| Title | फर्श टाइलें (Floor Tiles)Rare Pharsh ṭāileṃ Floor Tiles |
|---|---|
| Description | Ṭāils (टाइल्स), or *bhūmiprastaraḥ* (भूमिप्रस्तरः) [Sanskrit for "ground covering"], encompass diverse materials used for flooring, roofing, and cladding, deeply rooted in Indic architectural heritage [1]. Traditional sources included clay from riverbeds (*nadī mṛttikā*), limestone from quarries, and aggregates from riverbeds across the Indian subcontinent. Fired clay tiles, a common type, were extensively used during the Vijayanagara and Nayaka dynasties in South India [2]. These tiles exhibit varying physical properties: water absorption (0.5-15%), flexural strength (5-40 MPa), and density (1.8-2.2 g/cm³). Firing temperatures typically range from 900-1100°C. Cementitious tiles, another variant, display compressive strength of 20-40 MPa. Conservation efforts at heritage sites like Hampi and Thanjavur necessitate careful material analysis and appropriate restoration techniques, considering factors like thermal expansion (6-9 x 10⁻⁶ /°C) and porosity (0.5-25%) to ensure durability and compatibility with existing structures [3]. Understanding the *dravya* (substance) and *guṇa* (properties) of these materials is crucial for preserving Indic architectural legacy. |
| Also Known As | Floor Tiles Pharsh ṭāileṃ Floor Tiles Paving Tiles Surface Tiles फर्श टाइलें फर्श की टाइलें भूमि टाइलें शिलाखण्ड தரை ஓடுகள் (Tarai ōṭukaḷ) నేల పలకలు (Nēla palakalu) ನೆಲಹಾಸು ಹೆಂಚುಗಳು (Nelahāsu hen̄cugaḷu) നിലം ടൈലുകൾ (Nilam ṭailaukaḷ) भूमिप्रस्तरः |
| Tags | Tiles टाइल्स Ṭāils Roof Tiles Floor Tiles Wall Tiles Ceramic Porcelain Vitrified Concrete Clay Roofing Flooring Cladding |
| Material ID | INHFMAT-280002525-20-11-25-II |
| URI | https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/tiles |
| API Endpoint | https://www.inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/tiles |
| Total Sites | 4 |
| Primary Sites | 4 |
| Created | November 20, 2025 |
| Last Updated | November 28, 2025 |
External References
Material Types
| Types | Ceramic Tiles Porcelain Tiles Vitrified Tiles Concrete Tiles Earthenware Tiles Fired Clay Tiles Cementitious Tiles |
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Regions
| Regions | Kerala Tamil Nadu West Bengal Goa Karnataka Jammu and Kashmir India |
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Historical Context
| Time Periods | Medieval Period Colonial Period Modern Period |
|---|---|
| Dynasties | Vijayanagara Dynasty Nayaka Dynasty |
Geographic Sources
| Sources | Local tile factories Local clay pits Tile factories in India Local tile manufacturers |
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Properties
| Properties | Water absorption: <0.1% (porcelain), <0.5% (vitrified), 0.5-3% (ceramic), 3-15% (ceramic), 5-15% (concrete) Flexural strength: 5-40 MPa Firing temperature: 900-1100°C Density: 1.8-2.2 g/cm³ Porosity: 0.5-25% Compressive strength: 20-40 MPa Thermal expansion coefficient: 6-9 x 10⁻⁶ /°C Hardness: Varies based on material Abrasion resistance: Varies depending on type Thermal conductivity: 1-2 W/mK |
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Common Uses
| Uses | Roofing Flooring Paving Wall Cladding Decorative Elements |
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Related Materials
| Materials | काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) रेती - Retī (Sand) सीमेंट - Sīmeṇṭa (Cement) ग्रौट - Grauṭ (Grout) कंक्रीट - Kankreet (Concrete) |
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Related Styles
| Styles | Kerala Architecture Bengal Architecture Goan Architecture Mangalore Tile Roofs Modern Architecture |
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Related Categories
| Categories | Residential buildings Temples Temple Church Modern additions to heritage sites Temple (modern) Commercial buildings Monastery |
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Conservation Notes
| Notes |
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Recommended Sources
| Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Tile Manufacturing | Technical Report | Tile production techniques |
| IS 15622:2017 | Indian Standard | Ceramic Tiles - Specification |
Heritage Sites (4)
| Site Name | Status | Usage | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivkhori Cave Shrine Ransoo | Primary | 100% | |
| Shree Hanuman Mandir Aizawl | Primary | 100% | |
| The Hindu Temple Dimapur | Primary | 100% | |
| Tsuk La Khang Monastery Gangtok | Primary | 100% |