The tile pre-sealed does allow a homeowner or contractor to install and grout with ease and still allows the tile to cure more openly than a pre-finished tile. Remember, you don’t maintain your tile; you maintain your sealer and topcoat. (You can’t repair a chip on a glazed tile!). Reapplications will dry in 60 minutes. The difference is the pre-sealed tile does not have the finish product applied to it. It is fired to a very high temperature, which results in a very hard, durable tile. Even in the very best Saltillo tile, lime pops might occur. In the past few years, a variety of fuels have also been used, such as propane, diesel, crude petroleum, etc. The light buff color in the tile is the area that was flashed; the peach color in the tile is the area, which is shielded from the flame by other tiles. Saltillo tiles are porous and must be rinsed to keep them from absorbing moisture from the mortar too quickly. Step 2 If the stain is resistant, you can make a … To make Saltillo tile more of a taupe or brown color, a powder is added to the clay when it is mixed with water before the tile is made. Mexican Tile and Stone Company’s supplier uses a tool which we call a “cookie cutter” to trim the edges of the “de agua” tile, to reduce the chances of the edges turning up. Saltillo tile is usually slightly higher in the center than around the edges. Sealing will prolong character change, but is not full proof. Saltillo tile is one of our specialties at Mexican Tile and Stone Company. We hope you enjoy your Saltillo tile floor! There is a section in the Ceramic Tile and Stone Association’s “Specification Guide,” (used by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors’ for ceramic tile) which outlines Saltillo tile and the allowable tolerances for lime pops. Much of this water is absorbed into the porous sides and bottoms of the tile and must be allowed to dry through the surface of the tile. Saltillo Tile Installation Process. Old colonial Saltillo is a perfect compromise between smooth Saltillo and the upside-down rough Saltillo. Saltillo tile is an unglazed clay floor tile made in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. This is not true at Mexican Tile and Stone Company, where all of the Saltillo tile is good. Quality Saltillo tile when properly sealed is the most “kick-around” floor in the world…it acts just like a floor should. Allow drying until it begins to set and wipe away the excess grout… Many people have reported being told that this type of tile is superior in quality to the hand-made tile. Heat is heat, much like a gas or electric stove. Although the tile requires sealing as part of the installation, if the sealing is done properly the first time and with the correct products, the process should only require routine maintenance. Rinsing also removes residual dust that otherwise weakens the mortar bond. Allow to dry 24 hours or more before grouting. The most common molecule with which this quicklime reacts is found in atmospheric moisture (humidity, not water.) The term “de golpe” in English means “by pounding.” The clay and water mixture is moldable rather than pourable. “Moreno” tile can either be hand-made Regular Saltillo, or Pueblo Saltillo, and is slightly more expensive because of the cost of the manganese dioxide and the additional labor. Also, the string mop doesn’t deteriorate the way a foam or sponge mop does. The theory behind this is that grouting will be easier and drying time reduced. You may hear many different stories about different types of fuel used in the firing of Saltillo tile. These imperfections merely add character and rustic quality to the floor. "Pueblo” Saltillo Tile: This tile is pressed into a metal mold. Also learn the best way to clean tile. The original source of heat used for firing Saltillo tile was burning rubber tires. There is a lot of moisture involved in installing and grouting a Saltillo tile floor: Cutting the tile requires a wet-saw. Veer off the beaten path and we might call you a fellow hippy. We strive for QUALITY material at all times and have always manufactured from only two families who have always produced beautiful tile and are prompt with deliveries. From time to time, the topcoat of sealer will wear and require replenishing, but that only occurs in traffic areas. The tile is primitive. This paper burns off when the tiles are fired. However when we are cleaning Saltillo tile… Next, determine your cleaning agent. Clay Imports is here to help your make your beautiful terra-cotta tile shine for years to come. As in the “de agua” method, the tops of the tiles are smoothed by hand with water, the edges are trimmed with the “cookie cutter,” and the tiles are watched carefully and their edges tamped down before they are fired. Use only cleaners recommended by your tile supplier. This is a lower quality Saltillo tile! Once the proper cure has occurred, Mexican Tile and Stone Company recommends the final finish be applied 1 week after grouting the presealed installed tile. Use … You will find fewer chips on the edges of the “Pueblo” Saltillo tile, so if you are looking for a Saltillo tile which appears less rustic, consider the Pueblo tile. …Does it have to be sealed? Presealed tile is not 100% finished. Sometimes a green hue is apparent from the firing process. Fans of Saltillo tile love the rough-hewn, homemade look. is an unstable molecule. In order to eliminate the loose clay on the ground from clinging to the back of the tiles, newspaper sometimes is placed on the ground under the wet tiles. When moisture is trapped in the tile, it creates problems such as surface discoloration. Mexican Tile and Stone Company’s suppliers excavate their clay from an area, which is free of river bottom junk, however, a natural occurrence in clay is alkali. The quality of hand-made Saltillo tile is only as good as the clay it’s made with, and Mexican Tile and Stone Company’s tile is ALL made with clean clay! There is a lot of moisture involved in installing and grouting a Saltillo tile floor: Thinset mortar used to install the tile is mixed with water. When the Saltillo clay is mixed with water, less water is used than in the “de agua” method. THANK YOU! Width. …Does it require a lot of maintenance? (The same mixture is used in the manufacturing of the “de golpe” hand-made tile) The molds used in the manufacturing of this type of Saltillo tiles cause the tiles to have rounded edges, rather than the square edges of the hand-made Saltillo tile. Fill two buckets with the water. 50lb. Thinset mortar used to install the tile is mixed with water. What to keep in mind when considering Saltillo tile. This type of “de agua” tile is usually called “paper back” Saltillo tile. Total Bags Needed. …Is it Soft? Saltillo Grout Mix A pre-blended mixture of Portland cement, silica sand and pigments which eliminates the measuring and guesswork of site mixing or combining additional sand to conventional Portland cement … Whether or not a color additive is added to the clay during the manufacturing process (see the section on Moreno Saltillo tile.). Select 1/8" 3/16" 1/4" 5/16" 3/8" 7/16" 9/16" 5/8" 3/4" 1" 1 1/4" 2 3/8" 3 1/8" Grout Joint Width. Its character will also change over time. Grout according to grout manufacturer directions. Mapei 2-1/2 to 1 Professional Saltillo Tile Grout is designed to fill large grout joints that are usually associated with absorbent terracotta tile, such as Mexican, Brazilian and Spanish tiles. As you know, fire will not burn without oxygen, and at sometime during the firing process all of the available oxygen in the atmosphere in the cave is used up. Aggressive scrub pads and aggressive scrub brushes can be used on Saltillo without scratching the tiles. When we are faced with cleaning a Saltillo tile floor, we use a tool called a tile spinner for our rinsing. The tiles are dried in the sun (if it rains, the process is delayed). 2-1/2 to 1 can be used in joint widths from 3/8" to 3/4" (10 to 19 mm) in both interior and exterior conditions. It is not made in Nogales, Tijuana, Guadalajara, Tecate, Mexicali, Mexico City, or in any other city in Mexico. Some even consider it lucky to find foot or paw prints in a tile, which probably happened while the tiles … Wood is now used to start the process. At Mexican Tile and Stone Company, we ship the final finish product with our pre-sealed tile to be applied one week after grouting. Cut the grout lines surrounding the broken tile with a grout saw. The “De Agua” Method: This is the original method of making hand-made Saltillo tile. Grout should be applied to the tile within 1 hour … It is a durable and relatively affordable material, compared to other flooring options, and can be installed quickly by just about anyone. The excessive clay in the mold is scraped off with a board. You will be notified via email when the item arrives. A clear shine on your saltillo tiles will allow the true beauty of the saltillo to show. The fire is started at the bottom of the cave and fuel is added to increase the heat until the proper temperature is reached. With the rounded edge, a tile installed a ½ inch apart at the bottom of the joint may end up with ¾ to 1-inch grout at the surface of the tile. Step 1: Clean-off the tile and the floor. Sweep the Saltillo tiles thoroughly with a broom to remove any loose dirt or dust. Before firing, the opening to the kiln is sealed with clay to prevent heat from escaping. The type of fuel used for firing does not directly affect the color of the tile. If you are lucky, you might even find a few animal footprints in your tile! Mexican Tile and Stone Company imports the best hand-made Saltillo tile on today’s market (as described on page 1.) If the square tile is installed with a ½ inch joint between each tile on the bottom of the tile, the width of the grout joint at the top of the tile will also be a ½ inch, because the edges are straight up and down. Tolerance guidelines also vary by state. You have to see those to understand! Step 3: Place the first tile. Paper back saltillo has a smooth, non-dusty, back surface. “Pueblo” Saltillo tile is made by filling the mold with wet clay and pressing it with a hand press. Select 1/16" 1/8" 3/16" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" Thickness. In order to restore your Saltillo tile floor, first ensure the floor is totally clean. Sometimes you may see some black swirls from the added powder. Pre-sealed tiles are less likely to trap moisture as sealers breathe better than finishes. The tile is made from natural clay deposits from that region which is one of the finest natural clay deposits in the world. See what others are doing in spanish design and get inspired as I update this with new projects to let you see whats trending and in style. During installation, care should be taken to make sure that no space is left between the tile and the sub-floor. Mexican Tile and Stone Company uses Arizona guidelines. The clay is pounded by hand into the mold. Please call us, or stop by, if you have any questions! DO NOT SHAKE; Grout. To ensure you have enough material for your project we recommend adding an extra 10% to cover necessary cuts and accidental breaks or spills during installation. It’s easy to figure out. What is the size of your project in square feet? Briefly, this is the manufacturing process: Clay is excavated from the earth, cleaned and sifted. You … Dip a large grout sponge with rounded corners into the first water bucket and wring it out. You will find small chips, cracks, and bumps. The “De Golpe” Method: To eliminate the problems of dirt clinging to the backs of the tiles and edges turning up, this method of making hand-made Saltillo was developed. The flame then seeks the next available source of oxygen (which it finds in the form of iron oxide in the clay tile) and burns it, flashing the exposed surfaces of the tile. Saltillo Tile floor restoration in action by the pros at Arizona Tile and Grout Care. It’s easier to clean Saltillo tile with a string mop because these floors traditionally have wide grout joints. Saltillo tiles are handmade clay floor tiles made in saltillo… The alkali in clay when fired becomes, “quicklime.” Quicklime (remember your high school chemistry?) For that reason each piece will have its own character. What in the world, you might ask, is “clean clay?” Our suppliers who make good Saltillo tile excavate clay from pure clay deposits in the high banks of the river and then sift it thoroughly in a huge machine before making the tile. Moving diagonally avoids detaching recently laid grout from the grout … A penetrating grout is best used to give the tiles much better protection. “Moreno” Saltillo Tile: The word “Moreno”, means "Tanned or Dark". There are irregularities. If you feel that you have a complaint about the quality of your Saltillo tile, this will help you if your supplier won’t. This is a natural element; manganese dioxide, not an artificial colorant, which permanently alters the color of the tiles. Yes, and only indoors should get a shine, and as mentioned above, periodically maintained. To ask a question, see the Header for "Ask Saltillo Joe", Available in Terracotta, Manganese, and Old Colonial, Copyright 2021, Mexican Tile and Stone. Don't lay saltillo directly on layout lines as you would ceramic tile … Because of the rustic nature of Saltillo tile, a little sealer over the chip will blend that area successfully with the rest of the floor. To lessen the occurrence of lime pops, our suppliers also sift their clay thoroughly so no large particles of alkali remain. Over the years, we have stressed the importance of quality material to our customers. The color of the tile is controlled somewhat by: How the flame/heat is controlled inside the kiln. However, preservation should be considered. Contrasting color. It has a gently brushed finish, giving it an antique, classic European appearance. Maybe. Indoors, the tile should be sealed for ease of cleaning. Even though Saltillo tile is one of the most serviceable and widely accepted floor coverings in the southwest, it can be problematic if it was made with unclean clay! Saltillo tile was developed in Mexico and is commonly used in Southwest architecture and design. Lime pops are white or gray deposits which pop through the surface of the tile, seemingly from nowhere. Hand-made, “Regular” Saltillo Tile: This is the original Saltillo tile. Grout is mixed … There is a lot of inferior quality hand-made Saltillo tile out there, so be very careful. You can drive your car on it when properly installed. Ready for your Saltillo Tile Installation? …What are lime pops? Like most tile flooring, saltillo tile … It is not made anywhere in Europe either. Saltillo Tile Floors: Sealed or Unsealed? Sealing exterior installations is recommended for the following reasons: The tile is like a brick and deterioration will not be an issue. Following is information about Saltillo tile, which we feel should be provided to you so that you will know exactly what you are buying and/or selling. … …Does it break? Remove excess. When staining Saltillo tile or terracotta tile … We offer. Also, one of the purposes of sealing a floor is to seal the grout, which does not happen when the tile has been pre-finished. Once again, remember that Saltillo tile of any shape, size, or edge detail is only as good as the clay that it was made from; and, although it may be true that some distributors’ tile varies in quality between the hand-made tiles and the pressed rounded edge tiles, that is not the case at Mexican Tile and Stone Company. The quality of the tile is partly determined by how “clean” the clay was before the tile was made. Step 5: Grout Tiles. Unfortunately, because of the great demand in today’s market for Saltillo tile, there is a large amount of Saltillo tile out there, which is made with “unclean” clay. Jun 28, 2020 - different Terracotta Tile projects done in different cities as well as DIY tips and hacks, terracotta diy ideas, terracotta tile patios, decks, and spanish style decor. This method also makes the tile slightly denser. When no space remains, the tile will not break. The color of sealed Saltillo tile blends wonderfully with the color of earthtones and landscape. Mexican Tile and Stone Company’s Answers To Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Saltillo Tile…A Low Maintenance Floor! After the tile dries in the sun, it is picked up and placed in the cave/kiln for firing. After the edges are trimmed, the tops of the tiles are smoothed with wet hands to leave them nicely finished. Powered By: iDEAL Focus Our expert design professionals are here to help, for free. Your saltillo tile sealer will most likely turn white and hazy, dull, and begin to peel. Also, when this method is used, the outside edges of the tiles tend to turn up (because of the action of lifting up the frame,) making them easier to tip over. Clean as you grout to minimize water contact on tile. Use a dust pan to pick up the dirt and throw it away. Because of the rounded edges, the grout joints will always be wider at the surface of the tile than the grout joints of the square edged tile. Grout will almost always have a latex additive that makes it slightly flexible, making sure that it will not crack itself or the tiles it's between if the floor ever flexes. Unsealed Saltillo tile is porous and will absorb water. Hand-made Saltillo tile is made in two different ways as described below:   |  BackOffice | Photo Admin | Site Map. Wooden frames are placed on the ground and the very wet clay is patted into them by hand. “De Agua” in English means “by water.” In this method of making the tile, the natural clay is mixed with water to a very wet, almost pourable consistency. After sealing the stained tiles and grout with a gloss sealer finish, the results … well that’s why we use pictures and videos. Ask about our sealer- it works and there are many that don’t. Note: The use of any Acid on a Saltillo floor causes lime pops to be much worse…never use Muriatic Acid or vinegar on a tile floor of any kind! All rights reserved. Cleaning up an occasional spill is easy, and exterior sealers do help ease maintenance, even if the exterior installation is under a cover. /tile-grout-installation-materials/mapei-2-1-2-to-1-professional-saltillo-tile-grout-100236165.html, Keystone Random Width Water-Resistant Laminate, Park City Random Width Water-Resistant Laminate, Honey Hickory II Hand Scraped Engineered Hardwood, Creme Blend Matte 2 in. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. 50 Shades Of Grey ( A Surprisingly Odd Beauty) Saltillo Tile. Regularly but lightly cleaning a sealed mexican tile floor is easy and requires few materials. http://www.AsktheBuilder.com founder, Tim Carter, demonstrates using a common plastic bag to grout Mexican Tile. Glide the float over the tiles pushing the grout into the spaces. Saltillo tile grout can be found in this light cement gray color around the world. Before you begin cleaning your Saltillo Tile floors, it’s important to know whether they are sealed or unsealed. Absolutely not! Properly Sealed exterior Saltillo tile is not slippery. The topcoat should only wear off the floor, and as sealer goes into the tile and as the floor ages, the less top coating it will require. This type of tile is also known in the market as “Primo”, “Super”, “Premium”, “rounded edge”, and a variety of other names. Saltillo tiles are very … Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Most joints range from 1/2 – 1 inch. Each piece of standard Saltillo tile is made individually by hand with no modern machinery involved. Be sure tile is clean and dry … Moreover, the hand-made tiles are uneven and rough-edged, so they require more grout, which is also hard to clean. To preserve the life of the Saltillo tile … You may hear from other tile companies that, “Saltillo tile is no good.” This is because so many companies have recently imported bad tile without knowing the good from the bad due to the great demand in this market. After the tiles are clean and dry, apply 1 to 2 coats of grout release to the tile surface. When this method is used, part of the ground sticks to the cracks of the tiles and the tiles should be thoroughly brushed before installation to prevent bond failure. Saltillo tile is a hand-made, rustic, unglazed floor tile that is made in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Dilute the stain 3 cups of water to 1 cup of stain to keep it from streaking and going on to heavy where it looks painted (NOTE: add more water if the stain’s still heavier then you would prefer) … When a concrete slab cracks, cracks will extend up through any tile, including granite! …What about pre-sealed vs pre-finished Saltillo tile? Do this by going over the tile with the rubber grout float, only this time use it at a sharp angle and move it diagonally across the tile floor in order to scrap the excess grouting material off. In comparison to other natural hand-made clay tiles from Mexico, it is much harder. While drying on the ground, before firing, the tiles are constantly watched and edges that might warp upward are tamped down with a heavy rubber instrument. bags. The rustic elegance is versatile for all interiors and also provides a nice slip resistant surface for exterior applications. The wooden frame has a wooden bottom in it, so it is more of a mold than a frame. In order to stabilize itself, it must join a compatible molecule and change its form. Use a grout float and apply the grout to the space between the tiles. Step 2: Apply thin set mortar. “Old Colonial” Saltillo Tile: This tile comes in Standard Terracotta and in Moreno colors. Look closely at the tiles and the grout … Consider a contrasting color if you’re installing a fun saltillo tile … Saltillo clay is one of the finest natural clays in the world. The tiles are stacked in the caves (kilns) on end, slightly overlapping so that they will not fall over. Rinse clean with water and hand dry. The dried tiles are fired in cave-like structures that become kilns. Many other suppliers buy their tile from little independent tile makers who dig their clay out of riverbeds and do not sift it…so you can imagine what else might be mixed in with the clay! This still allows your floor to cure and the final finish will complete your installation and seal your grout at the same time. Little tiny pinhead sized lime pops are not a problem because they mostly will disappear when the floor is sealed, but large particles in unsifted, unclean clay can really be ugly. Sprinkle the surface with the powder cleanser, then rub the stain gently with a damp cloth or sponge. What Causes Color Variations in Saltillo Tile? Normally if you pre-seal the Saltillo Tiles it will act as a bond breaker to make it easier to clean the tiles after grouting. First sweep and vacuum the floor in order to remove any loose debris, then clean with a mop. (This type of tile does not need to be brushed before installation, as very little loose clay will cling to the bottom.) 18-Month Special Financing Available 2/22/21 – 3/30/21. This scraped side becomes the bottom of the tile. When we clean normal tile (porcelain, ceramic) and stone (travertine, marble, granite), we use 1000 psi of water pressure and heat. A lesser quality Saltillo floor can be very unsightly from excessive lime pops. The tiles should be thoroughly cleaned prior to grouting. Wipe in a circular motion or at a diagonal to the grout … Remove the excess grout from the tile floor once every grout joint has been filled. Saltillo sizes range from 4" to 20" in shapes and sizes. Because of some contractor’s continuous quest to avoid a drying time between grouting the tile and sealing and finishing the tile,Mexican Tile & Stone sells Saltillo tile that has been pre-sealed. After you have scrubbed away all of the dirt and grime then you should thoroughly … Pre-sealed tile is a great option when a time crunch is planned or one is not a sealing pro. Saltillo Tile never goes out of style! Pre-finished Saltillo tile is a gamble at best and Mexican Tile and Stone Company recommends installing pre-sealed tile. The quicklime particles grow when exposed to humidity. The range of color is light to dark brown. Due to the quantity of your order, please contact Customer Care at 877-675-0002 to complete your purchase. There are ways to fix them, though, just ask us! Dropping a heavy object on the floor might chip Saltillo tile (or any other tile.) The mold is turned upside down and the tile drops to the ground where it dries in the sun before firing. If they grouted with a standard cementitous grout you might be able to use an acidic cleaner made my a company specifically for cleaning grout haze off of tiles. 2 Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water and add 1/2 … Hexagon Porcelain Tile, High Variation Vinyl & Resilient Flooring. No. The frame is then lifted up and a wet tile remains on the ground.

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