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This is a common question we receive on a daily basis about authentic handmade saltillo tile. . There is a lot of conflicting information about saltillo tile today. There are also a lot of knock-off versions of this beautiful terra cotta floor material. So…how do you know if you’re getting the real Mexican tile?
There are a few factors to consider when deciding on authenticity and quality of these Mexican tiles.
1. Where is the tile made? Authentic saltillo clay tiles are made in Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico. This is the only place that real saltillo clay is found and the artisan process of manufacturing is on site local to the riverbeds of clay.
2. Is the tile handmade? Traditional terra cotta tile is handmade and only made of Mexican saltillo clay. There are no machines involved — it’s a process that is completely done by hand. At Rustico Tile and Stone, the only machine we use is after the tiles are made…an airless sprayer seals the tiles with 5 coats of sealer and a forklift loads up the crates onto our trucks. Everything else is done by hand with careful attention to the artisan detail. The end result is a beautiful Mexican floor in your home or business.
3. How thick is the tile? The thinnest good quality saltillo floor tile should be no less than 1/2″ thick. Most sizes average 3/4″ thick or thicker for larger sizes. Terracotta tiles need the thickness for the clay to have the quality needed for these terracotta floors to last a lifetime. Fake saltillo tiles that are thinner than this are too brittle and will break or chip very easily.
4. I’m buying sealed tile — How do I know if it is well sealed? At Rustico Tile and Stone, we are a low-cost leader in the market for our fully-sealed saltillo tiles. Our tiles are not just “primed” with 1 or 2 coats of sealer. We’ve sprayed 5 coats of an oil-based sealer that is made at our facility in Mexico. The sealer color enhances this clay tile to produce the traditional shades of terra cotta, golden, oranges, and reds. When you receive the tiles, you’ll find that you can pour a cup (or more) of water onto the clay and you will see the water stand on top. This illustrates the quality of our sealing process. This also SAVES YOU MONEY because you are able to install the tiles without soaking them and you do not have to apply mulitple coats of sealer to finish out your saltillo tile flooring. While we recommend a final coat of sealer for abrasion resistance, UV protection, and grout coverage, you’ll find that 1 very thin coat of sealer is your last and final step. Add this to the wholesale price you pay for this Mexican tile… it’s a win-win for you to get a great value and a gorgeous Mexican floor.
We encourage our customers to shop our competitors. Not only will we BEAT ANY COMPETITOR’S PRICE IN THE U.S., but we also stand by our quality of authentic hand-made saltillo tile. Call us today for a quote!! 512-260-9111 or email Info@rusticots.com
Do-It-Yourself Directions on How to Install Saltillo Tile
Every day we receive phone calls with questions about how to lay saltillo tile. There are many myths about the complexity of installing saltillo tiles and how to seal terra cotta floors. We hope to help clear the confusion with this easy step-by-step guide on prepping your floor and laying this Mexican tile.
The directions below are recommendations. Many variations to these steps may exist for your specific floor and terra cotta tile. Please consult with your local contractor or installer for more precise advice relevant to your specific floor and tile purchased. Rustico Tile and Stone is not responsible for saltillo installations not completed by one of our contracted installers.
Two types of terracotta tile installations exist: (1) on wood subfloor or (2) on a slab.
(1) Wood Subfloor guide: If you have some type of wood subfloor, basement or 2nd story floor, you will first need to:
(A) Prep the subfloor. Some options for prep include: hardi backer, lath sheet and concrete, or DITRA. At Rustico Tile and Stone, we recommend DITRA over all other materials. (Schluter-DITRA is a polyethylene uncoupling membrane with a grid structure of square cutback cavities and an anchoring fleece laminated to the underside. In conjunction with the saltillo tiles installed on top, DITRA forms an uncoupling, waterproofing, and vapor management layer, while providing support/load distribution. The combination of these four essential functions allows for the successful installation of terracotta tile over a wide range of subfloors including plywood/OSB, concrete, gypsum, heated floors, and more. Ask Us for more details about DITRA and how to purchase this tile installation material.
(B) Once the subfloor has been prepped, you are ready to apply thinset. If using the DITRA product mentioned above, you do not need elastic thinset. We recommend inexpensive basic thinset which can be found at a local home improvement store. ½” x ½” trowel is recommended for a basic 12×12 size saltillo tile. For other sizes, consult with your installer.
(C) Lay the terra cotta tile (assuming it is presealed. If it is unsealed, see tips at the bottom of this guide). With a standard 12×12 size tile, a minimum grout line recommended is ½”. Any grout line that is wider is for cosmetic purposes. We do not recommend using spacers with authentic handmade saltillo tile to allow for the size/shape variations. Your installer will need to pay attention to detail to keep the pattern of tile layout consistent. This is not a complicated process. The terra cotta tiles can easily and precisely be cut with a wet saw.
(D) Grout saltillo tile floor after thinset dries (usually overnight waiting period). Recommended grout includes a sanded grout or mortar mix. This can also be found at a local home improvement store.
(E) Clean saltillo tiles. You will need to clean your Mexican tile floor very well to remove any grout haze or debris accumulated during the installation process. Once the floor is thoroughly cleaned, allow it to dry for several days. Our StoneClean 104 cleaner, water, and a sponge or brush can be used for cleaning the floor. If you choose to you any other type of chemical cleaner, follow this step by a few mop-washings of 50/50 mixture of acetone and water. Any residual cleaning chemical must be fully removed prior to applying your top coat of saltillo sealer.
(F) Seal saltillo floor. Once your installation is complete, cleaned and thoroughly dried, you can now apply the top coat of tile sealer. An ideal top coat sealer will last several years and can also be applied to the terra cotta grout lines. Allow the terra cotta sealer to fully dry and cure. Once cured, installation is complete. Enjoy your Mexican tile floor!
(2) Slab Subfloor guide: If you have a concrete slab subfloor, you first need to:
(A) Prep the subfloor by examining for any cracks or foundation issues. If there are surface cracks, fiberglass mesh and elastic polymer (i.e. Red Guard) can be used. DITRA (see description above) can also be used and is highly recommended if foundation problems exist or if the slab is on sandy soil (or if foundation is apt for movement).
Once the slab subfloor is prepped, you can follow steps B through F listed above.
A few tips:
- If you are installing presealed saltillo tile (most common), we do NOT recommend soaking the clay tiles prior to installation. Soaking these sealed tiles can create bigger efflorescent issues in the future if water is trapped in the clay for long periods of time.
- If you are installing unsealed saltillo tiles, you can soak these tiles prior to installation OR apply saltillo tile sealer prior to installing the Mexican tiles.
- Do NOT dry stack saltillo tile installations.
Did you know that we regularly produce 3 different styles of Saltillo Mexican tiles? That’s right! The three styles are: (1) Traditional Saltillo tile (2) Manganese Saltillo tiles and (3) Antique Saltillo tiles. The differences between these 3 variations are discussed in detail below.
The three different styles are manufactured from the same clay. This is Saltillo riverbed clay found in ONLY Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico. It has the reputation of being a very durable clay that lasts lifetimes. This is why saltillo tile flooring is an ideal material for homes and businesses All three variations of saltillo are handmade by our artisans in Mexico. The tiles will include all of the normal attributes of saltillo including: chips, hairline cracks, paw prints, and size and color variations. No matter which style of saltillo you purchase, no two tiles are the same. Each is different and unique with its own story from the hands of the people of Mexico.
TRADITIONAL SALTILLO is also know as Terracotta tile or Terra Cotta tiles. This is the most authentic, oldest version of these Mexican floors. The color variations found in this terra cotta flooring ranges from Terracotta reds, golden, orange, and lighter shades of yellow or cream. Traditional Saltillo flooring is available in Super (rounded edges) or Regular (squared edges, not cut) and also in a Sealed (with 5 coats of penetrating sealer applied, most popular choice) or Unsealed (raw clay, very pastel in color). The texture of this tile is relatively smooth as it has been hand-pressed in production.
MANGANESE SALTILLO is essentially the same as traditional terracotta tiles. However, in the manufacturing process, Manganese Dioxide powder is added to the wet clay and mixed in well. In this process, it turns the clay varying shades from light and dark browns, terra cotta, and will have some very dark swirling throughout some of the tiles. The end result is a more brownish floor rather that a terra cotta colored floor. Manganese Saltillo flooring is available in Super (rounded edges) or Regular (squared edges, not cut) and also in a Sealed (with 5 coats of penetrating sealer applied, most popular choice) or Unsealed (raw clay, very pastel/gray in color). The texture of this tile is relatively smooth as it has been hand-pressed in production.
ANTIQUE SALTILLO tiles are most different from the traditional or manganese variations. These are Textured tiles that have been scraped on the surface to provide for a more “worn” appeal. They’re considered to have an Old World look. In terms of coloration, these clay tiles are traditional saltillo colors (terra cotta reds, yellow, oranges) but the Manganese Dioxide powder and our secret ingredient have been added to the surface texture and sealed into the clay. This process darkens the tiles to look “old”. Antique Saltillo tiles floors are absolutely beautiful indoor and outdoor. Because they are a textured tile, they’re ideal in areas where slipping may be of concern. To have the old world look, they are only available in the sealed option. On occassion, we have clients request these tiles unsealed and the end result is basically a textured saltillo that can be sealed or unsealed.
Lastly, any of these three styles of Mexican floor tiles can be created in any of our shapes and sizes. To see ideas about how the floors might look in your home or business, visit our Saltillo Tile Installation Photos Gallery. Contact us for a quote on any of these variations!
Did you know that we carry a top of the line painted ceramic Talavera tile? Talavera simply refers to a painted tile. In the world of Mexican tiles, there are 3 qualities of these beautiful accent tiles: A (Talavera Superior), B (Talavera Excellente), & C (Regular Talavera).
“A” is what we consider to be the best quality talavera on the market. This is our Talavera Superior tile and there is nothing like it to be found. In our many travels to Mexico looking for the best decorative tiles available, we stumbled into Delores Hidalgo…home of the artisans who paint talavera tiles. In this beautiful town, there is only 1 manufacturer who creates this Talavera Superior. It’s a high relief texture tile in the decorative designs. The solid painted tiles are available in matte or gloss finishes. These ceramic painted tiles are strong enough to be used as floor tiles though most of our customers purchase them for decor in bathrooms, kitchens, and more. The gloss finishes are water-resistant and frost proof. You can contact us for a sample order if you see something you like on our website.
” ”B” is a secondary quality Talavera tile and one that we call Talavera Excellente! If we compare this to a model of a car…quality “A” is considered a Bentley while quality “B” is considered an Escalade! While it might not be as superior as our Talavera Superior, this is still a top of the line tile at nearly HALF the price of Talavera Superior. Any of the talavera painted tiles you see on our website, can be offered in this line – Talavera Excellente! These versions may have slightly different colorations than what is shown on our website but the high relief tiles, matte finish tiles, and glossy tiles are all available.
” Lastly, quality “C” is a type of talavera that we do not offer. This Regular Talavera is readily available on the market in many places and it can be found for very inexpensively. We used to carry this type of talavera but we had many qauality control issues. These tiles are typically very thin, brittle, chipped, and bowed in shape. Often shipping these resulted in damage due to their poorer quality nature.
” If you’re in the market for beautiful colorful decor, consider Talavera tiles for your home or business. Contact us today with a quote and visit our Mexican tiles online here! Custom designs are also available.
Did you know that here at STSC, it’s January SEALER month? With any 500 square feet or more purchase of saltillo tiles or cantera pavers, you will receive 1 gallon of our WB top-coat floor sealer FREE! In additon to a FREE mexican tile sealer, we are also offering a 15% discount on any hammered Copper Light Sconce! What a way to start off the new year with great bargains!
Why do you need to seal your tile flooring? Though most of you will purchase our presealed saltillo tile or architectural stone tiles, it is still recommended that a final coat of sealer be applied to the tile. The presealed terra cotta tiles have 5 coats of a penetrating sealer already applied to the clay floor but you will want a top-coat protective layer to provide scratch-resistance, UV protection, water-resistance, and other qualities to your floor tiles. Once your flooring tile has been fully installed, grouted, cleaned, and is thoroughly dry, it’s time to apply 1 final thin coat of sealer. Check here for our Sealer options. With a good quality top coat saltillo sealer like our WB or GREEN floor sealers, your terracotta tile or cantera tiles will be virtually maintenance free for several years. It’s a great way to protect your flooring investment at a very low cost.
Lastly, we produce some fabulous quality Copper Light fixtures. Check them out here! In an effort to continuing growing this part of our business, we are offering a 15% discount on our Wholesale prices for the Copper Sconces. This is a real bargain! This offer is good with ANY purchase of our Saltillo Mexican tile, any of our Talavera, Tile sealer, or any of our Cantera architectural stone. Contact us today!
