Our tile is made by hand, one piece at a time.

We begin with carefully selected clay, which is extruded or pressed into individual tiles depending on the desired form. Each piece is then dried slowly and carefully before being bisque fired.

Once the tile has been bisque fired, we apply our glazes by hand. The glazed tiles are then fired again at high temperature, transforming the clay and glaze into a durable finished tile.

Because our process involves real people, natural materials, and high-temperature firing, no two tiles are ever exactly alike. Subtle differences in colour, texture, surface movement, edges, and dimensions are part of the character of handmade tile—not defects.

Our tile starts with a high-fired red clay body made from specifically selected raw materials sourced from Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

We blend these materials to create the clay body that gives Earthsmith Tile its strength, warmth, and distinctive character. From there, it gets formed, dried, glazed, and fired at high temperature to become the finished tile.

So while our tile may travel a few kilometers before it ends up in your restaurant, kitchen, or hotel lobby, its ingredients come from right here in North America.

And because it's real clay—not plastic pretending to be ceramic—it has all the natural variation, texture, and personality you'd expect from something made from the earth and fired in a kiln.

Yes. Our tiles are produced using traditional ceramic techniques rather than mass-production methods.

While we use specialized equipment where it improves consistency and efficiency, each tile still passes through the hands of our makers throughout the manufacturing process. Forming, finishing, glazing, inspection, and packing all involve careful human attention.

The result is a tile with the character and variation that can only come from a handmade process.

That's part of the beauty of handmade tile.

Our clay and glazes respond to changes in thickness, temperature, atmosphere, application, and the natural characteristics of the materials during firing. These variables create subtle shifts from tile to tile.

You may notice differences in colour, shade, texture, edges, and surface movement. These variations are intentional and inherent to the handmade ceramic process.

We believe these imperfections are what give a finished installation its depth, warmth, and personality.

Durability depends on the clay body, glaze, firing temperature, tile construction, and intended application—not simply whether a tile is handmade or machine-made.

Our tiles are fired at high temperatures and are manufactured for use in appropriate residential and commercial applications. Each collection has its own recommended applications and specifications, so please refer to the product information for the tile you're considering.

Because our tiles are handmade, slight dimensional variation is normal.

Clay naturally shrinks during drying and firing, and small differences can occur during forming and finishing. Glazes can also affect the final dimensions and appearance.

These variations are part of the character of handmade tile and should be anticipated when planning an installation. Your installer should account for these characteristics when determining layout and grout joints.

This is the tough love section.

Installation of the product is considered acceptance of the product.

It is imperative that you thoroughly inspect your shipment for any damages that may have occurred
while in transit. Damages should be reported immediately with photographic backup.

Be sure to note any damages on your delivery slip or Bill of Lading.

You can—if you're a tile installer. If you've never installed tile before, we'd recommend calling in a professional.

Handmade tile has more natural variation in size, thickness, shape, and surface than mass-produced tile. A good tile setter knows how to work with those variations and use them to create a beautiful, intentional installation.

If you're comfortable with tile installation and have a little patience, you can tackle it yourself. Just don't expect it to behave like a sheet of printer paper.

Yes—but there isn't one magic grout joint that works for every Earthsmith tile.

Because handmade tile can have natural dimensional variation, we generally recommend allowing a little more room between tiles than you might with highly calibrated factory tile. This gives your installer the flexibility to make small adjustments and keeps the finished installation looking intentional.

The right joint will depend on the specific tile, pattern, and look you're after.

Refer to the resources section for more information on grout size and selection.

Most of our tiles are suitable for wet areas, but not every tile is suitable for every application.

Always check the individual product's recommended applications before installing it in a shower or other continuously wet environment. This is located in the Resources section of this site.

Some of our tiles are suitable for floor applications and some are intended primarily for walls.

Because our tiles are handmade and each collection has its own characteristics, check the product specifications before using a tile on a floor.

Outdoor installation depends on the specific tile, climate, and application.

Freeze-thaw conditions are particularly important in climates like Canada, where Mother Nature occasionally decides to see what your tile is really made of.

Always check the individual product specifications before installing Earthsmith Tile outdoors.

A quality wet saw with a good diamond blade is the preferred method for cutting ceramic tile.

Absolutely.

We recommend opening and mixing tiles from multiple boxes during installation rather than installing one box at a time. This is vital to an awesome installation.

Handmade glazes can have natural variation from piece to piece and, depending on the collection, from production run to production run. Mixing tiles helps distribute those variations throughout the installation and creates a more natural, cohesive appearance.

It depends on the tile.

Some of our tiles have glazed surfaces that require little to no ongoing maintenance, while other tiles or surfaces may benefit from sealing.

Because different clays and glazes behave differently, always check the care and maintenance recommendations for your specific tile.

If you're not sure, ask us. We'd rather answer the question before you start sealing things than after you've accidentally turned your backsplash into a science experiment.

Use a high-quality penetrating sealer appropriate for ceramic tile and the specific surface you're treating.

Refer to the Install and maintenance guideline in the Resources section of this site.

Always test your sealer on a spare tile first.

For routine cleaning, warm water and a mild, pH-neutral cleaner are generally all you need.

Avoid aggressive chemicals, abrasive powders, steel wool, or anything else designed to remove the top layer of civilization from your kitchen counter.

For everyday dirt, a soft cloth, sponge, or non-abrasive mop is usually sufficient.

So your cocktail party is going off the rails. No problem. Clean up any spills reasonably quickly.

Most spills are easily dealt with using a soft cloth or sponge and a mild cleaner.

Handmade tile doesn't necessarily look better when it looks newer. Natural variation, subtle wear, changing light, and the little marks of everyday life can become part of the character of an installation.

Our goal isn't to make tile that looks exactly the same ten years from now. It's to make tile that you'll still love ten years from now.

Absolutely. In fact, we highly recommend it.

A sample is the best way to see the colour, texture, glaze movement, and character of a tile in person.

Photos can get you close, but screens are notoriously bad at showing what a glaze actually looks like. Lighting, photography, monitors, and the wonderfully unpredictable nature of ceramic glazes can all affect how a colour appears.

If you're choosing tile for a larger project, we'd much rather you fall in love with a sample first than discover three boxes into your project that you and your tile have irreconcilable differences.

Please contact us for samples and we'll happy to help you get the show on the road.

Not necessarily—and that's important to understand when ordering handmade tile.

Samples are intended to represent the overall colour, character, and finish of a tile, but they cannot capture every variation that may occur across a larger production run.

For an installation where colour matching is particularly important, we recommend ordering a larger sample set before committing to your full order.

Yes. Full stop.

We recommend ordering an additional 12% to 15% to allow for cutting, installation waste, breakage, and selection.

Exactly how much extra you'll need depends on your installation, layout, tile size, pattern, and the skill of your installer.

For particularly complicated patterns or installations with lots of cuts, we recommend allowing additional material.

This is where things can get interesting.

Because our tile is handmade, colour and glaze variation can occur between production runs. A tile ordered later may not be an exact match for one produced months earlier.

For that reason, we strongly recommend ordering enough tile for the entire project at the outset, including a reasonable amount of overage.

Future-you will thank present-you.

You can certainly ask us.

If the tile is still in production, we may be able to supply additional material. However, we cannot guarantee that a later production run will be an exact match to your original order.

If you have leftover tile after your project, we recommend keeping a few pieces somewhere safe. Your future bathroom backsplash—and future you—may appreciate them.

Cancellations and returns are not allowed as your tile is made-to order.

If you've suddenly realized you ordered enough tile to cover an entire city block, contact us as soon as possible. We'll see what we can do.

We love working with people who are designing spaces and making beautiful things happen.

Whether you're specifying tile for a residential project, boutique hotel, restaurant, retail space, or something completely outside the box, we're happy to work with you.

If you're in a part of the world that has an Earthsmith retailer, we will loop them in to make sure all bases are covered.

Our tile is offered through our retail showroom and retail partner network, and we believe designers and trade professionals should have the same great support whether you're working through a local showroom or directly with us.

If there is a retail location carrying Earthsmith Tile in your area, we're happy to work with them to support your project.

If there isn't a retail partner nearby, we'll work with you directly. We'll make sure you have access to samples, pricing, product information, colour guidance, and everything else you need to confidently specify Earthsmith Tile for your project.

No showroom nearby? No problem. We've got you covered.

For select projects, yes.

If you're presenting materials to a client or developing a larger installation, talk to us about your project and what you're trying to accomplish.

We may be able to provide larger samples or create a custom sample set to help your client understand the finished installation.

Yes.

We work with designers, architects, and builders on commercial projects, subject to the requirements of the specific application.

For commercial projects, we can discuss quantities, production schedules, samples, specifications, and other project requirements.

If you're working on a project with a significant quantity requirement, contact us early. Handmade tile takes a little more planning than ordering something from a warehouse.

Yes.

We can provide available information about our tile, including dimensions, materials, finishes, recommended applications, and other relevant specifications.

If you're putting together a project specification and can't find the information you need, ask us. We'll help you get the details you need.

You can get started with the technical documents available on the Resources page.

Absolutely.

Send us the project details, including the tile you're considering, approximate quantity, colours, destination, and desired timeline.

For larger projects, the earlier you contact us, the better. It gives us more room to plan production and make sure we're setting realistic expectations.

Full disclosure: we work in a cut for the local retailers to make sure everyone is playing fair.

The sooner we know what you're designing, the better we can help with samples, colour selection, quantities, production timing, and logistics.

Handmade tile has a few more variables than mass-produced tile—but that's also what makes it special.

Give us a seat at the table early, and we'll do our best to make sure the tile is the easy part of your project.

We ship Earthsmith Tile throughout Canada and the United States, with shipping options depending on the size and destination of your order.

If you're somewhere a little farther afield, don't be shy. Get in touch and we'll see what we can arrange.

Shipping costs depend on how much tile you're ordering, where it's going, and how it needs to be shipped.

Tile is heavy. Really heavy. It has an impressive ability to turn a seemingly innocent box into something that requires two people and a small amount of strategic planning.

We'll provide shipping costs based on your order and destination.

For larger projects, we'll work with you to determine the most practical and economical shipping method.

Transit time depends on the destination, shipping method, and whether your tile is already in stock or needs to be produced.

We'll provide an estimated timeline when you place your order.

For projects with a hard installation deadline, please contact us before ordering so we can make sure the production and shipping schedule works for you.

Very carefully.

Ceramic tile is strong once it's installed—but individual tiles can be surprisingly good at finding creative ways to break during transportation.

We package our tile specifically for shipping, with appropriate protection between pieces and around the outside of the shipment.

Large orders may require different packaging or freight arrangements than smaller orders.

Yes, in most cases.

We can arrange delivery to a home, business, showroom, warehouse, or job site depending on the shipment and destination.

If you're shipping directly to a job site, make sure the site is prepared to receive a heavy shipment and that someone is available to accept delivery.

Inspect it before you sign for or accept the shipment whenever possible.

Look for obvious damage to the packaging and, where practical, inspect the tile itself.

If there is visible damage, document it with photographs and contact us as soon as possible.

We know accidents happen. Our goal is to get your project back on track as quickly and painlessly as we can.

On occasion, terracotta tile and shipping occasionally have a complicated relationship.

If your shipment arrives damaged, take photographs of the packaging and the damaged tile and contact us as soon as possible.

Please keep the original packaging until we've had a chance to review the situation, as the carrier may require it for a damage claim.

We'll work with you to determine the best way forward.

We can explore international shipping depending on the destination and order size.

International shipments can involve additional freight costs, customs requirements, duties, taxes, and paperwork, so they're handled on a case-by-case basis.

If you're outside Canada or the United States, contact us before you get too excited and we'll see what we can arrange.

Depending on where your order is being fulfilled, local pickup may be available.