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Dye Lot and Caliber Numbers Matching

16 years ago

My tile installer told me to make sure my tiles have the same Dye Lot and Caliber Number. What is this actually. I can interpret the dye lot to mean the bath of "ink" they used to make the batch...but what is the caliber number? I cannot tell what is what on the 61 boxes of tile I have:

I checked out the numbers...and found many numbers:

1) UPC Code - same on all the boxes

2) S560 - same on all boxes

3) IRG1818009 PCS6 - same on all boxes, but I think this is the manufacturer model number

4) S5601 - same on all boxes

5) 0720000 098 2116 - same on all boxes with the exception of the last 4 digits which varied on the 61 boxes

Am I in trouble? I bought the tile myself and he was going to install. Is his statement valid about matching numbers?

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Comments (5)

tom_p_pa
16 years ago
A tileÂs dye lot refers to coloration and reflectivity of a tile. A tileÂs caliber refers to its size and is measured with a caliper. If both are the same on all your boxes, you get a consistent installation throughout. Since natural materials are used in both the body and glazes of the tile, slight variations in shade and caliber are normally inherent from one production run to the next. To get consistent grout joints, you need the same caliber, otherwise you can get different grout joint widths. If the installer is aware of the variation before the install is started, the difference can be adjusted within the grout joint. It is generally not acceptable to begin an installation with one size and abruptly change to another.

In regards to your numbers, you may need to call the manufacturer unless someone else can interpret them.
tom_p_pa
16 years ago
In regards to your numbers...I checked some in my garage and all the dye lots are 3 or 4 digits. And the caliber is 2 digits. If you are lucky, the 07 if front could be the caliber, and the 098 could be the dye lot?? But my boxes actually have a white label that spells out the specs.
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saxmaan1
16 years ago
I never heard about this before...and just bought a bunch of stuff and all the numbers are different??? Do I need to return everything? This is the first time I heard about this..is this something no one knows about?
pete_p_ny
16 years ago
Geesh wizz...help...!
tom_p_pa
16 years ago
The tile retailer..."should" know better and provide the same lots. You probably are OK, but it is always a good practice to ask when buying. For very large square footages, if they cannot provide the same lots, they should be notifying you, so you can make a decision. Your installs may be in different rooms so the variation may be acceptable. You just cannot assume anything anymore though.

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