Traditional building materials are a part of the cultural heritage of each civilization. They are constructed from wood and masonry (either clay or mud bricks and stones).
Some traditional construction materials are experiencing a resurgence in modern renovations and designs. These include cement tiles, terrazzo, and shiplap. They are being used in homes and offices to add character and texture.
Cement Tile
Cement tiles add a strong statement to any room, and they are easy to coordinate with classic or modern color combinations. Encaustic cement tile, also referred to as patterned concrete tile or artfully colored concrete tiles, are handmade using a traditional process that uses white Portland cement, fine sand, marble powder and mineral pigments pressed into metal molds with a hydraulic press. This gives them the look of a terra cotta or brick tile, and it allows for a variety of patterns and design options.
Unlike ceramic bathroom tiles, cement tile is durable enough to stand up to water and daily use, even in showers and wet areas. But they do need to be properly sealed and maintained with a pH neutral cleaner to protect the surface from staining.
While many people use cement tile for the kitchen backsplash, the floor in a foyer, living room or dining area, or as a border around a pool are equally stunning and practical applications for these unique tiles. The patterned concrete tile creates a one-of-a-kind work of art, and it stands up to moisture and heavy traffic in high-use spaces.
With the right preparation and maintenance, cement tile will last a lifetime and provide beauty to your home for generations. To help ensure the longevity of your new patterned concrete tile, soak each tile in warm water immediately prior to back-buttering with thinset mortar. This will prevent the cement tile from absorbing too much thinset, which can lead to cracking over time.
Terrazzo
Whether it’s the iconic terrazzo floors of the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the modern-day, marble-and-glass-encrusted terrazzo at the House in Albisreiden that has captured our design imaginations, terrazzo is making a comeback in contemporary design. The decorative flooring material is a perfect fit for both commercial and residential projects, bringing a touch of elegance to any room with its customizable color and shape options.
The term terrazzo refers to a composite material that blends chips of marble, granite, quartz, and other ground stones with a concrete or epoxy binder. These materials can be poured as a smooth and seamless floor, countertop, or other surface and polished for a high-gloss finish. It is incredibly durable, making it ideal for public spaces that experience heavy use, and its low life-cycle cost makes it an environmentally conscious choice.
While terrazzo was first invented in Italy over 500 years ago, it didn’t arrive here in the US until the 20s. It became a popular building material during this time due to two inventions: the introduction of divider strips and the electric grinding machine. These new tools allowed installers to create a variety of shapes and colors in the terrazzo and helped to contain cracking.
While the terrazzo that is commonly used in buildings today is cement-based, there are also a number of poured-in-place terrazzo projects. When installing this type of terrazzo, the existing flooring is removed and the substrate is roughed up to ensure proper adherence for the terrazzo mixture. Metal strips are then used to outline the desired design and a sandy cement base is applied. The terrazzo mixture is then spread on top and extra bits of aggregate are sprinkled in while the flooring is still wet.
Shiplap
Since the popularity of DIY home renovation shows and Pinterest boards, homeowners have been trying their hand at transforming walls and ceilings with shiplap. Often used as exterior siding for barns and historic homes, this rough-sawn pine paneling has become a staple in farmhouse style décor. But it’s not just HGTV’s Chip and Joanna Gaines who are fans of this design trend; it is also widely used as an accent wall in homes throughout the country.
The overlapping nature of shiplap allows homeowners to customize their space with a wide variety of decorative finishes. It can be left unfinished for a rustic look, stained to bring out the natural wood grain or painted for a classic and clean finish. Whatever your style, this textured, durable material adds texture and visual interest to any room in the home.
Many different materials can be used to create a shiplap-like design, including reclaimed and fabricated wood, vinyl planks, faux wood panels, and even composite options like fiber cement. Using the right installation techniques and proper maintenance, these various shiplap alternatives can last for years to come.
Regardless of the type of shiplap you choose, it is important to properly prep your walls for installation. Remove outlet covers, pictures and any baseboards at the bottom of your walls before laying down your new boards. To ensure the boards will hang correctly, use a stud finder to mark vertical chalk lines at every wall stud.
Glass
Glass is the material that has shaped our world more than any other, from smartphone screens and fiber-optic cables to vials that hold vaccines. It is ancient yet modern, brittle but flexible, and able to adopt almost any shape or color that we want. The incredibly versatile nature of glass is one of the reasons it can be found in building restorations from cathedrals and mansions to the smallest row houses and bungalows.
During the Victorian and Classical Revival periods, stained or leaded glass windows became common in many different architectural styles. They are often the principal interior feature of churches, hotels, restaurants, railway stations, and civic buildings. The loss or unsympathetic repair of these glazed features can significantly diminish the overall appearance of a building and cause irreparable damage to an historic property’s integrity.
When repairing historic glass, it is important to be mindful of the original materials and construction methods. The goal is to ensure that any repair work done will be reversible. This will preserve the integrity of the window, prevent further deterioration, and allow the original design to be fully enjoyed by future generations.