Origins: Tile Flooring

Ever wonder where the idea for tile flooring came from? It certainly wasn’t meant to be in everyone’s house in the beginning stages of civilization as we know it. In the early 1900’s only the most prestigious of buildings were adorned with the luxury of such flooring.

Hexagonal Tile Floor

In addition, the art of tile was found in Ancient Egyptian findings, depicting history and knowledge through hieroglyphics and other imagery. The Egyptians, leading by example, allowed for many civilizations to follow in suit. From Egypt and Rome to China and Italy to eventually North and South America, tile became a global artistry that has spread as a present day craft.

Ancient Egyptian Tile Ancient Chinese Tile

Firstly, the craft involved materials such as mud and clay. Other than the common use of flooring, decoration and depiction of story, roofs were created with such tile. The reflective properties allowed for efficient heating and cooling of the building. The clay and mud tile roofs were also resistant to all rotting and molding. These roofs could withstand all kinds of weather patterns due to the overall durability. The only true disadvantages of this kind of roof is the weight and in that, it has a history of being a very tedious project.

Ancient Clay Roofing

Modern Ceramic Tile Flooring

Other ancient archetypes of tile were created through the use of other natural elements such as sand, quartz and water. Thus creating a variety of different ceramics, leading us to our common tile flooring today.

– – Everything has an origin and a story. A series of bricks or shall I say tiles, stacked upon the one before it to create something entirely new but equally as unique. .