Why You Should Consider Cement Tiles for a Timeless Look

From gorgeous looks to value for money, here are 5 reasons to use cement tiles and give your home decor a vintage look

Pooja Khanna Tyagi 6 March 2019

Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner, and love Writing Poetry and Creative Stories on Building Design. Have been practicing since the year 2000 with specialization in the field of Corporate Interiors with projects extensively published in journals of national repute. Recently honoured with the reputed A3 Foundation award for Journalism for the year 2016. Currently practicing and residing in Delhi. Website: www.khannaenterprise.com, Email: poojakhanna224@gmail.com, M:9891993392

Houzz India Contributor. An Architect , Interior Designer, Valuer, a Marathon Runner,... More

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Break away from conventional tile materials such as porcelain, ceramic or vitrified tiles and infuse an element of heritage in your home with cement tiles. These tiles are also known as encaustic cement tiles and were widely used as a popular flooring material during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cement tiles mostly come with rich colours and bold traditional motifs that can easily blend with the decor of your home to create an ethnic style statement.

Here are some reasons why you should consider cement tiles and enliven the overall look of your interiors and exteriors.

Studio PRAKRIYA

1. Highly durable
Cement tiles are slip-proof and highly durable, which makes them suitable for high-traffic areas. These tiles are comparatively heavier and thicker than the porcelain, ceramic or vitrified tiles. However, before installing cement tiles, it is essential to check the structural load of the building so as to be doubly sure whether the floor slab can take the load of the heavier cement tiles or not. In this image, just see how cement tiles are used in the flooring to give a vintage look to the bathroom.

Shreya Krishnan Design

2. Available in unique designs
Cement tiles are available in solid and patterned colours. The most common size of the tile is 8 x 8 inches; flooring patterns are achieved by placing a set of 4 tiles in a square grid by rotating each tile by 90 degrees to form an interlocking pattern. They are available in ethnic and modern motifs, and are suitable for floors and walls. Brands such as Bharat Floorings have such products on offer.

Discover why Athangudi tiles are so wildly popular

I - DESIGN STUDIOS

3. The tiles are handmade
Cement tiles are handmade and available in plain colours or printed designs that are created by placing a stencil inside a square tile mould.

The stencil is the tool that creates pattern on the tile; it is filled with a mixture of white or coloured pigments, marble powder and Portland cement.

Next, the stencil is carefully removed and a layer of cement is poured over the coloured layer to provide stability to the tile.

Before the tiles cure, a hydraulic press is used to sandwich the decorative and base layer together so that both the layers are firmly sealed.

Once the tile is compressed, it is soaked in water for a while and then left to air-dry for a period of two to four weeks. Here, in this example, the bold coloured cement tiles create an eye-catching terrace flooring.

4. Environmentally friendly
Cement tiles are environmentally friendly because they are not baked to harden like other conventional tiling materials and hence take less energy to manufacture. The primary ingredients of cement tiles include sustainable materials such as Portland cement, marble dust and natural pigments. In this example, just see how the patterned cement tiles give such a finished look to the exteriors.

Encaustic Mosaic Tiles

5. Easy to clean
Cement tile floors are very easy to maintain. The periodic cleaning involves cleaning with a mild soap followed by a dry mop.

Note that cement tiles are not recommended for the kitchen countertop because they are highly porous, hence prone to water absorption and staining. Cement tiles are suitable as a kitchen backsplash, as seen in this image, and look like permanent wallpaper.

Tip: Cement tiles are handmade so there might be slight colour variation with each tile, which also adds to its rustic appeal. However, it is essential to order all your tiles in one batch so that there is minimal colour variation between the tiles.

Shabnam Gupta

Maintenance tips: Cement tiles are highly porous and need to be periodically sealed with two coats of penetrating sealer or need to be sealed as per the manufacturer’s instructions so as to maintain the look of the tile. The sealer prevents any kind of water absorption that may result in mould or mildew. In this example, the cement tiles resemble a traditional rangoli.

Tip: It is essential to clean the tiles immediately after they have been installed to prevent penetration and staining by the mortar or grout that is used during tile installation.

Cost : Plain coloured cement tiles are available from premium brands at ₹140 per square foot, while printed cement tiles are available at ₹195 per square foot in the year 2019.

Read more:
Which Tiles Are Perfect for Indian Floors?
Tile Talk: An Alphabetical Guide to Tile Terms

Tell us:
Have you installed patterned cement tiles for the walls or flooring of your home? Show it to us in the Comments section below.

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HU-147593153

i have used terracotta tiles in my home in Coorg. Last year we had a rainfall of 300 inches. the tiles absorbed the water and the glaze has peeled off. as a result the clay is coming out of the tiles please advice how to treat them and if it can be repaired. will i have to change the tiles.

Like 11 March 2019 at 5:38PM