Patterned Cement Tile Kitchen Floor in East Dundee
About This Project
This East Dundee kitchen received a new cement encaustic tile floor featuring a black and white botanical pattern. The homeowner had a farmhouse aesthetic with white shaker cabinets and a wood kitchen island; the patterned floor adds visual energy without competing with the simple cabinetry.
Cement encaustic tile requires a different installation approach than glazed tile. The tiles are porous and unsealed from the factory, so they must be sealed before grouting to prevent the grout pigment from staining the face of the tile. We applied a penetrating sealer before setting, again after grouting, and a final topcoat sealer after the grout was fully cured. The tile was set in standard thinset on a flat concrete substrate; the pattern repeat required careful alignment so the motif read consistently across the full floor area.
What We Did
Pre-sealed tile faces before any mortar contact to prevent staining
Dry-laid full pattern to confirm alignment of repeat motif before setting
Set in standard thinset; maintained pattern alignment throughout
Grouted; applied two rounds of penetrating sealer after cure
