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Overview
Cement tiles, often known as hydraulic tiles, are handcrafted colorful floor and wall tiles.
They first debuted in Catalonia (Spain) in the 1850s and have since become popular throughout Europe and North America. Another source is Viviers, in the south of France, where the famous cement manufacturer Lafarge is located.
They were a revolution in flooring at the time because they were much cheaper, more durable, and easier to make than the previous handmade glazed ceramic tiles, and they allowed for more decorative patterns. Their heyday was from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th centuries, before they were gradually superseded by newer technologies, such as terrazzo, salt-glazed stonewax, and so on, starting in the 1960s.
There is no glazing coating on the surface of cement tiles since they are not baked. The combination of finely dehydrated milled Portland cement and a coarser layer of sand and cement gives them their resilience. The pigment layer is pressed into the surface by hydraulic pressure and becomes a component of the tile.
About Cement Tiles
Cement tiles first appeared in Catalonia, Spain, in the 1850s. The Catalan business Garret & Rivet displayed them during the 1867 International Exposition in Paris (France).
Several reports claim that the first tiles were created near the country’s first Portland cement mill in the United States. The tiles were quite popular around the turn of the century and were considered a high-end floor covering. It was utilized in tens of thousands of public buildings and palaces around the world. In the 1920s, their popularity began to decrease, but it resurfaced in the 1940s, mainly in California and Florida.
Manufacture And Quality
Mineral pigments, cement, a mold, and a hydraulic press are used to make cement tiles by hand, one at a time. The metal mold is manufactured by hand in accordance with specified design drawings.
A blend of high-quality white Portland cement, marble powder, fine sand, and natural mineral color pigments make up the pigment composition. Because cement tiles are handmade, they are meant to contain little flaws that give them character and depth.
Cement tile makers may be found all over the world. The hydraulic method employed by different manufacturers is the main variation. A hand-operated hydraulic press is used by small businesses; the quality of the tiles fluctuates due to irregular pressure. Larger companies employ electric-powered hydraulic presses that consistently generate a higher-quality output.
Cement tile quality differs from one manufacturer to the next due to three key factors:
1. Pattern and color sharpness: The patterns in cement tile will be clearer, the details will be sharper, and there will be less variation in surface color based on the artisan’s talent and the components of the color layer.
2. Color layer thickness: Cement tiles are made up of two layers: the color layer, which is composed of white cement, and the body layer, which is built of grey cement. Weather, temperature, and traffic cause the layers to shrink or expand differently, resulting in hair splitting on the surface. This effect is less noticeable on tiles with a thicker color layer – at least 2.5-3mm.
3. Color layer surface hardness: This is determined by the quality of the white cement, water absorption, and tile surface strength. The tile will get shinier over time if it has a firmer surface. The surface of a soft tile, on the other hand, becomes duller as time passes.
Tile Cement Prices In South Africa
| Tile Cement | Prices |
| Vinyl Tile Adhesive 5l | R417.95 |
| Tylon Wall & Floor Grout 5kg | R74.95 |
| Ezee Tile Adhesive General Purpose 20kg | R39.9 |
| Champion Tile Adhesive 20kg | R42.95 |
| Tylon Wall & Floor Grout 2kg | R48.50 |
| Ezee Tile Adhesive Premium 20kg | R52.95 |
| Tylon Bond It 1 | R59.95 |
| Tylon Wall & Floor Grout 2kg | R48.50 |
| Ezee Tile Grout 5kg | R52.95 |
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