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

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

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?

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 #soexpensive

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

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