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What Is The Purpose of Tile Edge Trimming?

Ceramic and stone tile have been popular design choices for centuries, and there’s good reason for it. With renowned durability, low levels of required maintenance, and endless creative options, ceramic and stone tile are some of the most common coverings seen on walls, floors, and even countertops. When installed correctly with proper systems and techniques, these assemblies can last for decades – and tile edge trim profiles play an important role in a successful tile installation.

What is Tile Edge Trim?

Simply put, a tile edge trim, otherwise known as a profile, is a finishing edge that is positioned along the borders of a tile field during the installation process. Bonded under the tile with an anchoring leg, the profile is set into the same thin-set mortar as the tile and becomes a permanent part of the assembly.

Reasons for including tile edge trim in a tile assembly are two-fold. Firstly, using a metal tile edge trim along the unfinished border of any tile adds a layer of protection to the tile, which can help prevent tile from chipping or cracking. These problems are common in high-traffic areas such as floors or kitchen countertops. Installing a countertop tile edge trim saves tile edges from being chipped and is much more durable than traditional wood trim, while a floor profile protects tile edges and creates clean transitions to adjoining surfaces.

The other reason that tile profiles are used is esthetic. Available in a variety of materials, colors, finishes, and shapes, tile edge trim provides a multitude of design options, allowing for any space to be personalized. Whether it’s a backsplash edge trim that completes the tile assembly with a contrasting finish or a shower niche trim the blends into the tile field in a matching color, tile profiles maximize design potential by providing a beautiful finish to an otherwise unsightly raw tile edge.

What’s more, tile edge trim has numerous areas of use. In addition to floors, backsplashes, and countertops, profiles can also be used in wall applications as baseboards or wainscotting to add a decorative edge to the tile assembly. In bathroom settings, tile edge trim is common in shower niches and pony walls. There are even tile trims designed specifically for stairs.

Most tile profiles are a variety of metal edge trim. Schluter profiles are available in a large variety of anodized aluminum finishes, stainless steel, as well as powder-coated colors that can blend in with the tile. PVC options are also available for light-duty applications. If you’ve decided to use LVT flooring instead of tile, there are profiles for that too! Schluter’s LVT profiles are slim and discreet, creating a much more modern look than traditional wood or rubber edge trim.

Copy from Schluter Website