Project Ideas for Tin Tile

Tin tiles were popular in the later 1800s, and the early part of the 1900s. The tiles were an affordable way to achieve the same decorative effect of a much more costly to install plaster ceiling.

Interestingly, the tiles also provided a measure of safety from fire. The ceiling tiles slowed the spread of flames from downstairs to upstairs rooms, giving occupants a little more time to escape.

Our stock of Antique tin tiles has been locally sourced; salvaged from buildings in and around Winnipeg.

Tin tile can be used for more than just ceilings. Our very creative Old House customers have repurposed tin tiles for all kinds of interesting applications --- as headboards, backsplashes, and fireplace inserts.

Salvaged tin tiles often have a beautiful patina that makes them fantastic as decor items. Build a frame around a tile, hang it as art...or keep things simple and just nail or screw the tiles to the wall as is.

Recently staff at the Old House made over an old metal lantern-style fixture with some tin tiles that had oxidized and rusted so much that they had holes in them!

The lantern top reminded us of a witch hat. The tiles were spookily corroded...it was a perfect and timely pairing --w ith a candle lit inside the lattern cast dark and unearthly shadows on our Halloween sale.

This project was quick and simple. We made templates from one of the lantern's original panels. The tile was easy to cut to size with tin snips. We picked sections of tile that were particularly corroded and some that had existing holes and punctures in them.