Encaustic Cement Floor Tiles, Concrete Tile, Hydraulic Tiles, Hydraulico

After much consideration and research, I have decided that the best possible floors for this house are the old-fashioned Encaustic Cement Tiles. These durable, waterproof, strong, colorful, patterned tiles have long been used around the world. They were manufactured in the States up thru the 30's and 40's and have been used in stately homes especially in California and Florida. Worldwide, the terms that are used to describe this type of concrete tiles vary by region. Terms include: Cement Tiles, Hydraulic Floor Tile, Encaustic Tiles, Hidraulico, Hydraulic Tiles, Ladrilhos Hidráulicos, Ladril, Carreaux de Ciments, Spanish Mission Tilee, redondo tile, Rajoles hidràuliques. Baldosas hidráulicas, Baldosa Hidraulica, Pasta Potosi Tile depending on the language and the country. They are still manufactured in many countries (See Below)

These durable, classic tiles are still made outside the U.S. I have found evidence of plants existing and producing floor and wall tile in Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and other places.

Some say the original technique was developed in 18th century in Italy using natural colors of granite and marble dust and cement. According to one website, " the encaustic cement tile appeared at the end of the XIX century, in the south of France. Several sources say the first encaustic tiles were made in France near the country's first Portland cement plant. Until the 1920's, they were considered as high-end ultimate flooring that decorated the palaces of the Tsar, the mansions of the Côte d'Azure, Gaudi's Barcelona and Berlin's official buildings. Later on, the encaustic cement tile expanded as a creative and durable coating all over Europe, and the French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies. Around the 50's the Mosaic Hydralico lost importance and was replaced by less labor intensive, and less colorful floors. At the beginning of the XXI century, the trend for authentic products has brought back into fashion the encaustic cement tile. cement-tile-molde 1

It has never been possible to create an industrialized product that can substitute this handmade tile. The variety of colours, the matt finish and the soft silky texture are characteristics that make this tile absolutely unique. It is very important to note that no two tiles are exactly alike.

How Encaustic Cement Tiles Are Made

The tilemaker creates a three part layered stack in a (usually) square mold. A sectioned pattern die is placed in the bottom of the open mold. Manufacturers put the color in the various sections first and them back the tile with other layers of cement products. The liquid color material is composed of ground marble dust, fine white Portland cement, and natural earth pigment. The stacked concrete tile layers are pressed using a hydraulic press and then removed from the mold. Generally the biscuit-like tiles are placed in a rack and submerged in water to allow the correct moisture necessary for the chemical reaction in concrete. The tiles are removed from the water, allowed to dry and stacked and allowed to age for some period of time for curing to achieve adequate hardness before shipment.

This photo of cement tiles is one I took on a rooftop terrace at Casa Batillo in Barcelona, Spain. Casa Batillo is a private residence designed by Gaudi.

The end result is a tile that is about 3/4 inch thick and quite heavy. One side is a concrete and another side is a mosaic type design.
The design layer is ¼" thick, giving the tile a great surface life, able to withstand all weather conditions and decades of traffic. Encaustic cement tiles can be found in many historic homes and public buildings throughout the world. Traditional cement tile is often used as ornamental motifs similar to carpets, bordered rubs, tapestries or mosaics.

Photo from VIA of Germany

This link has good pictures to show how encaustic cement / marble dust tiles are made.

Encaustic cement is flooring with character, of great quality, outstanding for its clear, bright finishes, excellent ageing process, elegance and nobility.

Bénédicte Bodard collects hydraulic tiles from dumpsters of apartments being remodeled. She gives them a new life, a second chance as elegant table tops. See them at mesabonita.blogspot.com

Manufacturers of Encaustic Marble / Cement Tiles around the world:

If you know of others that are not listed, please email me w/ Encaustic Tile in the subject-line. If you have good photos I can add, also please email. lundywilder@gmail.com

Spain:

www.abacoarte.com

www.mosaicohidraulico.com

www.huguetmallorca.com Huguet – Rajoles hidràuliques. Baldosas hidráulicas.

www.mosaicstorra.com An all flash site, irritating, but they have great designs.

www.mosaicdecor.net also www.mosaicdelsur.com Mosaic del Sur is a traditional cement tile manufacturer that works with over 400 patterns and a 36-colour palette creating authentic floors identical to those used throughout Europe during the first half of the last century.

www.pulidosbarcino.com A company who specializes in restoring and polishing hydraulic tiles. They did the floors at the famous Gaudi Casa Batlló. They have developed a mechanized polishing technique using abrasives to revitalize the original colors and tones of floors.

www.terrazosaljarafe.com Terrazos Aljarafe Another all flash website that is very annoying,w/ music....and difficult to navigate. The main theme is 'loading..." I was using Firefox and wonder if part of the page is not appearing..there is a big blank bottom on each page.

www.ludivall.com Ludivall--Fábrica de Mosaico Artesanal--Toledo area of Spain.

www.andaluciamosaic.net --may be Granada, Spain or the Island of Granada, not sure...but I think it is Spain since Andalusia is a part of Spain. They offer 400 patterns of tiles or 400 modelos de baldosas hidráulicas.

Balármoca -- www.balarmoca.com see their photo gallery at Google's Picassa site, Mosaicos. I read that they are using the grandfather's old pattern molds once stored in a basement.

www.talcomoera.com recovered old Spanish floor tiles. Spanish construction web. Hydraulic mortar cement tiles.Authentic hydraulic mortar cement floor tiles and ornamental borders.
19th century floors recovered for your home or business. True historic jewels to dress up your home or your business.

Portugal

Artevida www.artevida.net A mixture of classic and modern designs which yields a flexibility in design & colour combinations.Belgian & Irish founders, inspired by the local Alentejo arts, decided to stay in this beautiful region of Portugal, to help preserve these arts & to offer them new life.

Lúcio José Oliveira Zagalo Telefone: 268081645 / 268322488 (Estremoz) Since 1941. http://www.estremozmarca.com/modelos/artesao.asp?entidade=41

Flordavida Telefone: 268337540 \ 914847749 (Estremoz) http://www.estremozmarca.com/modelos/artesao.asp?entidade=42

Projecto Mosaico-- www.projecto-mosaico.com Projecto Mosaico Tiles are handmade floor and wall tiles. They are produced in Sintra, Portugal. In this region, as in the rest of Southern Europe, this type of tile goes back a long way in history and many old houses still have the original tile floors, often laid with chequer patterns or colourful motifs.

www.azulejosantigos.com.br look under productos and the one in the drop down list.

www.azulima.pt/mosaico_hidraulico.htm

www.studiofirma.com Portuguese mosaic hydraulic (mosaic del sur), which makes artesanalmente

http://www.fabricademosaicos.com.br/html/portugues/mainpor.htm

http://www.castelo.com/ Arte do Cimento Castelo handmade Portuguese TILES - Loenen ad Vecht NL Handgemaakte Portugese tegels in honderden patronen en kleuren in Dutch.

www.recuperando.it--many types of used and antique tile, including cement tiles. --RECUPERANDO
The Architectural Salvage Resource, Commercio all'ingrosso di materiali di recupero e accessori
Phone +39 0584 787016 fax +39 0584 786714, 55042 Forte dei Marmi (LU) Via G. B. Vico, 96 /A P.I.02067110466

Argentina

www.companiadepisos.com.ar An Argentina company says they have been making these cement encaustic tiles since 1896

France

http://www.lesterrescuites.com/carreauciment/intro.htm

www.mosaika-creation.com

www.139inclusions.free.fr Artistic floors with inclusions of metal strips and tiles. Stone floors cement, stone floors of cement inlaid with mosaic. Carreaux ciment, carreaux de ciment incrustés de mosaïque.

www.couleurs-et-matieres.fr A fun pdf catalog that shows whimsical designs as well as classic cement tile looks. French company , tiles are made in Vietnam.

www.carocim.com Begun in 1986. Christian Berthéas, educated at the Beaux Art and Arts Décoratifs Faculties in Paris, went to Marrakech to work on an architectural project. Here he was amazed and fascinated by the beauty of the cement tiles. He found that architects from Marseilles , who had emigrated there around 1910, had originally designed these tiles. After his return to France in 1986 Christian Berthéas launched Carocim Company. In 1990 Martine Murat, a talented painter and decorator educated in New York and Paris, joined Carocim . Together they have been recreating the sumptuous designs of the past as well as totally new ones. Their catalogue presents over 350 models with a range of 18 colors.

France-- www.antiques-forain.com lots of pictures of styles, no info about ordering. except the contact page.

http://www.carrelagesdumarais.com seems to be a dealer that carries cement tile made in North Africa.

www.emauxdelafontaine.com

http://www.castelo.com/ Arte do Cimento Castelo handmade Portuguese TILES - Loenen ad Vecht NL Handgemaakte Portugese tegels in honderden patronen en kleuren in Dutch.

Tangers, Morocco:

www.mosaicohidraulico.com Art et Ciment--Gran Fabrica de mosaicos hidráulicos, Fabricantes de mosaico hidráulico also at www.artetciment.com

www.saharadesigns.com Sahara Designs can provide you with exquisite handmade Moorish tile and Moroccan decor

Rajae Ouechkifi, Address: Abderrahman Kaouakibi, Tangier, Tangier, Morocco(Morocco)

Original Mission Tile-- www.originalmissiontile.com Located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and owned by the same family for four generations. Really nice website, Original Mission Tile manufacturers hand-crafted, custom floor tile, which have been in use since the late 1800's. Many original floors are still in use today, in commercial & residential areas, indoors and out. Endless color and pattern combinations can be chosen to match any desired design and decor. Says they are sold to the trade only, so you will have to get a tile distributor or decorator to order them for you. ph (52)(444) 817 3929. Original Mission Tiles is aka Mosaicos de Diseño - Teléfono - 444 817 3929 - San Luis Potosi Mexico.

Fabrica de Mosaicos Santa Ines--Vera Cruz, website not working but Vera Cruz was hard hit by a hurricane in 2007. Carretera Transistmica 11 - - Cosoleacaque - VeraCruz
www.mosaicosartesanos.com Mosaicos Artesanos --fabrica losas hidraulicas para suelos o pared mediante un proceso manual y artesano.They just love these all flash sites with music. I don't. But they have a online floor tile design simulator.

www.mosaicstorra.com Artesania--Highly annoying website is all flash, Mosaico, Mosaico hidraulico, Baldosa, Baldosas hidraulicas,

www.mosaicospino.com Mosaicos Pino--Nice, fast loading website. But you wish you could enlarge the images. Download the pdf catalog. Classic patterns. En 1917 Jesús Pino Ramírez funda la fábrica de mosaicos hidráulicos de cemento para suelos que lleva su apellido.

I feel sure there may be more cement floor tile manufacturing plants in Mexico, they may not have websites.

Aguayo, the manufacturer in the Dominican Republic that exports to the U.S. thru a FL wholesale distributor, has a Flash website that is a bit of a pain to use. This company makes concrete items other than the floor tiles, so I am putting the direct click to the flooring part of their site here. Their primary offerings are in The Cuban Heritage Collection, a group of floor tile designs based on antique floors in Cuba. The pdf brochure shows some photos of the original floor tiles on which the collection is based. It is a nice start to learning about these wonderful tiles and floors. http://www.aguayo.com.do/aguayoen.html Cuban Heritage Tile Brochure www.CubanHeritageCollection.com

Philippines:

Habitiles Baldozas y Azulejos de Cemento www.habitiles.com --Baldozas y Azulejos de Cemento. Lovely patterns, Islamic influenced patterns as well as antique tile designs from Spain and other European countries.

Machuca Tile in Philippines www.machucatile.com --oldest tile manufacturing business in the Philippines. Baldozas mosaicos made there are now known as Machuca Tile. The business was originally called Mosaicos Machuca. Traditional patterns and colors.

http://www.royaltiles.com/boutique.htm
905/906, Aalap-A, 9th Floor,Limbda Chowk, RAJKOT-360 001 ( INDIA ), Tele. (+91) 0281 - 2482868 / 2481374., Fax : 91-281- 2466054.

http://www.tilesforoutdoor.com/athangudi.htm Athangudi floor tiles from Chettinad, India--Athangudi tiles, named after the place in Chettinad, Tamil Nadu, where they are manufactured, come in myriad colours and patterns and are made by a unique process, using local soil. These tiles are testimony to the rich cultural heritage of the Chettiars, who traded extensively in the days of yore, especially with Burma. The Chettiars effectively adapted many an influence, to their own brand of local craftsmanship. The designs and colours used in Athangudi tiles are still those of a bygone era.

Dong Tam Tiles Company--Cement Tile is traditional tiles of Vietnam. Dongtam is a member of Vietnam Building Ceramic Association which is the organization representing Building Ceramic Industry of Vietnam with the factories which produce and supply nearly 90 million square meter ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles for domestic market and export. The total capacity of Dongtam tiles factories is equal to 12 million square meter per year, nearly 1/7 of total production in Vietnam. Established on June 25th, 1969 initially as Dong Tam cement tiles manufacturing unit.

www.couleurs-et-matieres.fr A fun pdf catalog that shows whimsical designs as well as classic cement tile looks. French company , tiles are made in Vietnam.

www.secoin.vn Large company, makes many products, a few are basic encaustic cement tiles.

EROL TAYMAZ Cement Tiles--no main website located, mentioned in several world trade category sites.

Siman Tile, 60 Nasibi St. -Valiasr St. -, Tehran, Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of)--according to the international trade website that lists them, "Siman Tile" produces high quality Cement Tiles in a diverse variety of designs,sizes and colors for any need and taste.

www.baldosas-super.cl Looks like an interesting website, but it is highly irritating the way the all Flash site opens without a toolbar and full screen is the only option. Many illustrated baldosas.

www.pisamarmi.com.it Unable to reach a website here, but it is mentioned by others,

Costa Rica:
I found a list of what might be mosaicos hidráulicos cement flooring tile plants in Costa Rica but no websites. Some of them might just make plain tiles. I once lived in Costa Rica and laid heavy, large solid color reddish encaustic tiles on a 20 x 20 ft. concrete slab that were made in the Limon area. My husband went after them in our pickup and the weight was almost too much to get back with.
1. Mosaico Doninelli S.A. Mosaic Doninelli SA, Desamp, San Jose
2. Fabrica de Terrazos Escama y Alvarez Ltda. Fabrica de Terrazos scale and Alvarez Ltda., Sn Fco de Dos Ríos, San Jose
3. Fabrica de Terrazos Costa Rica Escama & Alvarez Ltda. Fabrica de Costa Rica Terrazos Luska Alvarez & Ltda.Sn Fco de Dos Ríos, San Jose
4. Fabrica de Terrazo y Paladiana Oscar Solera Fabrica de Terrazo and Paladiana Oscar Solera, San Miguel Desamp
5. Fabrica de Terrazo y Mosaicos Don Bosco S.A. Fabrica de Terrazo and Mosaics Don Bosco HS, Tejar El Guarco, CARTAGO
6. Fabrica de Mosaico y Terrazo El Castillo Manufactures of Mosaic and Terrazo Castle, Bo Sn José Alajuela, Alajuela
7.Solobloc, Apdo 90-2250, Tres Rios, Costa Rica
8. Pisos Honey Telefono : (506) 441-3944, 1 km Oeste Aerop Juan Santamaría, Autopista Bernardo Soto, San José, Costa Rica
9. Pavimientos Creta S.A., Telefono : (506) 4282-2873, Fax : (506) 282-2873, Celular : (506) 396-6608
Santa Ana - Brazil de Mora, San José, Costa Rica
Mosaicos Doninelli, Telefono : (506) 250-6070, Fax : (506) 259-3333, Apdo 5287-1000, San José, Costa Rica
10. Mejías, Telefono : (506) 433-8696, Fax : (506) 433-8696, 100 m norte del club de Leones, Barrio San José, Alajuela, Costa Rica
11. Maca, Telefono : (506) 237-2882, Fax : (506) 237-6966, Apdo 122-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
12. Decantera, Telefono : (506) 203-3690, TeleFax : (506) 282-7654, Centro Comercial Tejas del Sol, 500 m Este de la Cruz Roja, Santa Ana - Costa Rica
13. Castillo (el), Telefono : (506) 433-8110, Fax : (506) 433-3813, Pedidos : (506) 380-2825
14. Barrio San José de Alajuela de la Iglesia, 100 m al oeste, Alajuela, Costa Rica
15. Alajuelense (la) Telefono : (506) 244-0809, Fax : (506) 244-0809, Santo Tomás de Santo Domingo de Heredia, 100 m al este de la Iglesia, San José, Costa Rica

www.conipisos.com great little simulator for floors in place. Explore all the options. In the Catalog, you can try different tiles in different settings and then change the colors in the tile and watch it change on the floor. Located in Managua Nicaragua and the website includes a nice LA Times article.

If you know of others that are not listed, please email me w/ Encaustic Tile in the subject-line. If you have good photos I can add, also please email. lundywilder@gmail.com

Machinery--from India, for making encaustic cement tiles: Mold maker-hydrolic molds, HIMAT MACHINE TOOLS No2, Lati Plot, Morbi, Gujarat, India. Tel : 91-2822 - 50267,51267 Fax : 51597, E-mail : info@himatmchinetools.com


Havana Tile Design and CD for graphic artists and researchers Go to Tile Books	Barcelona Tile Designs by Mario Arturo Hernandez Navarro . Portarricense graphic designer, trained in the USA, a researcher of the hydraulic design of pavements. Go to Tile Books

Cement Tile Manufacturers Association--The CTMA is a nonprofit association comprised of concrete tile manufactures and allied product manufacturers that was formed in the late 1990's.As far as I can tell, they do not have any members making traditional encaustic concrete tiles. www.concretetile.org

Casa Batillo in Barcelona Spain--ladrilhos hidráulicos

World famous Casa Batlló cement tile floors in Barcelona Spain. If you have been there, you will recognize the arched roof supports in the roomy attic area. More photos of Casa Batillo.

Floor Tile Online Design Layout Tools

My favorite tile floor simulator because you can rotate the tiles yourself to see how the patterns change using different rotational schemes.

Another Tile Color Simulator It can change the colors of individual tiles but doesn't seem to show a floor scheme

Mosaic Simulador Tool-you can rotate the tiles and add borders, but the selection of tiles is limited. (Internet Explorer only it seems.)

Contipisos Design Center for Floor Tile Layout

Conipisos design Center tool takes a few tries to figure out all the options, but it has cool features and lets you rotate tiles, change colors in the tiles and save your own creations from session to session. You have to register to get access to the online tool, but it is easy. http://www.conipisos.com/designcenter

This floor tile layout program is on the Argentina website www.companiadepisos.com.ar . You cant tessalate the individual tiles, but you can change their colors which is fun.

This Spanish company, Andalucia has over 400 tile styles, so you should be able to find something that pleases you with their tile floor simulator.

Tile Patterns

Well designed tiles often have elements that match up whether the pattern is arranged in what I call a 'straight tiles' manner or if it is arranged in an "offset" manner. This example from a Portuguese floor tile makes illustrates.

Then offsetting in both directions gives a pattern with a missing square that could be filled in with a solid color tile. :
Patterned and solid concrete floor tiles

Patterned and solid concrete floor tiles

The intersecting grey lines all match up but this design would have a strong diagonal feel to it.

A similarly interlocking pattern is formed by tiles from a Portuguese company: Patterned cement floor tiles

This example is created using 16 individual, identical tiles, used in 4 different directions of rotation.

Cement tiles in Paris. The Passage des Princes in Paris

I found this nice photo at http://parisconnected.wordpress.com a blog about attractions in Paris. The Passage des Princes is the latest of all the XIX century Paris covered passages. It is close to the Garnier Opéra, and is also an example of the style usually named after baron Haussmann, the Paris prefect who radically transformed the city. The passage opens in one of the Haussmannien wide straight boulevards.

Palais Campanari

Restoration of some French cement tiles is described here:
The floor is made of colored cement tiles, very rare. These tiles were treated with Hydrorep and Filafob and sealing it with wax Veneziana. The routine maintenance is carried out by means of FilaCleaner.

Care of Cement Floors

Fila Floor Care Products

Find a Fila Dealer

Fila Chemicals USA, Corp. 10800 NW 21st Strett # 170 Miami (FL) 33172
Tel. 305 513 0708 - Fax 305 513 0728
is an Italian distributor of floor care products:

To effectively protect absorbent surfaces from oil stains, without altering the surface’s original color Fila recommends the use of FilaFob. For best results first apply a coat of Hydrorep before applying a coat of FilaFob.
• The product is used undiluted
• Spread a coat of Hydrorep over a clean and dry floor
• Wait for 24 hours
• Apply a coat of FilaFob
• Wait for 4 hours before walking over the floor.

Using the Google translation tool, I did an auto-translation then pasted the quasi-English version of some interesting text here. It is about the restoration work done on some historic cement tile floors:

Anyone who has visited the Solar Marquise may not have noticed that, beyond the architecture, the objects and works the floor of the house next to guard a lot of history and subtle art. The tiles of the entry of the House No. 1 are hydraulic, which is manufactured through a process of pressing craft that uses water, as the name says. "Depending on the design, the work may take months, as each ladrilho is done individually," explains Zilton Michiles, partner at Ornatos Nossa Senhora da Penha, responsible for the restoration of tiles of the house and one of only workshops in the world to make such work.

"It is a technique on which there is not much record," he explains. "There are some books, there is some information on the Internet, but who has the knowledge learned from another person who knew how. It is an art that is transmitted through generations. "

Zilton entered the business by accident. Graduated in journalism, he went to New York in the early 80 trying to work in the area (he had a friend who worked at a newspaper for Brazilians) and gain experience of life There he spent two and a half years and met Élida of Biasi, with whom he married. Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo, Élder of Biasi, his sogro, seeking a
The original tiles of the Teatro Municipal (left) and House n º 1
To restore the factory floor of the two houses he owned-one in the neighborhood of Bethlehem and another in Moóca. "Almost no factories of hydraulic tiles. This, which was founded by two brothers Italians around 1908, was virtually disabled, "recalls Zilton. Élder Biasi decided to buy the factory and resume production. To assist you, drew daughter and genro and managed to bring them back to New York.

"We understood nothing of hydraulic and tiles, with the lack of literature, learn was even more difficult," says the industry."We seek the expertise to the few people who still knew the technique."

Today, the Ornatos, located in a warehouse with an office above, in the neighborhood of Penha, is one of the most in the world. Beyond the Box 1, the plant has already restored the Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, the Patio of the College, the Monastery of St. Benedict, the Palace of Catete (Rio de Janeiro, RJ), churches and homes in historic cities such as Ouro Preto ( MG) and Porto Seguro (BA) and even a castle in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. "In this castle, won the competition with traditional factories in Europe for the quality of our work."

Samples of two of the most difficult work: the left would cost $ 1,200 a square meter
Since the early 90, when he won enough space in the media for their work differently, the Ornatos eventually conquering architects and decorators, who saw the aesthetic attributes and the durability of the tiles a great material for his compositions."We ordered mainly for houses on the beach and in the interior, which have a more rustic style, sometimes even blacks. Combinam com os ladrilhos”, afirma Zilton. Match with the tiles, "says Zilton.

Prices for tiles vary with the degree of complexity to find the right colors, make the tool and do the job properly. In line trading, the Ornatos has models ranging from R $ 30 R $ 120 a square meter. For the restoration, the value ranges from R $ 50 and R $ 300.

The most difficult work of the factory was the restoration of the floor of a house in Rio de Janeiro belonging to the Department of Heritage. "The cost would be around $ 1,200 a square meter, but we charging less because, when we did the budget for the institution, we had no idea of the complexity of the work. Drawing imitava the mosaics, had many details, various colors. The difficulties have begun at the time of making the tool, "he says. The tool is the" template "of the design done in brass by a person specialized in that. He is applied on the ladrilho and craftsman will dispensing the colors in certain areas, according with the original model. "However, the order is contrary to the model, ie, the craftsman has to look at the model and enxergá it inversely to apply the color so correct. requires very eyes. The craftsman who made the tiles for this house was in trouble seríssimos of vision. "

The tools: molds made of brass by a person specialized
Finding the right color, in the case of restoration, is another novel. "Based on the original models, we have to do tests, send for analysis in the laboratory, and only when it is found that the color is the one we started the work," he says. "Under the Municipal Theater, for example, were 60 days without stop tests to find the correct tone."

In addition to all these difficulties, the manufacture of tiles hydraulic has few people specialized and do not want young people learn. "We tried to train people here, but after one or two months, many drop. After all, it is a work that requires patience to east. "The factory employs six craftsmen. "One, which has ten years of experience, can make to 60 tiles per day. The most productive here to make up 120 per day, but he has 40 years of experience, "says Zilton, which says a lot done with his work. "We collaborating with the perpetuation of this process, which should take more than 400 years,"

"One of the first things we noticed about properties for sale here in Merida was the floors. No kidding. Because many of the floors, even in the most humble of stores or homes, are covered with beautiful mosaico tiles. These tiles are made here in Merida, based on a technology brought here from Spain centuries ago. And as far as we know, the method and many of the designs haven't changed much in the ensuing years. We had the pleasure of being invited into a small tile manufacturing company, called Pisos y Mosaicos La Peninsular, and allowed to photograph the process. We entered the old colonial building through the modest showroom, where they sell traditional mosaicos as well as new, factory-made tiles. Behind the front rooms is a large open warehouse, covered with a tin roof. Only two or three men work there in the back making the tiles on two presses, while stacks and stacks of tiles sit out to dry.
The process starts with the mold. Some of the molds at this shop were made over 50 years ago, and according to the owner, the people who can make a good mold here in Merida can be counted on one hand. The owner, Ignacio, treasures his vintage molds. Molds can be made to order, or you can choose one of the old ones. You can also choose the traditional colors for a design, or order your own color scheme.
The men start by pouring a thick wet sandy concrete into a square mold. The design mold is then set on top of the concrete, and colored pottery slip (note by webmaster, it is cement, not what we think of as pottery slip) is poured into the different areas of the mold according to the design. This is all done very quickly. The package is then pressed by an old, oily, noisy hydraulic press for less than a minute, and then spit out on the other side. The end result is a 20 cm by 20 cm tile that is about an inch thick and quite heavy and costs between 80 cents and three dollars retail. One side is concrete and the other side is colored and designed. The colors at this stage are muted. The tile is carefully picked up and stacked with its brothers and left to dry for a few weeks. When it is thoroughly dry, it will be laid into a floor and then polished to bring out the bright colors. These tiles, to our surprise, are never baked or heated except by pressure.
The tiles are sometimes called "pasta tiles", perhaps for the paste-like nature of the ingredients. They are ubiquitous in the colonial
homes of Merida and are one reason why these homes are so charming and attractive to renovate. Of course, if you buy a house whose tiles have been removed, (to make way for modern, white tiles, which native Yucatecans seem to think are more desirable for some reason), you can buy and install new ones.
The tiles seem to get better with age. Some of us prefer to let them mellow and get a little distressed. Others treat them specially with weekly doses of kerosene, aceite rojo and other secret ingredients to keep their tile floors polished and shiny. If you inherit a floor that looks a little worn and you want to make it new, you can hire a crew to polido (polish) the tiles.
You can see these tile floors throughout Merida in the most elegant colonial homes and in the most modest little tendejones (corner stores). They are a constant reminder of the former elegance of Merida at the beginning of the 20th Century and the very-much-alive Merida today that still has the artisans and craftsmen available to restore that elegance.

The basic procedure is about the same no matter where the tiles are made.

1 - The design is reproduced by a brass divider which side's walls separate the colors zones.
2 - The divider is inserted in a cast.
3 - Each space is filled with a liquid mixture of marble powder, white cement and coloring.
4 - The divider is retrieved, and the colored layer is rapidly covered first with dry mortar and then, with semidry mortar that will be the back of the tile.
5 - The mixture is compacted with a hydraulic compressor.
6 - The tile, that looks like a pressed semidry cookie, is taken out of the cast and carefully controlled.
7 - The tile is set aside for a few hours, and then immersed in water for 8 hours to complete its hydration process.
8 - Then they are stacked for about three weeks to allow the cement to dry and harden.
9 - The tiles are carefully checked before packing in cardboard boxes and ready to deliver.

The magazine, Casa e Jardim says: "Ladrilhos hidráulicos são um clássico da arquitetura de interiores. "

One type of tile that is increasingly popular is the socalled 'subway tile' ..a good source for these is www.subwaytile.biz . If you are undertaking a vintage home restoration or renovation you'll find these subway tiles a good fit.

hidraulicos antiguos
ladrilhos hidráulicos
mosaico hidraulico
encaustic cement tiles,
ladrilho de água
mosaicos cementos
hydraulic floor tile,
encaustic tiles,
hidraulico,
hydraulic tiles,
ladrilhos hidráulicos,
carreaux de ciments,
Spanish mission tiles,
redondo tile,
rajoles hidràuliques,
baldosas hidráulicas,
pasta potosi,
hidraulicos antiguos,
mosaico hidraulico,
mosaicos hidralicos,
baldosas decoradas,
hidráulicas de cemento...all names for the same type of floortile.

DAC-ART Villa Lagoon waterfront house construction 2007-2008- the planning and construction process of Villa Lagoon Phase II addition

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Encaustic Cement Floor Tiles---Colored Concrete Tiles

....and Tile Floor tile Layout Programs Online all gathered whilst researching this amazing floorcovering for use in our own construction of a hurricane proof home.

How Encaustic Cement Tiles Are Made

Manufacturers of Encaustic Marble / Cement Tiles around the world:

Floor Tile Online Design Layout Tools

Tile Patterns


Original Website Villa Lagoon Phase I completed in 2003 See the construction process of Phase I	New Website Phase II North Elevation w/ Frieze Construction of Phase II on this site.