How cement tiles are made

Our cement tiles are handmade by skillful, trained artisans in Marrakech who have been creating these beautiful pieces for many years. In general, cement tiles are very durable and can be applied to any common surface found in homes and commercial buildings and will hold up in any climate, inside or outside the home. Because each Moroccan cement tile is handmade, each one is unique and is expected to have some slight variations and imperfections. However, this is what gives the tile its character and depth.

The process for creating Moroccan cement tiles is a basic process yet elaborate at the same time. The ingredients are what make the process simple; however, the intricate and elaborate designs and the time is takes to produce these tiles are what require the artisans to be highly trained. Since each tile is created by hand, an artisan can only produce about 250 tiles in one day. The first step in creating Moroccan cement tiles is producing a mold for the pattern, which artisans (metalworkers) create from an artist’s drawing of a design. The artisan produces the mold from tin or copper and then natural pigments are poured into the various compartments. Cement tiles are not fired in a kiln, but rather cured by water and air only — just like ordinary cement. It can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks for the tiles to dry.