Colonial Floor and Stone Care

The South east is home to many historical architecual designs and floors.  Examples of these floors are : Terrazzo which was incorporated in the Mid Modern architectural design and the Mediterranean  Revival architecture using Cuban Tile is one of the popular flooring materials used in the South Florida  homes found in Miami Shores which was popular in the 1920’s and continued in building homes especially in Miami shores,  Miami Springs,Coral Gables, historic Bayside . This material was used up until the 1950’s, althought the tiles of the last few decades were not as intricate in design as the early Cuban tile.  In an article written by Sarah Moreno for El Nuevo Herald that brings to light much information from  Arturo Hernandez who has researched and documented these beautiful historic floors.  Cuban Tile also known as cement tile, Encaustic Cement tile or Hydraulic Mosaic Tile,. Hernandez claims it can be traced to Cataluña back to mid 19^th century where The Industrial Revolution allowed for the technical innovation and mass production of these tiles that did not need to be fired. The architect Gaudi, designed floors with these type of  cement tiles that looked like Persian rugs.

Until the 1920 mosaico encaustic tiles were high end flooring, the ultimate florring that decorated the palaces of the Tsars or mansions of the Coted d’Azure, Gaudi Barcelona and Berlin’s official buildings.  Encaustic cement tile were then later on, expanded as a creative and durable flooring all over Europe.  The Spanish, French and Portuguese colonies expanded it’s use.  Some time in the 1059’s the mosaic hydraulic;s importance was lost and replaced by less labor intiensive thus less colorful floors.  But Historical Cuban tile home are still sought after in the Miami area. During the beginning of this century interest has peeked  as the trend for green flooring has brought back attention to this type of flooring.

Why is is called Cuban tile?  Many therories are here in Miami.  One of those is that Cuban tile was entrusted as a special order to a cuban manufacturers who would hand make these tiles for resdential applications in Miami in the early century.  If you walk into a a historic home in Miami and are told you are seeing “Cuban Tile” this is some of the history of this unique and artistic tile.  Cuban tile is a mixture of Portland cement, marble powder and pigments from the earth for coloring.  The end result can be a floor as shiney as Terrazzo and as beautiful and artful as hand painted tiles.

The restoration of Cuban tile floors can be an intricate project depending on the tile design. Highly qualified and trained technicians at Colonial Floor and Stone Care, have the experience and training to restore these highly beautiful and durable tiles. Call us for a free estimate or use the link above for an online estimate.