Step 1
Rolling the Clay
Even thickness is everything. The foundation of a good tile is consistent slab thickness. If the slab is uneven, thin areas will dry faster, thick areas will shrink differently, and the tile will almost certainly warp.
The most common way to control thickness is to use wooden guide rails (slab sticks) placed on both sides of the clay. Roll the clay until the rolling pin rests on the rails — this ensures the slab cannot become thinner than the guides.
A good working thickness for most tiles is about 6–10 mm, depending on the size.
Compress the clay
After rolling, use a polymer rib and compress the surface of the slab. Compression aligns clay particles and significantly reduces warping later.
Add texture
If you plan to add texture, do it at this stage — before cutting the tiles. This ensures the tile edges stay sharp and the shape remains precise. You can use a wooden clay roller, tile stencil or apply a pattern with carving tools.
Cut the tiles
Once the slab is ready and textured, cut the tiles using a sharp knife, needle tool, or a tile cutter, which will help you achieve same size and pattern across all your tiles.
Step 2
Slow and even drying
Drying is where most tile problems begin. Clay shrinks as it dries, and if one part dries faster than another, the tile will warp. Tiles should dry slowly, evenly and on a flat surface.
A helpful technique is to leave the tiles in the original slab sheet while they begin drying instead of removing them immediately. This slows down drying at the edges and helps prevent curling or warping. Place a flat board or drywall on top, optionally with a small weight. Flip them carefully (still leaving them in between the boards) once they reach leather-hard stage.
Fast drying creates stress in the clay, which often leads to warping or cracking.
Step 3
Bisque Firing
When the tiles are bone dry, they are ready for the bisque firing. Tiles can be fired either flat or upright, but many potters prefer firing them vertically with a slight lean. This allows air and heat to circulate more evenly around both sides of the tile.
Vertical firing
You place tiles upright, leaning slightly against a kiln post or support, while leaving small gaps between them. This can help reduce uneven heating and may minimize warping, especially with larger or thinner tiles.
Flat firing
If you prefer firing tiles flat, make sure they are lying on a clean and even surface. Do not allow any part of the tile to protrude beyond the kiln shelf – any parts extending beyond the shelf will warp during firing.
Step 4
Apply the glaze
The choice of glaze is never easy. Especially with tiles, you get many possibilities, as you can fire them both to low and high temperatures. In our opinion, glaze and texture should work together. If your tiles include carved or rolled texture, some glaze types will highlight the surface much better than others. For accenturated texture try:
Stoneware glazes
Earthenware glazes
Read more
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