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Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.comAmerica’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006www.heritagetile.comAmerica’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006Project Design CodexA GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING AUTHENTIC PRE-WAR TILEWORK
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com2America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006The story of subway tile begins in the late 1800’s with the advent of indoor plumbing and the desire for more cleanable and sanitary surfaces in the home. e industrial revolution was transforming the tile industry, and an elegant and precise system of ceramic tilework rapidly evolved. By 1905 the NYC’s rst subway stations also featured these clean, glossy white tile surfaces as an expression of modernity.A century later, the Subway Ceramics collection was introduced as the rst complete and historically authentic subway tile collection since the 1920’s. e distinctively at surface, thin pencil-line grout lines, soft rounded corner trims and integrated ceramic accessories are a unique product of American craftsmanship. e leading American tile manufacturers cooperated to serve the growing nation’s appetite for construction materials, and collaborated on the physical specications and nomenclature that became the national standard by 1920. Every “whiteware” tile form produced and installed in every home in pre-war America came out of that common catalog. We have recreated that collection of tilework today as the Subway Ceramics collection.This journey of discovery revealed many insights about that special time in America and the contributions made by many newly immigrated and 1st generation Americans. ey brought with them the trade skills and apprenticeship traditions essential to sustain the construction boom through the roaring 20’s.The development of the Subway Ceramics collection was a technical feat made possible through the dedication and technical resourcefulness of an experienced team of tilemakers, and the collaboration of highly specialized tool & die makers, machinists, glaze chemists. Experienced suppliers of the raw materials that constitute the clay body and glazes were essential to producing the collection. The 2006 launch of the Subway Ceramics collection was just the beginning. We soon discovered the integrated ceramic accessory collection from American Encaustic Tile Company, which by 1920 had become the world’s largest tile company. Using 3D CAD and prototyping technology, we reproduced a complete collection in 3” x 6” and 4-1/4” square formats.A “restoration” white glossy glaze was added to match the vintage patina of the original, pre-war tilework. A complimentary series of glossy translucent crackle glazes provided the accent colors for simple liner details.The addition of a complimentary collection of unglazed porcelain mosaics completed the 5-year plan to restore the period bathroom to its original character. e Subway Mosaics collection mow oers all of the same colors, shapes and historically authentic patterns found in virtually every period home and traditional building constructed in pre-war AmericaWe can provide tilework needed to create the authentic character of historic spaces from a century ago. Achieving the intended aesthetic also requires an appreciation for the traditional craft of tile setting combined with the latest methods and materials. The objective of this guide is to provide the fundamental terminology and tile elements common to Subway Ceramics, utilizing modern 3D visualization tools to illustrate typical tile congurations. ese details reveal how to achieve a sculptural, miter-less tile surface using the Subway Ceramics collection, and demonstrate the tour de force that is our American heritage tileworke System - historical references and restorationAmerican Heritage Tilework Dened A History of Subway Ceramics
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com3America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - component terminology and examples COMPONENTS - Mosaic FlooringThe Subway Ceramics Collection is a system of interlocking glazed wall tiles and complementary porcelain mosaic ooring. Together, these two elements can contribute to interior spaces combining both authentic character, high quality and contemporary amenities.
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com4America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006COMPONENTS - Base Tiles & Corner Trimse System - component terminology and examplesBase tiles articulate the transition from vertical walls to horizontal oors. The top images illustrate the three types of base tiles in the subway tile collection. The Sanitary Cove Base is the simplest shape, providing a vertical face that is ush with the eld tile above and ush with the oor tile. The Shoulder Cove Base is a slightly more classical look, with the front face positioned 1/8” forward from the eld tile above. The rounded ‘shoulder’ creates a brighter line at the top of the base. Finally, the Roman Base is the most sculptural and classically inspired base, having thicker relief for the wall-oor transition.”The lower images illustrate the inside and outside corner trims for each style.Mosaic oor tile canbe installed rst with baseand wall tile installed afterRoman Cove BaseMosaic Floor TileFlush with Cove RadiusSanitary Cove BaseMosaic Floor TileFlush with Cove RadiusShoulder Cove BaseMiteredInside CornerQuarter RoundCornerMiter CornerQuarter CoveBeak CornerQuarter RoundCornerQuarter Cove / Round CornerRadius CoveCornerQuarter RoundCornerRadius Corner
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com5America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - component terminology and examplesThe most common sized eld tiles derive from the basic 6” x 6” size. Dividing it by half creates 3” x 6”, by quarters creates 3” x 3”, by thirds creates 2” x 6”. The size of a rotated square tting within the 6” x 6” shape creates the 4-1/4” x 4-1/4” square; dividing that in half creates the 4-1/4” x 2-1/8” tile.Cap tiles are commonly used to terminate the top of wainscotting, articulating the transition to a different tile size or a painted wall above. Cap tiles are also used to frame doors, windows and mirrors.COMPONENTS - Field TilesCOMPONENTS - Cap TilesHistorical Field Tile Size ReferenceTraditional P-Cap Surface BullnoseVictoria Cap
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com6America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor up VICTORIAN STYLE **using 3x6 eld tile**CRAFTSMAN STYLE **using 4x4 eld tile**Subway Ceramics eld tiles are available in both rectangular and square shapes. The Victorian aesthetic is frequently associated with 3” x 6” eld tile laid up in a ‘running bond’ pattern as shown in the images shown at left.The 4-1/4” x 4-1/4” square format eld tile is more often used in the designs associated with the Craftsman and Arts and Crafts traditions. Square format tiles are commonly congured in a grid layout, but are also installed in a running bond layout as shown in the images at left.
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com7America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor up - VICTORIAN STYLE - The 3” x 6” format became the standard tile shape during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Here it is shown with contrasting Sanitary Cove Base and P-cap edging at the top of the wainscot. The P-cap also frames the shower opening at right and frames the mirror on the left. The P-cap system has a full set of inside and outside corners for turning both vertically and horizontally, minimizing the need for tile cuttingBathroom tiled with 3”x6” eld tile, traditional cap and base tiles, accessories, and a greek key mosaic oor
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com8America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor up - VICTORIAN STYLE - FLOORSCAPSBASE MOULDINGS & CORNERSCORNER TRIMS
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com9America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor up - VICTORIAN STYLE - WALL TILE (integrated with ooring, base mouldings, corners and caps)STANDARD OPTION: P-cap chair rail continues around shower enclosureSECOND OPTION: P-cap chair rail continues through shower enclosureTHIRD OPTION: Box cap chair rail continues around shower enclosure
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com10America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006Combining square and rectangular tiles is characteristic of the American Craftsman style, which is an offshoot of the English Arts and Craft tradition. The craft-oriented legacy of the Craftsman tradition was partly a reaction to industrialization and mass-produced products. As a broad umbrella included very eclectic variations, emphasizing earthy browns, olive greens and russets, occasionally with red and blue highlights.Bathroom tiled with 4” x 4” eld tile, box-cap and base tiles, accessories, and a custom mosaic oore System - building from the oor up - CRAFTSMAN STYLE -
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com11America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor up - CRAFTSMAN STYLE - FLOORSCAPSBASE MOULDINGS & CORNERSCORNER TRIMS
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com12America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor up - CRAFTSMAN STYLE - WALL TILE (integrated with ooring, base mouldings, corners and caps)STANDARD OPTION: Box-cap chair rail continues around tub enclosureSECOND OPTION: P-cap chair rail continues around tub enclosureTHIRD OPTION: Bullnose top edge continues around tub enclosure
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com13America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006e System - building from the oor upSPECIAL CONDITIONS - Victorian Style NicheSPECIAL CONDITIONS - Craftsman Style NicheNiches are a valuable addition to any shower or tub. The Subway Ceramics Collection includes a variety of trim tile shapes that enable the design of different niche sizes and shapes. Careful planning can maintain grout joints that relate to and are consistent with the surrounding eld tile. With 3” x 6” eld tiles, three designs are shown at left illustrating, from left to right, the use of radius coves and bullnose tile, the addition of a shelf, and the addition of a P-cap sill. Note that the logical increment of width and height is 3”.Three designs are also shown using 4-1/4”x 4-1/4” eld tiles. These illustrate different combinations of radius bullnose/cove and quarter round bullnose/cove. While all three carefully relate the niche grout joints with the surrounding eld tile, they each produce a different look.OPTION 1: bullnose base with no shelfOPTION 1: one piece frame and sidesOPTION 2: bullnose base with shelfOPTION 2: two piece frame and sidesOPTION 3: P-cap base with shelfOPTION 3: no frame, sides only
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com15America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006SPECIAL CONDITIONS - Half Wall SPECIAL CONDITIONS - Tub Benche System - building from the oor up
Tel: 888-387-3280 info@heritagetile.com16America’s Heritage TileworkEST. 2006www.heritagetile.com