Cement Tiles Almost Disappeared. Now They’re More Expensive Than Ever | So Expensive

Video Description

Cement-tile artisans use colorful pigments to form hundreds of designs. The tiles have been popular for nearly 200 years as a beautiful and affordable building material, but today, they can cost over 10 times as much as some ceramic subway tiles. And despite the premium, many workshops have struggled to stay in business. Now, the price for their main ingredient has skyrocketed, aggravated by supply chain issues and shortages. So, what's made cement tiles more expensive? And can new trends sustain this traditional craft? MORE SO EXPENSIVE VIDEOS: Why Japanese Kanzuri Chile Paste Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider https://youtu.be/VMzw6H38ZlM Why Calligraphy Inkstones Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider https://youtu.be/0uyBJ4ZbsNg Why Puppies Bred And Trained To Be Seeing Eye Dogs Are So Expensive | So Expensive https://youtu.be/LrXmvsLjudo 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - Inside A Cement Tile Workshop 01:30 - Colorful Pigments 02:36 - Tile Making Process 04:02 - Maintaining Quality 05:11 - Hydraulic Press 06:42 - Price Of Cement Tiles 07:32 - Cement Shortages 09:02 - Raising Popularity Of Handmade Tiles 11:22 - Installing Cement Tiles 13:07 - Keeping The Craft Alive 14:17 - The Future Of The Workshop 15:29 - Credits ------------------------------------------------------ #art #tile #businessinsider Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com Business Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderbusiness Business Insider on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Business_Insider/5319643143 Business Insider on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessinsider Cement Tiles Are More Expensive Than Ever. Why Can’t Some Artisans Stay In Business? | So Expensive