LATEX RESIN — A synthetic resin emulsified in water. It makes adhesives more resistant and elastic.
LAYING — The final phase of mosaic production, in which the mosaic is pasted on a permanent backing: ceilings, walls, floors, wood or honeycomb panels, prefabricated structures and metal frames.
Lead glaze — Glassy, transparent glaze made from lead oxide since ancient times. It is highly poisonous in its unfired state.
LEDGER BOARD or BATON — A straight piece of wood used as a place marker and starting point to set wall tile.
LIME — Lime is produced by baking at high temperature more or less pure calcareous materials in a special kiln. Immediately out of the kiln, the product is called "quicklime": with the addition of water it produces heat and is transformed into powder. This product is called "slaked lime" and, with a further addition of water, "lime putty". When it is mixed with sand, it hardens and can be used to prepare plaster coats and interior foundations.
LINER — A thin or narrow tile used as a decorative piece. Often used to delineate or outline a pattern.
LINSEED OIL — Yellowish oil obtained from the seeds of linseed. It is an essential product to protect and polish terrazzo floors
LISTELLO — A border tile used to create a break in a tiled surface or transition from one tile design to another; can also mean a trim with similar function.
Lithography — A method of surface printing. The process is based on the antipathy of grease and water. The design is created with the aid of greasy ink or crayon, applied to the stone which is porous and readily accepts water. The stone is first made wet, then it is rolled with ink. The ink is accepted by the greasy design but repelled by the wet stone. Paper is then placed over the stone and put through a roller press which transfers the design to the paper.
Lithostroton — 'Strewn stone', commonly used of a decorative paving with small irregular pieces of stone, often in different colours.
Lock back — A special feature of dust-pressed tiles that have under-cut indentations on the back to aid adherence to mortar or cement.
LOOSE STONE FOUNDATION — The first layer of a terrazzo floor foundation that is 4-5cm thick. It is prepared by mixing fragments and rubble with hydraulic lime.
Lozenge — Diamond shape; rhombus.
Lustre — A ceramic pigment usually derived from copper or silver which turns into a thin layer of metal on objects in the kiln when smoke or reduction gases are introduced. This produces iridescent metallic effects.
