20:14 Nov 28, 2009 

I entirely agree with you.

By the way, Alan, I'm so glad I do not use your link, for I also disagree with many terms included in it, and I feel very comfortable with the glossary sent by my client.

17:01 Nov 28, 2009 

It's a quadruple problem, if one takes it that far. However, since I very much doubt French home-buyers know what grès-cérame actually is, and how it differs from grès émaillé, grès étiré, and grès vitrifié/vernissé (I certainly don't), I feel no great technical precision is necessary. That would only complicate matters unnecessarily. "Porcelain tiles", "ceramic tiles", or "stoneware tiles" probably mean much the same thing to an English buyer and all work as far as I am concerned ... assuming you don't have any of the other tile types in your text, in which case a client - if no one else - might start asking questions.

16:53 Nov 28, 2009 

... with no one right answer. Most punters, and most estate agents, would be perfectly happy with 'ceramic tiles', and would have not the slightest concern or interest in navel-gazing technicalities. I totally agree with Tony M. and having checked out a few Spanish tile manufactures' web sites, some of the translations are seriously less than brilliant (see www.porcelanosa.com/es/porcelanosa.php), but make it clear that the difference is between azulejos cerámicos (ES)/ceramic tiles (EN)/carrelages céramiques (FR) and gres porcelanato (ES)/porcelain or porcelain stoneware tiles (EN)/grès cérame, grès porcelainé or grès cérame porcelainé (FR). Even within these there are differnces which only a manufacturer would be aware of. The two categories of product are fundamentally different, even if they look the same to a non-specialist, and should not be confused.

16:20 Nov 28, 2009 

I have to say, Margaret, that my experience has been different from yours on a couple of counts.

Firstly, I have very often been provided with validated 'glossaries' by manufacturers, who have been deeply embarrassed when I have been able to prove to them incontestably that certain entries were wrong.

Secondly, it is often the case that even an entry that is correct in one manufacturer's glossary, in their specific context, might not fit in another context — it could be that the term is too broad, or too narrow... or just different in another sector.

15:59 Nov 28, 2009 

... that in all probability the author of Asker's real-estate blurb is oblivious to the niceties of architects' and tile-manufacturers' pro-speak, in just the same was as most house-buyers are. What asker needs, surely, is something that is both informative to the target audience and sufficiently wide-ranging to 'cover all evils' just in case the real-estate agent gets accused of misrepresenting the property. IOW, the terminology must be 'fit for purpose', not necessarily what the 'experts' 'think' is correct.

15:30 Nov 28, 2009 

I repeat that I am doing a text right now given to me by the manufacturer who provided the glossary, and I doubt the manufacturer himself is wrong on this one! You don't always have to be "from the trade" to do a proper translation.

15:16 Nov 28, 2009 

Most people outside the architectural profession, tile manufacturers and suppliers to the construction industry will, and do, refer indiscriminately to 'ceramic tiles' when refering to a wide range of floor and wall tiles. Technically, 'grès cérame' is NOT the same as 'céramique'.

14:49 Nov 28, 2009 

Again I agree with your comment, but the asker does state "Sol en grés cérame", so, it's obviously (ceramic - in my opinion and according to me experience) tiled flooring.

11:46 Nov 28, 2009 

it is man-made, so not natural sandstone at allhttp://www.cotemaison.fr/solution-maison/renover/c-est-quoi-...