Oxide flooring: red oxide and kaavi floors explained

The traditional, cool, seamless floors of old Indian homes, and how to use or restore them today.

Glossy red oxide floor in an old Kolkata house with green shutters

Oxide flooring, also called red oxide, kaavi or red cement flooring, is a traditional floor made from cement mixed with oxide pigments and polished by hand. It's seamless, cool underfoot and develops a beautiful sheen over time. Many old Kolkata homes still have red oxide floors.

Here are 10 things to know.

Black-and-white star-pattern floor tiles seen from above with a red chair

01Classic red oxide

Deep red, glossy and seamless.

Black oxide floor

02Black oxide

Elegant black, often with red borders.

Yellow oxide floor

03Yellow and green oxide

Other traditional colours.

Kaavi floor in a verandah

04Kaavi flooring

The South Indian term for red oxide.

Red oxide floor with black border

05Oxide borders

Contrasting borders frame rooms.

Restored red oxide floor

06Restoring old oxide floors

Cleaning and re-polishing revives them.

Red oxide-look tiles

07Red oxide flooring tiles

Tiles that mimic the look.

Oxide floor in a modern home

08Oxide in modern homes

Used in verandahs and living rooms.

Hairline crack in an oxide floor

09Cracks

Hairline cracks are common; skilled laying minimises them.

Mopping an oxide floor

10Maintenance

Mop with water; occasional wax or oil.

Have an old red oxide floor to restore or replace? See our flooring in Kolkata service.

Should you keep or restore old oxide floors?

Keep if sound: restoration is often cheaper than replacement and preserves character.
Repair cracks with matching mixes.
Re-polish to bring back the sheen.
New oxide floors need skilled artisans; few remain.
Alternatives: oxide-look tiles for easier maintenance.