Color Cement Handicraft

by Pedro J. Lemos; Reta A. Lemos

TO MAKE GLAZED CEMENT SURFACE it is important that these steps be watched:

1st.	That the surface be roughened wherever the glazed surface is to appear.
2d.	That the tile be soaked in clean water until it has fully absorbed water.
3d.	That a little dry neat cement be placed on the spaces to have glazed effect.
4th.	That the neat cement should be sifted and dripped on with a brush and not gone over a second time.
5th.	That the tile is taken out and dried and the glazed and dull neat cement will create the change of surface texture as planned.

A bloom or chalk-like powder often comes on the surface of tiles, but will disappear within a short time and need not cause any anxiety.

GLAZED RELIEF LINE TILE is made by casting either a neat cement tile or a concrete tile with a relief line design and then mixing a neat gray or color cement glaze and putting it onto the surface. The tile is shaken in a level position until the entire surface is entirely covered leaving a thin layer of the glaze in the spaces between the lines as well as slightly on the lines. The tile is set in a shallow layer of water to harden.

OTHER VARIATIONS IN TILE EFFECTS can be made by combining these methods and with the use of color in these different methods described, unlimited avenues are opened to the worker in color cement. It should be remembered also that most of these methods of surface treatment are also possible in other forms beside flat or tile surfaces. The student should know these methods of working with plain cement and concrete as they are the foundation of successful Color Cement Handicraft.