Saltillo tile
Encyclopedia
Saltillo tile is a type of terra-cotta tile
that originates in Saltillo
, Coahuila
, Mexico
. It is one of the two most famous products of the city, the other being multi-coloured woven sarapes so typical of the region. Saltillo-type tiles are now manufactured at many places in Mexico, and high-fire "Saltillo look" tiles, many from Italy, compete with the terra-cotta originals
Saltillo tile vary in colour and shape, but the majority range from in varying hues of reds, oranges and yellows. Tiles are shaped either by pressing quarried clay
with a wooden frame (super), or carving out the desired shape (regular). Depending on the raw tile's placement among other tiles at the time of firing, its colour ranges from yellow to a rich orange.
Saltillo tile is highly porous
, and soaks in liquid easily. Unlike most ceramic tile, there is no glaze
on the top surface of the tile. It is difficult to install as it absorbs
water from the thin-set mortar
, grout
, grease pencil
s, etc. Once placed, it stains and scuffs easily if not properly sealed and maintained with a quality sealant. Saltillo is probably a poor choice for outdoor installation in freeze-thaw climates, although is a popular choice in warmer climates. During installation the tiles should be handled carefully to avoid stains that can even occur from body oils on the installer's hands.
Preferred methods for installation invariably relate to its propensity for soaking in liquid. One method involves soaking the tile in water, setting the tile with thin-set mortar, grouting, then sealing both the saltillo and the grout with a quality surface sealant
. However, using this method may cause the grout to stick to the surface of the saltillo tile, making it impossible to remove. This method is NOT recommended for do-it-yourselfers.
Another method involves soaking the tile, setting the tile then allowing it to dry, sealing the tile, then grouting. This method prevents the grout from sticking to the tile.
You might ask if it's possible to seal just the top of the tile before setting...the problem is that soaking the tile allows it to bond more strongly with the mortar, and you probably don't want to seal the tile, then soak it in water.
A penetrating sealant will maintain the natural look of the tile. You should periodically test the seal by putting a few drops of water on the tile in various places. If the water is absorbed, then another coat of sealant should be applied.
Other surface sealants may give the tile a shiny appearance. As the tile loses its shine, another coat is applied on top of the old sealant. If the finish becomes too worn or uneven, it can be stripped and a new coat applied. However this option is very labor intensive.
Additionally, another coat of sealant can be used on both the saltillo tile and grout. Although inexpensive itself, saltillo is very expensive to have installed. A professional with experience in saltillo will charge $4.50 to $6.00 per square foot for installation, depending on your locale.
Treatments for saltillo include: coating them with a surface sealant
prior to grouting (as mentioned earlier), applying an admixture of linseed oil
and paint thinner
, applying natural stone colour enhancers, applying floor hardeners, applying shine, painting them with a water-based paint
, coating them with wood stain
, etc. As the tile is incredibly porous it will readily absorb just about any liquid. Please note any of these treatments may be used on the tile, however some of them such as penetrating sealeant, enhancers or linseed oil treatments penetrate into the tile and may affect the ability of later coatings to adhere to the tile. Ultra-durable, water-based polyurethane
makes an excellent coating for adding slip resistance, beautiful appearance and protection from penetrating stains. Look for a polyurethane coating that has no VOCs
for maximum environmental friendliness.
Saltillo tile may be sealed with a penetrating sealant or a film forming sealant (coating). A film forming sealant will leave a film on the surface of the tile. With multiple coats the film will build an even protective film and gloss that may repel water, oil, grease and efflorescence. A quality acrylic sealant should be used as it will be easy to apply, non-yellowing and long lasting. A quality acrylic floor polish can be applied over the sealed surface for added abrasion and wear protection.
The finished sealed floor should be maintained for best results. For routine cleaning use a neutral cleaner to damp mop the floor (never flood the sealed floor with water). Reapply the polish if areas begin to show wear over time. Maintaining the sealant/polish will greatly extend the life of the sealant and minimize repair needs.
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
that originates in Saltillo
Saltillo
Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. The city is located about 400 km south of the U.S. state of Texas, and 90 km west of Monterrey, Nuevo León....
, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is one of the two most famous products of the city, the other being multi-coloured woven sarapes so typical of the region. Saltillo-type tiles are now manufactured at many places in Mexico, and high-fire "Saltillo look" tiles, many from Italy, compete with the terra-cotta originals
Saltillo tile vary in colour and shape, but the majority range from in varying hues of reds, oranges and yellows. Tiles are shaped either by pressing quarried clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
with a wooden frame (super), or carving out the desired shape (regular). Depending on the raw tile's placement among other tiles at the time of firing, its colour ranges from yellow to a rich orange.
Saltillo tile is highly porous
Porosity
Porosity or void fraction is a measure of the void spaces in a material, and is a fraction of the volume of voids over the total volume, between 0–1, or as a percentage between 0–100%...
, and soaks in liquid easily. Unlike most ceramic tile, there is no glaze
Ceramic glaze
Glaze is a layer or coating of a vitreous substance which has been fired to fuse to a ceramic object to color, decorate, strengthen or waterproof it.-Use:...
on the top surface of the tile. It is difficult to install as it absorbs
Sorption
Sorption refers to the action of absorption* Absorption is the incorporation of a substance in one state into another of a different state ....
water from the thin-set mortar
Mortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...
, grout
Grout
Grout is a construction material used to embed rebars in masonry walls, connect sections of pre-cast concrete, fill voids, and seal joints . Grout is generally composed of a mixture of water, cement, sand, often color tint, and sometimes fine gravel...
, grease pencil
Grease pencil
The grease pencil, a wax writing tool also known as a wax pencil, china marker, , is made of hardened colored wax and is useful for marking on hard, glossy non-porous surfaces such as porcelain, glass, polished stone, plastic, ceramics and other glazed, lacquered or polished surfaces, as well as...
s, etc. Once placed, it stains and scuffs easily if not properly sealed and maintained with a quality sealant. Saltillo is probably a poor choice for outdoor installation in freeze-thaw climates, although is a popular choice in warmer climates. During installation the tiles should be handled carefully to avoid stains that can even occur from body oils on the installer's hands.
Preferred methods for installation invariably relate to its propensity for soaking in liquid. One method involves soaking the tile in water, setting the tile with thin-set mortar, grouting, then sealing both the saltillo and the grout with a quality surface sealant
Sealant
A sealant may be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and stay where they are applied or thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary reaction...
. However, using this method may cause the grout to stick to the surface of the saltillo tile, making it impossible to remove. This method is NOT recommended for do-it-yourselfers.
Another method involves soaking the tile, setting the tile then allowing it to dry, sealing the tile, then grouting. This method prevents the grout from sticking to the tile.
You might ask if it's possible to seal just the top of the tile before setting...the problem is that soaking the tile allows it to bond more strongly with the mortar, and you probably don't want to seal the tile, then soak it in water.
A penetrating sealant will maintain the natural look of the tile. You should periodically test the seal by putting a few drops of water on the tile in various places. If the water is absorbed, then another coat of sealant should be applied.
Other surface sealants may give the tile a shiny appearance. As the tile loses its shine, another coat is applied on top of the old sealant. If the finish becomes too worn or uneven, it can be stripped and a new coat applied. However this option is very labor intensive.
Additionally, another coat of sealant can be used on both the saltillo tile and grout. Although inexpensive itself, saltillo is very expensive to have installed. A professional with experience in saltillo will charge $4.50 to $6.00 per square foot for installation, depending on your locale.
Treatments for saltillo include: coating them with a surface sealant
Sealant
A sealant may be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and stay where they are applied or thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary reaction...
prior to grouting (as mentioned earlier), applying an admixture of linseed oil
Linseed oil
Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is a clear to yellowish oil obtained from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant . The oil is obtained by cold pressing, sometimes followed by solvent extraction...
and paint thinner
Paint thinner
A paint thinner is a solvent used to thin oil-based paints or clean up after their use, although all such solvents have other uses. Commercially, "paint thinner" is usually a name for mineral spirits.Products used as paint thinners include:*Mineral spirits...
, applying natural stone colour enhancers, applying floor hardeners, applying shine, painting them with a water-based paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
, coating them with wood stain
Wood stain
A wood stain consists of a colorant suspended or dissolved in a 'vehicle' or solvent. The suspension agent can be water, alcohol, petroleum distillate, or the actual finishing agent...
, etc. As the tile is incredibly porous it will readily absorb just about any liquid. Please note any of these treatments may be used on the tile, however some of them such as penetrating sealeant, enhancers or linseed oil treatments penetrate into the tile and may affect the ability of later coatings to adhere to the tile. Ultra-durable, water-based polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
makes an excellent coating for adding slip resistance, beautiful appearance and protection from penetrating stains. Look for a polyurethane coating that has no VOCs
Volatile organic compound
Volatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and...
for maximum environmental friendliness.
Saltillo tile may be sealed with a penetrating sealant or a film forming sealant (coating). A film forming sealant will leave a film on the surface of the tile. With multiple coats the film will build an even protective film and gloss that may repel water, oil, grease and efflorescence. A quality acrylic sealant should be used as it will be easy to apply, non-yellowing and long lasting. A quality acrylic floor polish can be applied over the sealed surface for added abrasion and wear protection.
The finished sealed floor should be maintained for best results. For routine cleaning use a neutral cleaner to damp mop the floor (never flood the sealed floor with water). Reapply the polish if areas begin to show wear over time. Maintaining the sealant/polish will greatly extend the life of the sealant and minimize repair needs.