Local Materials: Your Andalusian-style Building Blocks
By Brenda Padilla
 |
| Andalucian Ceramic Fountain |
At first glance it might seem that there is little
variety of building materials available at your local "bricolage" -
or building supply - centre. Ceramics, bricks, plaster, marble,
granite and iron predominate. Get a little closer though and you
will realise the infinite possibilities they offer the creative
home decorator - and often at reasonable prices.
Ceramics
Ceramic tiles serve both practical and decorative functions in
Andalucía. No matter how beautiful they might be, they
will also keep your house cool during hot summers. You will find
a seemingly unlimited array of choices at local retail outlets
ranging from hardware stores, building supply centres, specialised
kitchen and bathroom shops and the warehouse-style stores located
in industrial parks (polígonos industriales, in Spanish).
Prices vary widely, so shop around and pay special attention
to the industrial areas if you're hoping for a bargain.
Andalusians put tile to use on both floors and walls. You will
find brilliantly designed patios that are decked out in ceramic
right down to the fountain and star-shaped tray at its base. Tiles
are also used to save energy and water by turning a garden into
a charmingly tiled extension of the home. However, while this looks
very nice, it can actually raise the temperature in the summer
if the tiles are not shaded by awnings or plant-covered trellises.
Another practical use of decorative tiles is to cover any garden
wall that has damp problems - i.e. one that has contact with earth
on one side. This will save you from needing to scrape and repaint
every year.
Finally, anyone with allergies to dust, dust mites or moulds will
appreciate a decorating scheme that features the use of tiles.
Switching from carpet to tile is enough to convince anyone that
the latter is superior in terms of hygiene. You can scour your
beautiful new floors - and tiled walls - with ammonia to banish
bacteria and mould spores and leave surfaces clean, polished and
as bright as new.
Ceramic accessories are available for every corner of your home
and garden as well in the form of murals, letter boxes, light fixtures,
candle holders, beautifully glazed pots, picture frames, a wide
variety of dishes and kitchen and bathroom accessories.
Brick
Bricks are literally the building blocks of local homes, but they
also serve a decorative purpose. Visit home building supply centres
and general construction supply outlets to find a variety of
designs which can be combined to create garden walls. Glass bricks
are popular for use in homes to let light in while blocking unwanted
views.
Plaster
Plaster is used to create ceilings and also decorative pieces to
adorn them. You can also acquire plaster designs for use on walls,
around windows and over doors at any large home centre or other
building supply outlet.
Marble & Granite
Expect to find good quality Spanish marble and granite at reasonable
prices as compared to imports. Marble floors and granite countertops
are another staple in the Spanish building industry and can add
an Andalusian flavour to your home decoration.
Wrought Iron
The iron you see in the form of grates that protect windows and
doors is just the beginning.
Back to top
| 
