Glaze Information

Finish Descriptions:
Opaque/Satin: Solid, homogeneous color with a satin finish.
Stone/Satin: Naturally variegated color and activity with a satin finish.
Opaque/Gloss: Solid, homogeneous color with a gloss finish.
Clear/Gloss: Translucent color with a gloss finish. Exhibits varying degrees of crazing.
Clear/Crackle: Translucent color with a glossy crackled finish. Exhibits varying degrees of color intensity.
  
Strike Offs:
Our hand-painted samples represent some of our favorite color combinations. However, if you would like to customize your order, we will be happy to produce a strike off made to your individual specifications. Strike offs are charged at the regular hand-painted prices and take approximately two weeks to complete. For information on specifying a custom hand-painted order, please contact your local showroom or see the Hand-Painted Custom Orders page of our Product Fact Sheet.
  
Color Range:
Glazes are more an art than a science. While we follow exact formulas and practice meticulous procedures for mixing, applying and firing glazes, each outcome is different. To assist you in your selection process, we have developed a numeric Color Range ranking system of 1 - 5 . The lower numbers represent glazes with the least amount of range while the higher numbers represent glazes with more variation and spunk. Please consult the glaze chart prior to making your final selections. If you are interested in a glaze that exhibits a higher degree of range, we recommend you request a current set of range samples so you may be sure the glaze will meet your expectations.
  
More About Glazes & Glazing:
Our high fire glazes can have a mind of their own. Whether hand-painted or full glazed, Meredith tiles exhibit a unique degree of range. Some glazes such as Parchment and White are very consistent from firing to firing and from piece to piece, while others may show a much wider range. This range results from many factors - individual batch production, fluctuations in raw materials, subtle glaze thickness and temperature variations, different application methods and ultimately the mood of the glaze gods. Because of these factors, each and every run is likely to be different from the next. Even within runs, hand-sprayed moldings will differ from line run field tiles and those will almost certainly differ from the hand-painted molded tiles — even though they may have come from the same barrel of glaze and been fired at the same time. This is what sets our tile apart from the miles of repetitious squares out there. Range is what gives an installation character. It is something to be coveted. Recognizing this unique characteristic, we strongly urge you order carefully. Add-ons often take as long to produce as the original order and are not guaranteed to match.
 
Crazing:
When you see an old tile installation, you may notice tiny hairline cracks in the glaze. This is known as crazing and it is inherent to our tiles – just as it was to the turn-of-the-century tiles that inspire our work. Crazing is not a defect – it’s a natural process that adds character and beauty to our tile. Unlike paints or stains, these crazing lines do not jeopardize the integrity of the tile. You don’t ever need to worry about the glaze peeling or flaking off – it’s fired on for life. Crazing is caused during the cooling process. As the body and glaze cool they both shrink – but if they shrink at different rates, surface tension is created. Ultimately, this tension creates the crazing lines we see. The extent and pattern of the crazing is unique to each piece of tile and is totally beyond our control. So while you may have a sample with one degree of crazing, the next run could look very different. What we can guarantee is that each run will be different from the next and all will be beautiful.
 
Crackle Glazes:
Unlike crazing - the natural phenomena addressed above – Meredith’s Crackle glazes have been engineered to crackle. By adjusting the thermal expansion of the glaze crazing is not left up to chance. These modified glazes are designed to crackle at a dynamic level to give your installation even more character.

Sealing your Tile:
Prior to grouting, it is recommended that all tiles be sealed with a high quality penetrating sealer to avoid grout haze and prevent unwanted marks and stains. Please consult your place of purchase or installer for more information on penetrating sealers and be sure to follow all instructions carefully.

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