Ondablock: young Spanish entrepreneurs launch a dry, mortarless tile flooring system
Tile Wars · technology · · Tile Insights Hub
Spanish startup Ondablock replaces traditional mortar with a recycled thermoplastic base that lets porcelain tiles interlock like a puzzle — cutting installation time by up to 8x and eliminating water, dust and waste.
For decades, installing ceramic tiles followed roughly the same script: mixing mortar, manual application, curing time, dirt, debris and days of work. Now a technology developed by young Spanish entrepreneurs proposes to change a process that has evolved very little over the years. The Spanish startup Ondablock has developed a fully dry ceramic installation system that replaces traditional mortar with a technical base made from recycled thermoplastic polymer. The result is an interlocking method that works like a modular puzzle, allowing floors to be installed faster, cleaner and more efficiently. According to the company, the system significantly reduces project execution time and can be applied directly over existing floors in many cases. How a system that needs no mortar or water actually works Ondablock's concept combines two elements in a single piece. The top remains a conventional porcelain tile, while the bottom carries a technical base produced with recycled thermoplastic polymer. This structure is factory-integrated and arrives ready to install. The polymeric base features a unique wavy geometry that enables lateral interlocking between pieces. Instead of relying on the chemical adhesion of mortar, the system uses a mechanical connection between modules, creating a continuous and stable surface. The process eliminates traditional construction steps such as mortar preparation, adhesive application and drying waits. Pieces can be laid directly over leveled and stable surfaces, including concrete, existing ceramic and some other already-installed coverings. Installation up to eight times faster than traditional methods One of the main arguments for the technology is execution speed. According to a technical publication by OVACEN, specialised in architecture and construction, the system can make ceramic floor installation up to eight times faster than conventional mortar-based methods. Ondablock states that the system allows installation rates of 20 to 25 square meters per hour , well above many traditional ceramic-laying processes. Beyond speed, the absence of wet mixes reduces on-site waste and eliminates much of the dirt typically tied to renovations. That also minimises disruption in residential, commercial and corporate environments that stay operational during the work. Sustainability and reuse built into the product Another differentiator is the use of recycled raw materials: the technical base under the tiles is made from recycled thermoplastic polymer, reusing plastics that had already been in service. Dry installation systems also reduce consumption of water, sand, cement and other inputs commonly used in conventional construction. With no mortars or cementitious adhesives required, the environmental footprint of the process tends to be lower. Another benefit highlighted by advocates is the possibility of future disassembly. Because the pieces are not permanently bonded to the subfloor with mortar, removal can happen with less damage, enabling material reuse in certain situations. Young founders, a billion-euro market The technology was conceived by entrepreneurs Guillem Vicent and Jordi Peñarrocha , who saw an opportunity to modernise one of the most traditional processes in civil construction. The proposal brings to ceramic coverings the concepts of modularity, speed and industrialisation already transforming other engineering segments. The startup says the system has already begun international expansion and is attracting interest from architects, construction firms and distributors. To expand production and distribution capacity, the company has signed commercial agreements aimed at growth in other European markets. Although the technology still competes against well-established traditional methods, it reflects a growing trend in modern construction: cutting steps, minimising waste and turning manual processes into fast-assembly industrialised systems. The goal isn't to replace ceramic tiles — it's to reinvent how they reach the floors of homes, apartments, offices and commercial spaces. Source: Click Petróleo e Gás / OVACEN / Ondablock.