Our Company
What can we say? We're a cement tile company with a passion for color!
20 years ago we started our venture into the construction materials world, but it wasn't until 2014 when we decided our world wasn't colorful enough. Inspired by the traditional cement tiles of Europe, we began our quest to bring vibrant tiles to the American market.
Today, we have two fully stocked warehouses in NJ and TX, allowing us to cater to the entire US. We find inspiration in nature and have a dedicated team of talented designers creating exquisite patterns in a rainbow of shades. We strive to think outside the box and constantly push creative boundaries in hopes of creating exceptionally unique collections aimed to delight.
All of our tiles are designed in the US and handcrafted in Vietnam.
As a company, we believe in originality. We believe in creativity and unapologetic self-expression. We believe in color. We believe in beautiful spaces and good vibes, in honest business, exceptional customer service, and the determination to do the best we can. We believe that good things happen to good people and most importantly, we believe in happy customers.
History of Cement Tiles
Cement tiles have had a long history in the design world, first appearing in Catalonia in the 1850s. Their beauty and versatility was immediately noticed as they made their debut at the Paris International Exposition in 1867. Due to their beauty and versatility, it did not take long for cement tiles to spread across Europe. Their production did not require energy expenditure, which meant they did not need to be baked in an oven or fired in a kiln, making them extra appealing during the time. These durable tiles quickly made their way into the most grand palaces and ornate buildings of the world, used on both floors and walls.
The French eventually brought the process over to Vietnam, which has high grade cement - ideal for such a delicate process. Today cement tiles are also made in Morocco, Spain, and Mexico, however, the precision and quality of the Vietnamese remains unmatched.
Cement tiles can be found throughout the world in both private and publics spaces, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and the Palace of Versailles, just to name a few. Their durability makes them an ideal candidate for a tile that lasts for generations.
How It’s Made
LiLi Cement Tiles are handmade, which means each tile has been crafted individually and is completely unique.
A mold that resembles a cookie cutter is created by fusing various shapes of brass together to create a pattern. Pattern designs range from traditional to modern and everything in between. Our talented design team works diligently to create original & unique patterns in hopes of bringing beauty to your space. Since LiLi Cement Tiles are made on an individual basis, starting right from the mold, custom designs are easily achievable.
Once ready, the mold is placed in an outer frame and pigmented cement is carefully poured into each section. It is then topped off with portland cement, sand, and marble powder, giving LiLi Cement Tiles their inherent strength. Each tile is then pressed with 2,000 psi of pressure & placed on a rack to cure for 11 days. Quality control is conducted on a piece-by-piece basis rather than a lot production to ensure beauty and quality in every tile we produce. This process has not changed much since the 1850's, giving cement tiles their distinct individuality in a mass produced world.
The production of cement tiles still remains energy free, making LiLi Cement Tiles environmentally sustainable. Our tiles are also non-flammable and completely recyclable.
Installation & Sealing
When installed properly, cement tiles will last for generations to come. Use these tips as a helpful guide to installing your tiles. Please consider consulting a professional contractor with prior cement tile installation experience.
The appeal of cement tiles is their individual beauty, which means slight color variations may occur from piece to piece. In order to disperse this variation, we recommend taking your tiles out of the box and laying them out prior to installation. Moving tiles around and deciding how you would like them to look (called a dry lay) is a good idea and especially helpful with tiles that have an interlocking pattern.
Due to the nature of cement, cement tiles are quite porous. This means that in order to protect your tiles from absorbing liquid and staining, they must be sealed. We highly recommend using Dry-Treat STAIN-PROOF Original™ sealer. This sealer is alcohol based, which means it gets absorbed into the tiles and protects them from inevitable spills & messes. Sealing the tiles must be done after installation and before grouting. All new LiLi Collection tiles come pre-sealed, if your box has a yellow sticker, sealer can be applied after grout.
LiLi cement tiles come with an installation guide in every box. We strongly urge you to thoroughly read & review all steps of the installation guide prior to beginning installation.
Suggested Grouts
Due to their porosity, cement tiles absorb any pigment present in the grout they are installed with. Our suggested grouts are quartz-based, which means there is no pigment present giving them their color, just the naturally occurring colors of quartz.
Sealer
STAIN-PROOF Original™ is suitable for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor applications in residential and commercial buildings, including: building facades, floors, walls, countertops, showers, swimming pool surrounds, patios, garages, kitchens and entertaining areas.
Active Content : 50% active content in alcohol.
Please note: This sealer is specifically for stain proofing. It is alcohol based and does not enhance the color of the tiles.
Benefits
- Premium water and oil repellent for superior stain protection: Tested in accordance with ISO 10545-14 Determination of resistance to stains Class 5 (highest class)
- Unique super-penetrating, permanent bonding technology for long lasting protection. 15 year written performance warranty can be provided if applied by a Dry-Treat Accredited Applicator*
- Protects against efflorescence, freeze-thaw and salt spalling damage.
- Retains natural surface color and finish
- Treated surfaces are easier to clean and dry quickly even after heavy rain
- Super breathable: Water vapor escapes freely preventing harmful moisture buildup inside the treated material
- Suitable for indoor, outdoor, residential and commercial use. Stands up to alkaline cleaners and pressure hosing
Maintenance Guide
After installation, LiLi tiles require little maintenance. When cleaning, a pH neutral cleaner must be used. No grit, ammonia, bleach, or vinegar as these may damage your tiles. If heavily soiled, we suggest using. Dry-Treat S-Tech™ Stone & Masonry cleaner. For regular cleaning we suggest using Hillyard Super Shine-All® Neutral Cleaner.
If your tiles get scratched, 220 grit sandpaper can be used to buff out scratches – they must then be resealed. For external installations only, cement tiles must be resealed every year in order to protect them from prolonged sun exposure.
Brass Maintenance
Cement tiles with brass inlays are prone to tarnish and will require additional maintenance both before as well as after installation.
Tiles must be inspected by installer upon receipt. Any tarnish accumulated can be removed with wet sanding using 320 grit sandpaper. This process can be done before the tiles are installed or once they are installed. The wet sanding process can be repeated as many times as necessary to keep the brass looking shiny & new. However, tiles must be re-sealed after each wet sanding session.
LiLi cement tiles embraces the natural aging process of brass and encourages the vintage look
Videos
How It's Made: LiLi Cement Tiles
How to Cut Brass Insert Cement Tiles
How to Clean Tarnished Brass Accents on Cement Tiles
How to Check if Your Cement Tiles Are Sealed
How to Remove Scratches from LiLi Cement Tiles
LiLi Cement Tiles Installation
FAQs
All of our cement tiles are handmade in Vietnam using the same traditional methods first invented in the 1850s
Absolutely! In fact, one of the most popular application of our tiles is in the shower! Our tiles pass the DCOF slip-resistance test and are great for both residential and commercial applications. The only application not recommended is inside a swimming pool.
Please note, any of our tiles with metal inserts (brass, copper, aluminum) may slightly tarnish in wet areas but are still equally suitable and can easily be cleaned
Yes! Our cement tiles are perfectly safe over heated floors.
Yes! When properly sealed, LiLi cement tiles can be installed almost anywhere - except inside a swimming pool or water line. However, they’re perfectly suitable for pool surrounds, outdoor decks, outdoor showers, walkways, and even pavements (with proper foundations). As with all installations, we strongly urge using Stainproof Original Sealer by Drytreat to prevent stains and discoloration.
Please note, bright colors like blues and reds can be prone to fading if installed under direct sunlight.
Most in-stock orders ship next business day from either our NJ or TX warehouse.
Since our tiles are not baked in an over or fired in a kiln they do not shrink or expand, which means they can be installed with or without grout. Although it is a personal preference, most customers choose to use grout on floor installations. Please note, standard grout is not recommended for use with cement tiles as it contains color pigments that are prone to stain the tiles. Please refer only to our suggested quartz-based grout list.
The only instance where grout is strongly suggested is any application in direct contact with water. This is done to avoid any mold issues caused by water permeating through the joints and damaging the surface behind the tiles.
Whether installing with or without grout, we strongly urge the use of a membrane to prevent tiles from cracking if there is any shift in the foundation.
Cement tiles are naturally quite porous, which means if left unsealed they will absorb any liquid and stain. This is why we strongly urge all our tiles to be sealed with Stainproof Original Sealer by Drytreat. This sealer will create a protective coat to prevent stains from instantly absorbing. As always, we suggest cleaning up spills as soon as possible. Lookin’ at you, red wine!
Since cement tiles are handmade, there may be slight variations between different lots. This is why we suggest ordering 10-15% extra. This overage accounts for cutting purposes, breakage during installation, greater range of selection, and extra material if needed in the future as future lots may not match.
We strongly urge the use of a subfloor as this prevents cracks in the tiles if there is any foundational movement. We suggest using Schluter Ditra Uncoupling Membrane for optimal results.
Yes, all of our cement tiles are perfectly suitable and safe to be used over radiant heating.
Any standard thinset is perfectly fine (modified or unmodified). Please be sure to backbutter each tile before application.
Since our tiles are handmade, all custom orders take 12-14 weeks from order confirmation. Our minimum order quantity for custom tiles is 10 boxes.
Yes they do! You can find our spec sheet here
How to Order
Browse our vast collection of cement tiles below & pick the one that speaks to you!
We always suggest ordering a sample first so you know exactly what to expect