How to Make Your Own Concrete Tile (and Why You Might Want To)

For building patios, steps, or walkways, concrete tile can be an affordable option, and some ambitious DIY enthusiasts even make indoor floor tiles themselves. Making your own concrete tiles can give you a lot of design freedom; You can use a ready-made mold or make your own sand mold with the tiles you like. You can choose the shape, size, color, texture, and design of your tiles to suit your style and needs, and you can save money by doing it yourself.

Materials needed to make concrete tiles

To make concrete tiles you will need:

First, find a level area to set up the molds and lay out a tarp to keep the concrete from getting where you don’t want it. Once your area is prepared, make sure you have fresh water or a hose on hand to deal with spills.

How to add color and texture to concrete tiles

If you want to give your tiles a special texture, you can add aggregate or stones of different sizes and colors to the inside surface of the mold. There are also a variety of colors you can add to concrete to make it look like terracotta or stone. For best results, you should only test run one tile to make sure it comes out of shape the way you want before wasting a lot of time and concrete.

How to fill in ready-made forms

For ready-made forms, mix the concrete according to the manufacturer’s specifications with water and mix well. Once you have the correct mix, spray the inside of the molds with a release agent. This will help the tile to come out of the mold easily without damaging the mold and the tile. Concrete molds are usually made from silicone, which is malleable and elastic, so be sure to place them on a stable surface to pour. Once the mold is filled to the top, shake it back and forth lightly to get rid of the bubbles and allow the concrete to set overnight.

How to fill homemade molds

If you decide to make the shape yourself, you will need a box and a sand game. Fill the box with enough play sand to hold the tile and tamp down the sand until it becomes firm. Once you have the object you want to make a shape out of, make a loop of ribbon on the back to use as a handle. Then press the tile face down into the sand and remove it. Pour the remaining print with concrete and let the concrete dry overnight. It is important to do this step carefully so as not to accidentally change the shape of the form.

Turn out your tiles

When the concrete hardens, it can be removed from the mold. For ready-made forms, turn the form upside down with your hand under it for support. For more complex shapes that don’t release immediately, you can gently flip them over onto a canvas surface and lightly tap them to release. For homemade molds, remove the tile from the sand and shake off any loose grains. If you plan to make multiple identical tiles, you should always start with the original tile to get the clearest impression.

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