New tiles have glue or something on them...what is it??

[Cuddlemuffin]

Sorry if this is a silly question. We bought a sample of a tile from Homebase and it had what looked like spirals of dry glue on it at the egdes, I thought it was maybe to do with it being a loose sample and to stop it from breaking of something. Anyway bought 7 boxes of tiles and they all have it! Is this normal? Does it come off somehow? I'm hoping it's not a feature of the tile and I will have to get a refund. Sorry if this is a stupid question....anyone know?

They are kitchen tiles for a splashback if that makes any difference.

I've seen it on some of the tiles in our bathroom which are higher up. It comes off easily. Not sure what the use is, but I wouldn't remove it unless told so by your installer.

On the edges.
Will it be covered by the grout, if so could be an integral spacer?

It's deliberate. It's just a thin layer of glue that will scrape off easily. It stops the tiles getting scratched in the box.

Yeah it's like a really thin spiral of hot glue gun stuff so the tiles don't scuff each other in the box.

Yeah it does look like hot glue gun stuff. It's the face of the tile near the edges rather than the sides. Hopefully the installer will know how to get it off then. I presume something like white spirit would get it off??

It will scrape off incredibly easily (scraping will not scratch the tiles), you could use something as simple as a bank card

Honestly, it just scrapes off. I used my finger nail.

Yes all tiles have it, as pp have said it to protect the tiles when they're in the box. Sort of like bubble wrap in between each tile. Just rub it and it I'll come off, I love doing it - just like peeling the plastic off a new appliance

I've just taken receipt of a box of sample tiles with the same thing. It's as others explained and comes off really easily.

Great, thanks everyone. Mystery solved!