What Is Encaustic Porcelain Tile

The term encaustic means “to heat or burn in” from an ancient Greek word. Encaustic materials are produced through a process which involves heating to seal in the dyes and clays. Traditional encaustic tiles are made using clay and powdered glazes, and are fired in a coal or wood-fired kiln.

What does encaustic mean in tiles?

The term encaustic means “to heat or burn in” from an ancient Greek word. Encaustic materials are produced through a process which involves heating to seal in the dyes and clays. Traditional encaustic tiles are made using clay and powdered glazes, and are fired in a coal or wood-fired kiln.

What is encaustic tile made from?

Encaustic tile is traditionally made from clay, but today, most modern versions of the tile are made using cement and are often referred to simply as cement tile. “Cement tile is handmade, entirely of concrete (not painted), in a metal mold and hydraulically pressed,” explains Clamp.