Why Athangudi Tiles Are All the Rage
This gorgeous traditional flooring deserves all the renewed attention it's getting
Shristi Nangalia
23 April 2018
Houzz India Contributor, Architect, Architectural Writer and Content Writer. Painting, craft work, pets and good food are my getaways. Cultures and colours always inspire me. Email: shristi012@gmail.com, Business profile: @decoretteindia.
Houzz India Contributor, Architect, Architectural Writer and Content Writer. Painting,... More
Athangudi tiles are named after the village where they originated and are made – Athangudi, located in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. These handcrafted cement tiles have become a fitting example of how to an age-old practice of vernacular craftsmanship (some date its production back to five centuries ago) has endured and thrived in modern times.
Let’s get to know these colourful tiles better. Here, you will find reasons to bring Athangudi tiles home, some distinct attributes that make the tiles special, see a few Indian homes that have used them, and, finally, a step-by-step process of how these handmade tiles are made.
Why should you bring these tiles home?
Athangudi tiles are eco-friendly and economical, as they are constituted of locally-available sand, cement and naturally occurring oxides. These tiles are cast by hand and dried over time; no fuel is burnt during drying or during any other of its processes.
Morever, Athangudi tiles can be custom made into any geometric pattern, floral motif or freestyle designs as per your style need. Athangudi tiles give a smooth finish as they are prepared on a glass plate. Even so, they offer a non-slippery surface, ideal for installing in all parts of the home. Since these are well-cured tiles made of cement, they add the ‘wow’ factor to any floor, without regular upkeep needs.
Some cool features
Red, blue, emerald, mustard and grey are standard colours that are cast in numerous distinct patterns or solids. The glass plate used as a foundation for making these tiles can be replaced with an embossed or engraved designer plate to craft textured tiles. Since each tile is made individually, slight variations have become a modest feature of Athangudi tiles. Experienced artisans know the exact proportion for mixing the different components (sand, cement, water and so on) together to create tiles that do not crack or break post curing.
Let’s get to know these colourful tiles better. Here, you will find reasons to bring Athangudi tiles home, some distinct attributes that make the tiles special, see a few Indian homes that have used them, and, finally, a step-by-step process of how these handmade tiles are made.
Why should you bring these tiles home?
Athangudi tiles are eco-friendly and economical, as they are constituted of locally-available sand, cement and naturally occurring oxides. These tiles are cast by hand and dried over time; no fuel is burnt during drying or during any other of its processes.
Morever, Athangudi tiles can be custom made into any geometric pattern, floral motif or freestyle designs as per your style need. Athangudi tiles give a smooth finish as they are prepared on a glass plate. Even so, they offer a non-slippery surface, ideal for installing in all parts of the home. Since these are well-cured tiles made of cement, they add the ‘wow’ factor to any floor, without regular upkeep needs.
Some cool features
Red, blue, emerald, mustard and grey are standard colours that are cast in numerous distinct patterns or solids. The glass plate used as a foundation for making these tiles can be replaced with an embossed or engraved designer plate to craft textured tiles. Since each tile is made individually, slight variations have become a modest feature of Athangudi tiles. Experienced artisans know the exact proportion for mixing the different components (sand, cement, water and so on) together to create tiles that do not crack or break post curing.
Who said Athangudi tiles can only be used on the floor? The kitchen backsplash here exhibits grey-and-white patterned Athangudi tiles installed in a linear arrangement. The design in understated hues rightly complements the vivid teal surface around it, shaping a great unit designed by Praxis.
This living area, a Benny Kuriakose design, has plain Anthangudi tiles on the floor and patterned ones on the staircase risers.
How are these tiles made?
Although Athangudi tiles can be made through several mechanical processes, the most common one involves a simple yet deft use of locally available sand, natural oxide colouring, cement and water in a traditional, handmade fashion. This procedure can be understood in 10 easy steps:
1. A transparent piece of glass is clasped to a clean metal frame that acts as a bounding box to achieve the required size of the tile.
2. To print the chosen pattern or motif, a stencil is placed over the glass plate within the frame.
3. The coloured mixes are pre-prepared by blending finely-sieved sand and white cement with the respective coloured oxides in water, to a thick consistency. These different coloured mixes are poured into the different sections of the stencil with ladles. Alternatively, the coloured mixes are poured onto the glass plate directly and freehand swirls or floral designs are created with sticks (in a thickness of 3-4 millimetres).
4. To keep the colours in place, a dry powder of sand and cement is spread over the mix as soon as the stencil is removed from the frame. This layer has a thickness of 3-4 millimetres.
5. Next, the tile is filled with a layer of cement mortar and compacted with a hand spade. Once set, the dry powder is spread again to achieve a dry, level surface. This layer is 10 millimetres thick.
6. The bounding metal frame is then removed, leaving the tile on the glass plate.
7. The patterned cement tiles are dried for a day before immersing them in water for the curing process.
8. It takes about 8-12 days to cure the tiles under water to the desired strength.
9. Lastly, the cured tiles are dried under the sun among husks to soak up excess moisture. The glass plate detaches itself naturally from the tile in this process.
10. A stone is rubbed gently against the edges to obtain a smooth finish, and, finally, the tiles are stacked for dispatch.
Commonly available tile sizes
Flooring (0.75 inch thick)
8 x 8 inches
10 x 10 inches
Skirting (0.5 inch thick)
8 x 8 inches
10 x 10 inches
Borders (0.75 inch thick)
10 x 5 inches
8 x 6 inches
8 x 5 inches
8 x 4 inches
Read more:
7 Stunning Patterned Tiles That Are Hard to Ignore
7 Natural Stones That Can Give Your Floor a Colourful Twist
Tell us:
Does your home feature Athangudi tiles? We would love to see them! Do share pictures in Comments below.
How are these tiles made?
Although Athangudi tiles can be made through several mechanical processes, the most common one involves a simple yet deft use of locally available sand, natural oxide colouring, cement and water in a traditional, handmade fashion. This procedure can be understood in 10 easy steps:
1. A transparent piece of glass is clasped to a clean metal frame that acts as a bounding box to achieve the required size of the tile.
2. To print the chosen pattern or motif, a stencil is placed over the glass plate within the frame.
3. The coloured mixes are pre-prepared by blending finely-sieved sand and white cement with the respective coloured oxides in water, to a thick consistency. These different coloured mixes are poured into the different sections of the stencil with ladles. Alternatively, the coloured mixes are poured onto the glass plate directly and freehand swirls or floral designs are created with sticks (in a thickness of 3-4 millimetres).
4. To keep the colours in place, a dry powder of sand and cement is spread over the mix as soon as the stencil is removed from the frame. This layer has a thickness of 3-4 millimetres.
5. Next, the tile is filled with a layer of cement mortar and compacted with a hand spade. Once set, the dry powder is spread again to achieve a dry, level surface. This layer is 10 millimetres thick.
6. The bounding metal frame is then removed, leaving the tile on the glass plate.
7. The patterned cement tiles are dried for a day before immersing them in water for the curing process.
8. It takes about 8-12 days to cure the tiles under water to the desired strength.
9. Lastly, the cured tiles are dried under the sun among husks to soak up excess moisture. The glass plate detaches itself naturally from the tile in this process.
10. A stone is rubbed gently against the edges to obtain a smooth finish, and, finally, the tiles are stacked for dispatch.
Commonly available tile sizes
Flooring (0.75 inch thick)
8 x 8 inches
10 x 10 inches
Skirting (0.5 inch thick)
8 x 8 inches
10 x 10 inches
Borders (0.75 inch thick)
10 x 5 inches
8 x 6 inches
8 x 5 inches
8 x 4 inches
Read more:
7 Stunning Patterned Tiles That Are Hard to Ignore
7 Natural Stones That Can Give Your Floor a Colourful Twist
Tell us:
Does your home feature Athangudi tiles? We would love to see them! Do share pictures in Comments below.
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We also deals in handmade moroccan cement tiles and you have the option to customise design, size, colours of the tile.
Thanks
Aakaar Floorings
+91 9024200842
These are made with cement so can not be eco friendly.
my entire family home is done with athangudi tiles directly sourced from athangudi. Thanks for the article. They are lovely and add a beautiful vibrancy to one's home.