What are "Dye Lots" and "Caliber," and why do they matter
Tile is a product of both high technology and natural minerals. Because it is fired in kilns at extreme temperatures, two technical variations occur in every production run: Dye Lot (Color) and Caliber (Size).
- Dye Lot (Color): This refers to the specific "batch" of color. Because the minerals and temperatures in the kiln can fluctuate slightly, "Dye Lot A" might have a subtly different shade or "tone" than "Dye Lot B."
- Caliber (Size): This refers to the physical dimensions. As tile dries in the kiln, it can shrink at slightly different rates. One batch may be 2 millimeters larger or smaller than the next. While this sounds small, mixing different calibers on one floor will cause your grout lines to become crooked or unaligned.
Why this matters for your project: To ensure your floor looks perfect, your entire order must come from the same Dye Lot and the same Caliber. We pull your entire order from the same batch to ensure a 100% match. Dye lot and caliber information is printed directly on the boxes and can be varified at the job site as a secondary check.
- The Risk of "Add-ons": If you run out of tile and order more later, we cannot guarantee that the original dye lot or caliber will still be in stock. This is why we recommend ordering 10–15% overage up front.
- Attic Stock: Keeping a box of your original batch on hand is the only way to ensure a perfect match for future repairs, as future production runs will likely be a different lot and caliber.
Always verify that the Dye Lot and Caliber codes match on all your boxes before installation begins. "Use constitutes acceptance"—once the tile is installed, Wayne Tile cannot offer credits or replacements for variations in shade or size.
