Where our Cement comes from. The French and Catalans were the first to use the technique in the 1850's both in France and in Barcelona. The complex patterns used in the tiles are due to an interest in ancient cultures, most notably early Arab and Moorish art. As a result, the tiles spread throughout Europe as a high quality flooring material and then onto former European colonies in Latin America, North Africa, and Vietnam. How Zia Tile manufactures our patterned tile. We make patterned Cements by hand, one at a time, using mineral pigments, cement, a mold, and a hydraulic press. Our tiles are unique and one of a kind, each tile is subtly different from the next. The individual patterns are made by applying separate pigments, one by one, in a handmade copper mold. The process is incredibly delicate, requiring skilled artisans with years of experience. Why we love Cement Our Patterned Cement tiles are not fired in a kiln because there is no glaze layer on the surface of the tile. Instead, each tile has a pigment layer that is 2-3 millimeters thick, resulting in a tile that is incredibly durable, lasting well over a century. Our tiles come in an endless array of patterns with 64 custom colors to choose from, from bold jewel tones, to monochromatic black and white.
