Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by deepakg 1065 days ago
The catalog from which I took the tiles mentions their manufacturing process in passing:

> The colours are at least one-quarter-inch thick, backed up to a full thickness of seven-eighth inch thick of pure granite sand and Portland cement, subjected to a high pressure in steel moulds, after which the tiles are immersed in water for a certain period, to render the material thoroughly sound, in the usual way adopted for a concrete of the highest quality. Being so constructed, the material — after being thoroughly matured — is quite impervious to moisture, is frostproof, and is eminently adapted for any class of flooring, — particularly where great durability is of utmost importance.

I wonder if I'll ever come across any in real life in some old building in Europe and if their hope of "great durability" extended to 120+ years :-)

2 comments

Aha! I was wondering what the "granitic" aspect was, thank you. These are basically cement tiles, but with the backing cement made with granite sand. These were the final (?) evolution of a line which started with medieval encaustic tiles:

https://www.theantiquefloorcompany.com/short-history-encaust...

As for finding some, there is unfortunately no mention of Threlkeld in the Database of UK Architectural Ceramics Locations:

https://tilesoc.org.uk/tacsdb4/tacsdb__LOCATIONS_list.php

I am sure there are lots around in the UK though. Tiles are everywhere.
Off the top of my head I've seen tiles of this type in cathedrals in Salisbury and York originally installed in the late 19th century. They looked to me to be in perfect condition.