Pros and Cons of Saltillo Tile

Besides offering warm tones in reds, oranges, or yellows, these clay tiles are also smoother and softer, making them perfect for bare feet inside your home or around your lounge or pool area.

Everything You Need to Know About Saltillo Tile

What we know about Saltillo tiles presently is an unrefined terracotta tile that gets baked by the sunlight and kiln fired. Initially from the Northern Mexico city of Saltillo, this kind of tile is still favorable among homeowners for its environmentally friendly production and adaptability as an indoor or outdoor flooring option. Keep reading to discover more about Saltillo tile, so you can make an informed decision if it’s the correct tile for your interior design.

Saltillo Tile Pros

As aforementioned, Saltillo is a beautiful, tile for residences or commercial buildings alike, in addition to indoor and outdoor areas–particularly in sunny Arizona! The following are some additional pros for selecting Saltillo for your tile flooring needs.

Environmentally Friendly:

In addition, from Saltillo clay coming right out of the earth, the way it is turned into tile is a very environmentally friendly process that leaves minimal to zero negative environmental effect by the time it gets to your home or business.

• Durable + All-Natural: When you choose Saltillo clay tiles, you select a durable material that has no chemical or agents added into it. Also, Saltillo additionally provides warm, earth-like tones to your interior area–those right from Mother Nature!
• Handmade: Additionally, Saltillo tiles are not manufactured in factories. These clay tiles are made by hand, making each and every tile distinct and personal to your home or business.
• Natural Wear-And-Tear: As Saltillo being softer clay, these kinds of tiles are going to need to be sealed after they have been installed to preserve the general quality of your flooring. Many people choose to seal Saltillo tiles more than once to increase their shine and sheen, however, these tiles also create a more emotional, rustic feel if they are left to wear naturally. All over the American Southwest and Mexico, there are a lot of public area with Saltillo tile that has become weather-beaten over the years. The floor then holds a new charm and depth–retaining the history, former footsteps, and memories for all newbies.

Easy-To-Clean:

As well as being a budget friendly tile flooring solution, Saltillo is also a low maintenance material for outdoor areas and on-the-go families, making it appealing for both residential and commercial property owners.

• Conceals Dirt: Because of its naturally warm brownish coloring, Saltillo tile is able to conceal dirt, so you can’t even notice if the floor is dirty. This is an excellent perk whether you have children or maintain an area that endures high foot traffic.
• Sweep, Vacuum, or Mop: For the most part, Saltillo tile flooring simply requires a nice sweeping or vacuum. When the flooring is gooey or dirt has become noticeable through the brown clay, an in-depth mopping with white vinegar is going to do the trick.
• Reseal As Required: When you want shiny looking floors, you can reseal your Saltillo floors about every one to two years. Nevertheless, this venture is not necessary in the slightest. Although it is recommended to reseal high foot traffic areas for safety reasons, Saltillo is time tested.

Saltillo Tile Cons

As with all decisions, there is a tradeoff–even when installing or replacing your tile flooring. Even though Saltillo tile has many characteristics and benefits for those that own property, there are some disadvantages to making a less costly investment in your tile flooring.

Creates an Uneven Floor Surface:

Because Saltillo is made by hand, each tile is distinctive, which can cause discrepancies in your flooring. Additionally, this type of tile flooring necessitates bigger grout lines, producing a surface that is not completely smooth. Even though Saltillo is harmless, it is a more rural alternative for your home or business.

Discoloration & Chipping:

Since Saltillo is even softer than ceramics, it is more inclined to enduring nicks and chips from natural depreciation. If you are someone that needs perfect, unblemished floors, this type of tile is not right for you.

Requires Resealing:

When you want your Saltillo tile to lessen weathering and wear throughout the years, then you are going to need to reseal it to uphold its outer coating safeguarding it.

Challenging To Install:

Installing Saltillo tile is not an endeavor to do it yourself for homeowners or new builders. Since they are thicker and made by hand, Saltillo tiles are required to be laid down and spaced more cautiously. Additionally, the installer is going to need to guarantee that the proper amount of adhesive is added to each tile. They are also going to need to rock the Saltillo tiles to stop any air pockets from forming underneath them. When wanting to add Saltillo tile to your flooring and home, be sure to delegate the project to an experienced, licensed professional.