Scoring (industrial process)

Scoring is a process in which one cuts a groove into rigid material (usually tile, stone, glass, etc.). This groove is used to either break the material along the slit, for decoration, or act as a guideline for other processes such as painting. It can also be used to allow materials to expand and contract under varying thermal conditions. Scoring is used in place of cutting through the material all the way because you can obtain relatively the same results with less time and labor.

Disadvantages of scoring

• When breaking along the score line the material may deviate from the set guideline.
• The back side of the break line has a jagged edge to it from the shear fracture.
• Scoring offers very little use to metallic materials.

Decorations

Scoring is most commonly used in concrete work for decoration by making the grooves appear to be grout lines from tile work.