How Is Cement Tile Made?
Its a labor of love. Colors are first prepared according to the customers order specifications. Each encaustic tile is made individually, and slight color variations can occur. This is an inherent characteristic of cement tiles, as it is made with natural materials.
The divider is set into the mold. This is what will separate the colors to create the surface of the concrete tile. Each color is poured into its specific section of the divider. Once each color section is filled, the divider is removed, and a mixture of fine sand and Portland cement is applied. This is the second layer and is used as a drier to reinforce the first layer of the cement tile.
Next, a porous mixture made of sand and Portland cement is applied. This is the third layer. The hand-crafted cement tiles are hydraulically pressed to give the encaustic tiles their hardness. Some cement tiles sold by other companies may just be hand-pressed, which results in a much weaker strength tile.
Finally, the cement tiles are cured in submersed water for a 24-hour period. This finishes the hardening process. Once completed, the floor tiles are moved to a solarium to dry for another 24 hours.
After each piece is individually inspected for quality, the tiles are packaged and shipped in pallets. Recommended overage for waste, cuts, and borders is 15%.