FAQ Saltillo tiles

Working directly with tile makers, we import handmade Saltillo floor tiles. They are available in four sizes: 15 x 15cm, 22 x 22cm, 30 x 30cm and 40 x 40cm square format. Our prices are competitive because we buy the tiles directly from the makers and import them ourselves.

Prices are as follows.
£2.50 per tile/ £112.50 per sq.m/ 45 tiles per sq.m 15 x 15cm Saltillo tile.
£3 per tile / £63 per sq.m/ 21 tiles per sq.m for the 22 x 22cm Saltillo tile.
£3.50per tile/ £38.50 per sq.m/ 11 tiles per sq.m for the 30 x 30cm Saltillo tile.
£10 per tile/ £62.50 per sq.m/ 6.25 tiles per sq.m for the 40 x 40cm Saltillo tile

Saltillo floor tiles are unsealed terracotta. They are hand made in Saltillo, Northern Mexico from local clay which has a unique natural blend of minerals, which makes the tiles very tough when fired in specially-built kilns. The individual tiles are slightly varied in shape and surface, with wavy contours and slightly different sizes and shades of yellow, orange and red. They lend an earthy look to any room, the soft yellow, pink and red tones adding warmth to kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoor spaces. They look good in both contemporary and traditional settings, simultaneously able to keep with tradition in an old house and add breaking with the clean lines of a modern one to add variation.Because the Saltillo tiles are handmade they are slightly convex and concave, which creates a pillowed effect once installed.

The handmade floor tiles are suitable for indoor floors including bathrooms and kitchens. They can be used with underfloor heating. They can be used in fireplaces and hearths. The Saltillo tiles are often used in conjunction with the 5 x 5cm inset tiles.

Saltillo floor tiles are unsealed terracotta. They are handmade in Saltillo, Northern Mexico from local clay which has a unique natural blend of minerals. This makes the tiles very tough when fired in specially-built kilns.

Because of the fragile nature of the tiles, we only use a pallet for delivery. Delivery is a minimum (and maximum) of £60 for mainland UK. This excludes sample orders.

We can send whole samples for the price of the tile plus £10 for delivery. 40 x 40cm tiles samples can only be collect from London or Bristol as they are too fragile to send in the post. We recommend buying instead a 15 x 15cm tiles sample.

Saltillo tiles should be wiped with a damp cloth after laying and then left for about 2 days for the adhesive to set and dry.
When dry the tile surface should be sanded clean.
We recommend using 120 grade sandpaper to run it down.
After cleaning the tiles vacuum them. Then start the sealing process. There are various ways of sealing Saltillo tiles. What Milagros have done is use a 50:50 mix of turpentine and linseed oil.

The tiles have to be saturated with sealant until they can absorb no more, but any excess must be wiped off the surface before it drys there.

When the sealant has dried then the tiles can be grouted.

After cleaning up the grout and letting the tiles dry, a final coat of sealant should be applied.

With the Saltillo Milagros have finished them with Lithofin acrylic sealant.

Saltillo floor tiles are unsealed terracotta. They are handmade in Saltillo, Northern Mexico from local clay which has a unique natural blend of minerals. This makes the tiles very tough when fired in specially-built kilns.

The tiles don’t harbour dust, making them a good choice for anyone with allergies. They can be cleaned with a wet mop.