Tiles
Handmade glazed terracotta Mexican tiles for kitchen and bathroom walls
Milagros offers an range of affordable, genuinely handmade Mexican tiles in the UK.
Starting at just 60p per tile, or £90 per
square meter, our prices remain competitive as we source directly from artisans in Mexico, handling the import process ourselves.
Delivery and Collection
We offer both national and international delivery, with online shipping quotes
for Europe and the USA. For other regions, please contact us directly. You can
also collect orders from our shop in London or our warehouse in Bristol. Milagros tiles are a popular choice among architects and designers and have been featured in World of Interiors, House & Garden, and Elle Decoration. They’re installed in restaurants and homes across the UK, Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Russia.
Styles and Stock Availability
We carry the widest selection of handmade Mexican tiles in the UK, including Saltillo tiles, glazed terracotta and encaustic tiles.
Samples
Tile samples are available for purchase at the price per tile plus postage and packaging.
Installation Guide
For guidance on installing Mexican tiles, please see our online installation guide or contact us directly for assistance.
Suitability
Mexican hand made glazed terracotta wall tiles are suitable for bathroom, kitchen, shower walls.
About the Makers
Our Mexican glazed terracotta tiles are handcrafted in a family-run workshop in Guanajuato. The entire tile-making process—from sourcing clay to firing and glazing—is handled by skilled makers. These tiles are made from a blend of three types of clay for durability and flexibility, cut by hand, and then fired twice to achieve a glazed finish. Variations in colour and size give each tile unique character, influenced by firing conditions and kiln placement.
History of Mexican glazed terracotta tiles
Mexico’s tradition of handmade tiles began over 500 years ago with techniques introduced by the Spanish, but decorative tile-making itself dates back to 400 BC in Egypt. With the abundance of clay, ancient Mesopotamians advanced tile-making, a craft that spread through Persia, the
Arab world, Spain, and eventually the Americas. Spanish ceramicists, brought to the New World by Dominican Friars, taught indigenous artisans the craft. Tile-making hubs emerged in Puebla, Mexico City, and Dolores Hidalgo, where Milagros tiles are still made today.
Saltillo Tiles – Hand Made Floor Tiles
Characteristics.
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 tiles don’t harbour dust, making them a good choice for anyone with allergies. They can be cleaned with a wet mop.
Suitability.
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.
Encaustic Tiles – Handmade Floor Tiles
Working directly with tile-makers, we import handmade floor tiles. Our cement encaustic tiles are available in several colours which we currently hold in stock. The tiles are suitable for bathroom and kitchen walls and floors.
Prices start at £3.60/ £90 per sq.m. inc.VAT.
Our prices are competitive because we buy the tiles directly from the makers and import them ourselves.
Measurements
The handmade floor tiles measure 20cm x 20cm. There are 25 per square meter.
Characteristics
Each tile is individually handmade, slight
variations in colour and shade might occur. It is inherently characteristic of the tiles as they are handmade from natural materials and made in batches. The making process and the nature of the materials used gives the tiles a distinct character. The cement encaustics tiles have a 5mm layer of coloured cement on a background of lightweight concrete, made using volcanic aggregate. They are more regular in size than our terracotta tiles, and have flatter surfaces. The subtle variations in the colour of each tile makes the laid floor shimmer slightly. They make for a very durable surface and develop a wonderful patina over time.
Suitability
The Encaustic tiles are suitable for all rooms in a house including bathrooms and kitchens. The tiles can be used with underfloor heating. They can be used in wet rooms as long as the tiles are properly sealed. The tiles can be used on walls but we recommend consulting your builder/tiler to ensure the walls are strong enough.
Delivery
Encaustic tiles can be delivered within the UK and internationally –please ask
for a quote.
Making Cement Encaustic Tiles
Milagros concrete encaustic tiles are handmade in Mexico. Each tile is individually made in a hydraulic press. First, a layer of coloured pigment is added to the mould. Then a dry mix of volcanic concrete is spread on the back, before the tile is compressed with 25 tonnes of pressure.
The compressed tile is cured and dried. This produces a floor tile which can last centuries. Spanish traders in colonial times introduced encaustic tiles to Mexico: they used them as ballast in outgoing cargo ships, so that they could then sail them back to Spain laden with the produce and treasures of the New World.
Commissioning Tiles
All patterns and colours can be made to commission. Please see our commissioning page for specific information. There is generally a three-month lead time.