tile is extremely popular because of the variety of available shapes and designs and is often the least expensive tile on the market.

Porcelain tile, on the other hand, is made from special clays and minerals similar to those found in glass and fine china. These tiles are fired at extreme high temperatures (2000°F to 2500°F) resulting in a harder tile body and surface finish than found in most other man-made tiles. Porcelain tile is usually more expensive. For more detailed info click here.

Trim Tiles

Some tile manufacturers produce complementary trim tiles (bullnose) to match their most popular field tiles. A bullnose is usually glazed on one or more edges and contains a convex radius on one side. Without a bullnose trim tile, the rough edges of a field tile produces an unfinished appearance and the tile is likely to chip and crack.

Not all tile manufacturers produce matching trim tiles. If no trim tile is available, tile installers must add metal or wooden borders. If there is a skilled bullnose craftsman available, bullnose fabrication is a better solution.

Bullnose Fabrication

A bullnose profile is a smooth, rounded finish, that protects the edge of the tile while providing a high-quality, finished appearance.

Bullnose fabrication, creating a trim tile from a man-made field tile, is a two-step process: grinding and glazing.

The first step requires grinding a round profile on the edge of a field tile. The tile is cut and shaped using a tile saw, grinding tools, sanding stones, and polishing pads in a process similar to that used to bullnose solid-body, natural stone tiles.

Because man-made tiles (ceramic and porcelain) are created from a clay body covered with a surface color, the bullnosing process exposes the clay and removes some of the surface. The trim edge must be glazed before it can be used.

The second step, glazing, requires careful color-matching to the original clay body and surface color. The colors of most glazes are made from a mixture of minerals such as gold, silver, zinc, copper, mercury, cobalt, etc. Some potters guard their glaze formulas like chefs guarding recipes. And, like many chefs, some potters have no idea what they mixed!

GLAZEIT, a proprietary finish , solves the color matching problem and, after kiln firing, produces a bullnose finish that blends with the original clay and surface colors. With GLAZEIT, adding a bullnose edge to ceramic and porcelain field tile is easy and affordable.

Tile bullnosing is an important, specialized service. Construction subcontractors, tile installers, tile retailers, and do-it-yourself homeowners rely on skilled tile bullnosers to fabricate ceramic and porcelain trim tiles.