1. What is encaustic cement tiles?
Saigon Cement Tiles are hand-made, aesthetic tiles with many colored patterns used for floor and wall coverings.
2. Is Saigon Cement Tile friendly to the environment?
Saigon Cement Tiles are considered “green” products. They are manufactured from natural materials (cement, sand, stone powder, pigment) under pressing process. Unlike ceramic or clay-burnt tiles, no heat is involved, so there is no consumption of fuel; no clay is used, so there is no consumption of agricultural land.
3. Are the patterns on Saigon Cement Tiles painted?
No, the patterns are not painted. Liquid colored materials are hand-poured into mould divider to create these patterns. They are actually a layer of approx. 2mm. Therefore, the patterns will last very long and never go away. There are many ancient buildings in which encaustic cement tile floors have been existing for more than 100 years but still very beautiful.
4. How many colours do you have? Can I get my own colour?
Saigon Cement Tiles has a standard range of 50 colours for you to choose from. You can specify the colours you need by using our colour codes. Besides these 50 standard colours, any other colours can be customized at an additional cost and extra time.
5. Can you make customized designs?
Yes, making customized designs is one of our advantages. At a small cost, you can have your own design which can make your floor differentiated from others’. We have been making a lot of customized tiles with patterns ranging from simple to extremely complicated.
6. I usually see white marks of the surface of normal cement tiles. What are those white marks?
The white mark you see is efflorescence. On Saigon Cement Tiles, the white mark is considerably less than normal cement tiles. This is because we are using a special additive which has the function of reducing efflorescence and preventing water absorption.
7. Where can I use encaustic cement tiles? Can I use cement tiles outdoor? Do I need to seal the floor?
Encaustic cement tiles can be used for various types of residential or commercial applications, such as floors, walls, stairs, facades,… Thanks to its durability and aesthetic appearance, encaustic cement tile are usually used in ancient buildings, high-grade resorts, restaurants, cafes,…
When being laid in-door, there should be a sealer to protect the tiles from water and stains.
When being laid out-door, tiles have to be protected by penetrating sealer that contains UV protection. This is to help preserve the colours of tiles from being faded when exposed to sunlight.
We recommend you use penetrating sealers. There are various suppliers of sealers in your market. You can talk with the tiles to select the best sealer for your project. It is necessary that you make a test on a small area before coating the whole floor.
8. Will the floor be stained by soda, wine or acids?
If it is correctly sealed, it will not absorb stains. Soda, wine, acids, etc. should not be left to sit on the tile as they will eventually eat through the sealer and stain the tile.
9. Where should I not use cement tile?
We do not recommend using it outdoors in places that freeze in winter. Care must be taken when using it in areas that will get wet and might cause a slip hazard. Cement and concrete tile is not made to withstand the weight of vehicles and therefore should not be used in driveways.
10. How do I maintain my hand made cement tiles?
The tiles should be cleaned with pH-neutral soap and water. Do not use any acids or bleach on these tiles! If sealed with a topical sealer, they may need to be resealed every couple of years.