FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
BRAND
Machuca Tiles are handmade cement tiles. The word ‘Machuca’ is the family name of the founders of the company. Machuca Tiles are also known as Encaustic Tiles, Mission Tiles, Cuban Tiles, Spanish Tiles, Baldozas, Hydraulic Tiles, or simply as Cement Tiles.
Machuca Baldozas Inc. is the only manufacturer of Machuca Cement Tiles in the Philippines. These tiles are branded with an embossed ‘Machuca’ behind each tile. Be forewarned, there are many suppliers who claim to sell Machuca Tiles, but have products that are actually made of different materials. Machuca Cement Tiles are not made of ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, or clay materials.
Our main showroom is located in Manila and our factory is located in Paranaque City. Orders may be placed online and settled thru physical and online bank deposits.
CUSTOM
Yes you can! We accept custom patterns and custom colors. We can create a custom handmade metal tile mold for the custom pattern, and then we proceed with creating your very own custom design tiles.
You may change any color on any tile to your desired specification. Some colors are at a premium (specifically shades of Blue, Green, and Violet), while the rest are standard colors. Changes in the tile price would only occur if you were to change a premium color to a standard color, or vice versa. You also have the option of increasing or decreasing the number of colors on any tile (e.g. Changing a 4 color combination to a 3 color combination), to suit your preference.
GENERAL
The tiles are sold on a per piece basis. The prices of the tiles vary, depending on the pattern or design, color combination, tile size, and final quantity chosen. Our standard tile size is 20×20 cm. Please contact us with your chosen design and quantity, so we could provide you with the exact price of each piece.
We accept orders of any size. Though you may order any pattern at any number of pieces, the tiles will be at their cheapest when ordered 100 pieces and above for each design.
If it is an in stock tile, we can release/deliver right away. Designs that aren’t in stock require approximately 15-30 working days (for an average-sized order), depending on the exact quantity, chosen pattern, and current production schedule.
If you have a firm deadline, please contact us as early as possible with your chosen pattern, tile size, and final quantity. Since these tiles are all manufactured by hand and made-to-order, we greatly recommend that there be sufficiently allotted time to plan, place an order, and manufacture these pieces.
We greatly recommend a 3 to 10% breakage allotment, depending on the quantity you are ordering. We’ve had many experiences of clients who have missing / broken pieces that are due to improper installation, poor handling, or minor cracks that come from uneven distribution of tiles during transport. This allotment is completely optional, though highly suggested.
Proper measuring is the key to minimizing waste and overage. Please confirm actual measurements with your contractor. If you would be needing help in computing, please send us your floor layout.
Yes, we can manufacture a few pieces should you require them. Please remember to order carefully and allow for extras as any additional small order is going to cost more than a large order, and may not match the initial order as well because of the difference in batches.
Yes, we’ve set aside all of our overruns and rejects. They are all located in our factory in Bicutan, Paranaque. The seconds (reject) pieces are sold at a discounted price. Please feel free to come and look through the stocks.
Cement tiles are a great choice for commercial applications, including restaurants, hotels, offices, cafes, etc.
Yes. We have had many years of experience dealing with large commercial and residential projects. We gladly work with designers, architects, and contractors. Contact us for more information.
SPECIFICATIONS
Our most popular size is the standard 20x20cm-sized tile. We also have tiles in the 30x30cm, 15x15cm, 7x25cm (brick), hexagon, and 15x30cm (riser) size.
Each 20x20cm and 15x15cm tile is roughly 3/4 of an inch thick, while our 30x30cm tiles are roughly an inch thick.
Note: The mortar to be used during installation can compensate for any minute differences in the tile thickness.
Each tile weighs roughly 1.60 kilos (for the 20x20cm tile), 4 kilos (for the 30x30cm tile), 2 kilos (for the 15x30cm tile), and 1 kilo (for the 15x15cm tile).
Yes! Cutting cement tiles is an easy and straightforward process. Feel free to send us a message for how-to’s.
1 square meter would need 25 pieces of 20x20cm tiles, or roughly 45 pieces of 15x15cm tiles (would need cutting), roughly 12 pieces of 30x30cm tiles (would need cutting), or roughly 33 pieces of our Hexagon tile (would need cutting).
PRODUCT
As every monitor/screen is different, it is impossible to have everyone seeing the same exact shades. Our gallery offers a close representation of the actual shade at hand.
Please order color chips or a sample tile so you can see the truest representation of the rich colors you can expect from our cement tiles.
Each tile we manufacture is hand-made and carefully crafted. Although we strive to be as perfect as possible, the slight imperfections on the tiles are rarely improvable. Every imperfection on the tile is part and parcel of the tile’s personality. Slight variations are inherent to this product. It is important to know that no two tiles are exactly alike. Each and every tile is unique. This adds to the natural appeal and does not compromise the performance or aesthetic. We separate the pieces that do not adhere to the quality that we impose, and add them to our overruns and rejects stock.
It is recommended that all tiles are examined in person or samples are purchased before placing an order. All of our patterns in our website tile gallery are rendered images of the designs in their truest form. Although our best effort is made to ensure that these images are as close as possible to the actual product, slight variations in shade, color or appearance is possible. Monitor and screen settings can also play a role in the representation of a picture. If you are still unsure, you may contact us for samples.
We do not recommend the cement tiles to be installed under direct sunlight and/or rain exposure, as they are susceptible to soaking up the rain and cracking from the heat once the moisture evaporates. Semi-enclosed areas are easier to work with, as they are not exposed to excessive water or sunlight.
The timeline that we provide in our proposals already includes the recommended curing period. All of our in stock tiles have also properly cured. We have a 9 to 15 day curing period.
No, cement tiles are not ceramic, and there is therefore no need for energy-intensive kiln (a thermally insulated chamber) firing. The tiles are neither baked nor heated.
No, the colored pigments on the face of these tiles are not painted on the surface, but are rather a fundamental part of the top layer of the tile body. These colored cement pigments are mixed into the cement, and each color mix is hand-poured into the enclosed color regions of a specially-made pattern mold. View our Process tab for more information.
Yes! Machuca Tiles are proudly locally made. The entire manufacturing process is completed in our factory in Paranaque City.
ORDERING
Depending on the contract amount, we would either require a 50% down-payment or a full payment before we start production. This is because we are dealing with colored cement pigments that last only for a few days at a time when mixed, and would need to ensure an order is placed before we begin manufacturing.
Payments may be made in person at our showroom or at our factory. Alternatively, bank deposits may be made (either online or physical deposits) at any of our 4 bank accounts. Please remember to send us a copy of your payment slip.
Yes we can help you compute for the exact quantity you will need, at no additional cost. For accurate computation, we will require a floor layout or dimensions. Please note that Machuca Baldozas Inc will not be liable for any miscalculations or errors in quantity. The final quantity will be approved by the client.
Yes, you can mix and match any piece to suit your preferences. You may order border and corner pieces from different patterns and match them with different design pieces.
Please remember to order carefully and allow for extras as any additional small order is going to cost more than a large order, and may not match the initial order as well because of the difference in batches.
Yes! Samples that aren’t in stock would only require a few days to produce. Once samples are ready, we can arrange to have them shipped to you. Custom color combinations (as well as custom designs) would need to have a sample made for approval.
Our standard tile pricing is based on an order of at least one hundred tiles. Due to individual manufacturing and handling, our sample operations are more tedious and time consuming compared to larger bulk orders. For these reasons, we would only be discounting the cost for the sample upon specific large orders. If you were to order a sample and the larger selection, please remind us to discount the cost for the sample.
DELIVERY
We package the tiles in corrugated boxes for deliveries. This has no additional fees. Our boxes already include the installation procedure and maintenance guidelines.
We suggest opting to have the tiles in crates or in pallets if you are having the tiles delivered by sea, air, or long distances by land. Additional fees apply.
Smaller wooden crates can be lifted by one person, and are recommended for instances wherein there is no forklift available to transfer the tiles during transit. Pallets are much heavier and cannot be carried, but are far more secure.
By default, all of our tiles can be picked up at our factory in Bicutan, Paranaque City. If you wish to pick up from our showroom in Manila, please notify our sales team.
Yes we do. Nearby provinces can be reached with our in-house trucks. Farther locations, especially clients on other islands, can be reached door-to-door via courier. We can arrange the entire shipping process for you.
INSTALLATION
As of the moment, we do not provide installation services. However, we’d be able to provide you and your contractor with installation guidelines and procedures. If you are concerned with the installation, we’d be able to carefully walk you through the process.
The tiles will first need to be washed with liquid soap and water. It is important to never use muriatic acid, as the face of the tiles will be destroyed. After washing the tiles, you may apply floor wax to achieve a shinier and cleaner look. You may opt to use a floor polisher. Please feel free to request a copy of our maintenance guidelines.
The distance depends on the desired look that you would like achieved. For many cases, minimal distance is recommended between the tiles. The general rule to follow is that tiles should not have a distance of more than 2mm.