Encaustic vs Encaustic Effect Tiles: Which Tile Is Right for You?

Search for encaustic tiles online and you will quickly discover that the term is used to describe two very different products: genuine handmade encaustic cement tiles and ceramic or porcelain tiles printed to look like them.

From a photograph, the two can sometimes appear remarkably similar. Pick them up, live with them and watch how they age, however, and they are quite different things.

So what is a genuine encaustic tile, what is an encaustic-effect tile, and which is right for your home?

Encaustic vs Encaustic Effect Tiles at a Glance

Neither is necessarily the right tile for every situation. The important thing is to understand what you are buying.

What Is a Genuine Encaustic Tile?

True encaustic cement tiles are not painted or printed. The pattern you see on the surface is made from coloured cement and forms part of the tile itself.

They are also not fired in a kiln. Instead, the different layers are compressed together using a hydraulic press and the tiles are then cured naturally.

It is a method of manufacture that has changed remarkably little since the nineteenth century.

How Encaustic Tiles Are Made

Making a patterned encaustic tile is a surprisingly labour-intensive process.

A metal mould, or divider, is placed inside the tile frame to create the individual sections of the design. Coloured mixtures made from white cement, marble powder, fine sand and mineral pigments are then carefully poured by hand into the different sections.

Once the pattern has been created, the divider is removed and further layers of cement and sand are added behind the decorative face to give the tile its strength.

The whole tile is then placed into a hydraulic press, compressing the layers together into one solid piece.

Finally, rather than being fired, the tiles are cured using water and air until they reach their full strength.

It is a beautifully simple process, but one that requires considerable skill.

And because every tile is made individually by hand, no two are ever absolutely identical.

What Does a Genuine Encaustic Tile Look and Feel Like?

There is something immediately tactile about an encaustic tile.

The surface is matt rather than glossy, with an almost velvety or chalky quality. Colours have a natural depth and there will be gentle variations in tone from one tile to another.

These variations are not imperfections. They are evidence of how the tiles have been made.

Perhaps the most important difference is that the pattern is not simply sitting on the surface. The decorative coloured layer extends several millimetres into the tile.

This means that as an encaustic floor is lived on, the design does not simply wear away to reveal a completely different material underneath. Instead, the surface gradually softens and develops a patina.

For us, this is one of the great pleasures of encaustic tiles: they are allowed to age.

Why Choose Genuine Encaustic Tiles?

People generally choose genuine encaustic tiles for the same reason they choose other handmade materials: character.

A handmade floor will never have the absolute uniformity of a machine-produced one. Colours vary slightly, patterns are not always perfectly identical and the surface changes with use.

That is precisely the point.

Encaustic tiles have been used in houses, shops and public buildings for more than 150 years. Many historic floors are still in use today, their surfaces bearing the marks and patina of generations of people walking across them.

Properly installed, sealed and cared for, encaustic tiles can last for decades — and often become more beautiful as they get older.

What Is an Encaustic-Effect Tile?

An encaustic-effect tile is something quite different.

Usually made from ceramic or porcelain, it is designed to reproduce the appearance of a traditional patterned encaustic tile using modern manufacturing techniques.

The tile itself is formed from clay and fired in a kiln. The decorative design is then applied to the surface, often using high-resolution digital printing, and protected with a glaze or durable surface finish.

Modern printing can be extraordinarily good. At first glance, some encaustic-effect tiles can look remarkably similar to the real thing.

What they cannot reproduce is the way an encaustic tile is constructed or the way it feels and ages.

Why Choose Encaustic-Effect Tiles?

There are perfectly good reasons for choosing an encaustic-effect tile.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are hard, highly consistent and generally very easy to maintain. They usually require no sealing, resist staining and moisture extremely well and are available in an enormous range of patterns.

They can therefore be an excellent practical choice for busy spaces or projects where ease of maintenance is the priority.

Their regular dimensions can also make installation more straightforward.

If you love the appearance of traditional encaustic patterns but want the predictability and low maintenance of a modern manufactured surface, an encaustic-effect tile may be exactly what you need.

It is simply worth knowing that it isn't the same material as a genuine encaustic tile.

The Difference Is in the Surface

This is perhaps where the distinction between the two becomes most apparent.

A genuine encaustic tile has a softness and depth to its surface. The mineral pigments are part of the material itself, rather than an image of that material printed on top.

An encaustic-effect tile is designed to remain relatively unchanged. A genuine encaustic tile does something rather different: it develops a life of its own.

Small marks, subtle changes in tone and gradual wear become part of the floor's patina.

Some people want their floor to look exactly the same in twenty years' time.

Others rather like the idea that it won't.

Durability and Lifespan

Both types of tile are durable, but in different ways.

Porcelain and ceramic encaustic-effect tiles are extremely hard and resistant to everyday staining and moisture. They provide a tough surface with relatively little maintenance.

With genuine encaustic tiles, the decorative layer extends several millimetres into the tile rather than being confined to a printed surface. Everyday wear therefore becomes part of the material rather than simply wearing away the design.

Historic encaustic floors surviving from the Victorian period demonstrate just how long these tiles can last when properly installed and cared for.

The choice is less about which is categorically "better" and more about what you expect from the material.

Installing and Maintaining Genuine Encaustic Tiles

Encaustic tiles require a little more care during installation than porcelain or ceramic tiles.

Because cement is naturally porous, the tiles need to be sealed. At Milagros, we recommend applying a good-quality impregnating sealer before grouting, with further protection after grouting where appropriate.

Once installed, cleaning is relatively straightforward. We use a mild solution of Fairy washing-up liquid and water for everyday cleaning.

Strong acidic or alkaline cleaners should be avoided as these can affect both the cement surface and its protective sealer.

The important thing is not to be frightened of encaustic tiles because they require sealing. They have been used successfully on floors for generations. They simply need to be treated as the natural, porous material that they are.

Handmade Tiles and the Environment

There is another interesting difference between the two manufacturing processes.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles need to be fired at very high temperatures. Encaustic cement tiles are not fired at all. They are hydraulically pressed and then cured naturally using water and air.

There is also a human value to choosing something handmade.

Traditional encaustic production relies upon skilled craftspeople who pour, press and finish individual tiles by hand. Supporting these workshops helps preserve skills and knowledge that have often been passed between generations.

For Milagros, this is an important part of the value of a handmade object.

Perfection can be produced remarkably efficiently by a machine. Individuality requires a human hand.

Where Can You Use Genuine Encaustic Tiles?

Encaustic tiles are remarkably versatile and work beautifully in both contemporary and historic interiors.

Their colour, matt surface and handmade character make them particularly effective in places where you want the tiled surface to become part of the personality of the room.

Hallways and Entrances

A hallway is often the first glimpse someone gets of your home, which makes it a wonderful place to be bold.

Patterned encaustic tiles have been used in entrance halls for generations and sit just as comfortably within Victorian and Edwardian houses as they do in contemporary interiors.

They are also particularly lovely in a space that is going to be lived in. Over time, footsteps gently soften the surface and the floor begins to acquire its own patina.

Kitchens

Encaustic tiles bring colour, pattern and warmth into kitchens.

A patterned floor can provide a wonderful counterpoint to simple painted cabinets, timber and stone, while quieter designs can introduce texture without dominating the room.

Their matt finish also provides an interesting contrast to the harder, shinier surfaces often found in kitchens.

Fireplaces and Hearths

Patterned cement tiles have a long association with fireplaces and period interiors and can create a beautiful decorative surround or hearth.

As with any working fireplace or wood-burning stove, the complete installation — including the hearth construction, substrate and distance from the heat source — needs to be appropriate for the particular appliance and installation.

Bathrooms

Encaustic tiles can bring enormous warmth and character to a bathroom, particularly when used on floors.

Their matt surface feels very different from a highly polished manufactured tile, while pattern and colour can turn even a very small bathroom into something quite special.

Because cement tiles are porous, correct sealing is particularly important in bathrooms and other areas regularly exposed to water.

So Which Should You Choose?

Ultimately, this isn't really a competition between two tiles.

They offer different things.

Choose an encaustic-effect ceramic or porcelain tile if you love the appearance of traditional patterns but want a highly consistent, low-maintenance manufactured surface.

Choose genuine encaustic tiles if you value the material itself — the weight, the matt surface, the natural variations, the craftsmanship and the way the tiles gradually develop a patina through use.

One imitates the appearance of a traditional encaustic tile remarkably successfully.

The other is the thing itself.

Genuine Handmade Encaustic Tiles at Milagros

At Milagros, we sell genuine handmade encaustic cement tiles made using traditional techniques.

We particularly love them because they embody many of the qualities we value in handmade objects: slight variation, evidence of the maker and materials that become more interesting rather than less interesting with age.

You are very welcome to visit us on Columbia Road in East London to see and feel the tiles for yourself.

Alternatively, you can order samples online. With a material as tactile as encaustic cement, we always think seeing a real tile is the best way to understand what makes it different.

Order Encaustic Tile Samples

Frequently Asked Questions

Are genuine encaustic tiles difficult to maintain?

No, but they do need to be treated correctly. Cement tiles are porous and therefore need sealing when they are installed. For everyday maintenance, we recommend gentle cleaning rather than harsh acidic or alkaline products.

Like many natural and handmade surfaces, they will gradually develop a patina with use. We consider this part of their character rather than something to be avoided.

Do encaustic-effect tiles look like genuine encaustic tiles?

Some modern encaustic-effect tiles are extremely convincing, particularly in photographs. The principal differences become clearer when you handle the tiles and over time.

A genuine encaustic tile has a coloured cement layer forming the design itself, whereas an encaustic-effect tile reproduces the design on the surface of a ceramic or porcelain body.

Are encaustic tiles suitable for bathrooms?

Yes, genuine encaustic tiles can be used in bathrooms, provided they are correctly installed and sealed for the intended location.

Because cement is naturally porous, sealing and appropriate ongoing care are particularly important in areas exposed to water.

Why are genuine encaustic tiles different in price from encaustic-effect tiles?

The manufacturing processes are completely different.

A genuine patterned encaustic tile is made individually. Coloured cement is poured by hand into a mould, further layers are added, and the tile is hydraulically pressed and naturally cured.

An encaustic-effect tile is manufactured industrially from ceramic or porcelain and its decorative pattern is reproduced on the surface.

With a genuine encaustic tile, you are paying not only for the material but also for the time and skill involved in making it.

Can I order encaustic tile samples from Milagros?

Yes. In fact, we recommend it.

Photographs are useful for choosing patterns and colours, but encaustic tiles are wonderfully tactile objects. A sample allows you to see the depth of colour, feel the matt surface and appreciate the subtle variations that are difficult to communicate on a screen.