Production of the cement tiles

"Manufacturing cement tiles is an art form passed down from generation to generation. Each peace that comes out of the workshop bears not only the Azule logo on the back, but also the pride of each individual craftsman. For them, the tile represent the fruit of their labor and the heritage of a tradition"

from the book: Cementtile: Evolution of an Art Form.

  • A good cement tile is compact, waterproof and very durable. Only the best natural materials such as real marble and pebble powder & organic pigments are used during the production process. These materials are then pressed together by machine under high pressure. The different patterns in this pattern tile are formed by manually inserting the different colours one by one into a handmade copper mould.

  • The tiles are made individually and entirely by hand. It is a very careful and artisanal process that can only be carried out by very well-trained professionals. The final quality of the tile is determined by its maker. Cement tiles are made up of two different layers that can easily be seen when you look at the tile from the side.

1. For each new pattern, a new copper mold is made by hand. This pattern tile fits exactly into a frame, which in turn is in a hydraulic press. The frame determines not only the size, but also the quality of the top layer of the cement tile. The pigment is poured into the mold color by color, exactly according to the desired pattern. The pigment consists mainly of marble powder, fine white cement, organic pigments and other minerals.
2. After the mold has been removed in a special way, the color layer (first visible layer) is sprinkled with a mixture of very fine sand and cement. This ensures that the excess moisture is well absorbed.

3. The third step in the process is to precisely fill the frame with a thicker mix of sand and cement that is carefully smoothed out. The frame is then completely sealed and the tile is pressed together in the hydraulic press.
4. After the pressing process, the frame and sealer are removed and the tile is carefully inspected for the desired quality and pattern. The tiles are then placed in a water bath for 24 hours to harden. Finally, the tiles are stored in drying racks for another 7 days for final hardening.

  • Portuguese tiles

    View our collection of Portuguese tiles.

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  • Place and treat

    Installing and treating cement tiles.

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  • History of the cement tile

    Where does the cement tile come from?

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