Are you considering terracotta clay tiles for your next flooring project?
We’ve been ‘in the biz’ for nearly two decades. We’ve received all the questions you should ask if you’re shopping for terracotta flooring. We’re including those questions in this post. It’s short and sweet.
This post will equip you to ask the right questions of anyone you consider purchasing terracotta clay tiles for flooring. Many of these questions will also apply to terracotta roof and wall tiles.
So, let’s dive in.
- What is Terracotta Tile?
- How Expensive is Mexican Terracotta Floor tile?
- Is Terracotta Tile Out of Style?
- Can I Use Terracotta Flooring on Outdoor Patios?
- Do I need to Seal Terra Cotta Tiles?
- Is Terracotta Flooring Hard to Maintain?
- Are Terra Cotta Floor Tiles Good for Kitchens, Bathrooms, & Showers?
- What's the Difference Between Terracotta Clay Tile & Saltillo Flooring?
- Where Can I See Terracotta Flooring Pictures?
- Enough Talk, Let's Build Something Together.
- Enough Scrolling. Let's Start a Project Together.
What is Terracotta Tile?
how to know if terracotta floor tiles are good
In a nutshell, terracotta tile is clay tile. People give it fancy words and descriptions, but it’s really simple. Clay is dug from areas of the world and mixed with water (& maybe other ingredients). Then, it’s either formed by hand or machine to look like tile, depending on the desired shape. It’s most often kiln-fired (best quality) or sun-baked—voila… terracotta clay tile.
That said, there are different types & qualities of terracotta clay tiles. Geography, or the clay source, has one of the most significant impacts on the quality and durability of terracotta as floor tile.
Because we specialize in the most durable terracotta, I’ll explain this with my expert knowledge of Mexican Saltillo tile.
Saltillo tile is handmade terracotta floor tile whose clay comes from only one area in the world—the riverbeds of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Why is this important? Saltillo tile flooring is one of the most durable terracotta floors available, as the clay is fired at high temperatures for unmatched strength and durability. The kiln firing process is crucial in creating long-lasting indoor or outdoor flooring.
Additionally, a generations-old process for hand-producing these tiles, combined with some modern improvements related to sealer technologies, makes Saltillo tile a low-maintenance, affordable flooring option.
So, how do you know if terracotta floor tiles are good? Ask questions about the firing process, the clay’s source, and the tile sealer (addressed below). When the flooring is manufactured with quality in mind, it’s good. ☺
Here are a few examples of Saltillo tile flooring in various colors.
How Expensive is Mexican Terracotta Floor tile?
getting the best value without compromising quality
How much should you pay for terracotta flooring? That’s a loaded question! It depends on who’s selling it! Here’s a quick peek at some of our products in our Mexican tile samples store.
- Picket Tile Pattern | Rustico’s Spanish Mission Red Saltillo Flooring$5.40
- 16×16 Mexican Saltillo Tile: Handmade Rustic Flooring$7.15
- Star & Cross Spanish Tile Pattern in Handmade Spanish Pavers$7.50
- Rustico Tile | 6×12 Rectangle Spanish Mission Red Terracotta Tiles$2.95
- Product on saleBeautiful Arabesque Tile Pattern in Rustico Saltillo Tile | San FelipeOriginal price was: $4.00.$3.75Current price is: $3.75.
- Rustico Tile | 12×12 Octagon Tile in Manganese Saltillo Flooring$4.25
- Riviera Pattern in Saltillo Tile Flooring: Real Clay Tile$4.75
- 12×12 Hexagon Tile Pattern | Manganese Mexican Saltillo | Rustico$4.25
- Riviera Pattern in Manganese Saltillo Tiles | Rustico Tile and Stone$4.50
- 12×12 Saltillo Tile | Antique Textured Non Slip Tile Flooring | Rustico$4.25
Terracotta floor tile is generally an affordable option for all styles of homes. We ship many Saltillo tiles around the world to luxury homes. I know our most affluent customers are happily satisfied with our prices for our handmade terracotta tile. Our Saltillo tile prices range (usually) from $3.00 – $12.00 per square foot, depending on the terracotta pattern. Of course, there are some lower prices and more expensive items.
However, where you purchase your terracotta tile also matters for budgeting. Because clay is found worldwide, paying the higher price tags of shipping tiles internationally doesn’t make sense. Italian and Spanish terracotta tile is as beautiful as Saltillo tiles, but shipping to the United States from Europe versus Mexico doesn’t make sense if you want value. Most homeowners in the US looking for terracotta flooring buy Mexican Saltillo tile, but for those in countries like Spain and Italy, purchasing locally sourced terracotta tiles can be a more cost-effective option.
UP TO
30% off
Rustico Tile & Stone
I’d also like to point out that most retail brick-and-mortar flooring stores do not stock ample tile supplies. So, to get the best value for your project, shop around, and don’t be afraid to source an online supplier. Verifying that any online supplier is based in the US is recommended since dealing with import duties and customs processing is complicated and expensive.
For example, we are the largest manufacturer of Saltillo flooring in Mexico. Still, our business is home-based near Austin, Texas, and we only ship our tile from our Texas warehouse. Our clients never have to worry about business companies in a foreign country; we are held to US business practices. Our Complete Guide to Terracotta Tile has more information.
Is Terracotta Tile Out of Style?
explore floor trends for 2024
Short answer? Nope! ☺ Terracotta clay tiles are timeless, as proven by generations of homes and businesses with this style of flooring. And if it were out of style, I wouldn’t have a job!
We’ve seen some fun trends with terra cotta floor tile designs throughout 2022 and anticipate many to continue into 2023 and beyond.
The #1 most requested terracotta tile lately has been Hexagon and octagon tiles. Interestingly, this is one of the oldest patterns around, dating back hundreds of years. The hexagon tile pattern is both timeless and trendy today.
Our Riviera and San Felipe patterns are frequently seen throughout homes and businesses and featured on social media worldwide. Gone are the days of plain square tile patterns. Floor tile patterns are an extension of a homeowner’s personality and design style. The San Felipe tile is an arabesque floor pattern growing in popularity in our Spanish Mission Red tile color. In likeness, the Riviera pattern is a 2-tile pattern created by the San Felipe & Fleur de Lis tiles.
Another popular trend includes mixing terracotta tiles with other types of tiles. Check out this Manganese Saltillo floor in the Riviera pattern paired with decorative concrete tiles. Because terracotta colors offer a warm, earthy appearance, they look fabulous with more colorful decor accents like concrete & Talavera, bold throw pillows, and other soft textiles in earthy tones for texture contrast.
As always, it’s tough to beat a classic like the Mission Red 12×12 square tile.
Can I Use Terracotta Flooring on Outdoor Patios?
installation tips for outdoor projects
Yep. Terracotta clay tile patios are a popular space for this type of flooring.
Of course, it is essential to discuss the installation process and materials with your local flooring contractor and tile supplier.
When we learned that our client was installing a Saltillo tile patio, our first question to the homeowner was about the climate. Because we ship tile worldwide, there are precautions to take in cold weather geographies. For example, we recommend installing terracotta tile on a concrete slab in outdoor spaces. If a slab is impossible, then terracotta pavers, usually at least 2 inches thick, can be considered.
Further, a waterproofing membrane should be applied across the outdoor slab before installing the tile. This mitigates the chance for moisture to pass through the slab and into the backside of the tile. If that happens alongside a freeze, the moisture will expand and potentially damage the tile. So, it’s easy to prevent this with proper installation techniques and tile-setting materials.
After installing the (fully sealed) terracotta tile, apply a high-quality topcoat sealer and sufficiently seal grout lines. When done correctly, terracotta tile on outdoor patios will survive and look good.
Do I need to Seal Terra Cotta Tiles?
presealed vs. unsealed clay tile floors
Buying sealed terracotta tiles is less expensive in the long run, resulting in a lower overall project value. There is also far less ongoing maintenance, which saves money. But why?
Because terracotta is natural clay in a wide range of colors, it’s very porous. If left unsealed, spills, muddy feet, and debris would absorb into the clay, causing stains. The good news is that this is easy to remedy.
At Rustico Tile, we (almost always) recommend buying sealed terracotta tiles for our clients. In manufacturing, we apply five coats of penetrating sealer to the clay tiles. That makes them fully sealed Saltillo tiles so that nothing will stain them. Tile installers prefer sealed tiles because they’re significantly more straightforward to install than unsealed tiles. But also, the abundant level of sealer fortifies the clay tiles, making an already durable Saltillo tile even more durable and reducing its porosity. As an added benefit, the terracotta flooring retains its rustic and warm appeal for many years.
Are there reasons to stick with unsealed terracotta tiles? Yes. If you are considering the laborious and costly process of customizing a terracotta floor, purchase unsealed clay tile. It readily absorbs whatever stain or coating you prefer. Just make sure to keep all coatings chemically compatible.
Unless customization is your goal, ask any seller you’re considering about the type and level of sealer for terracotta tiles. Otherwise, check out our custom-glazed terracotta tiles!
Is Terracotta Flooring Hard to Maintain?
presealed vs. unsealed clay tile
Terracotta flooring should not be hard to maintain if purchased as fully sealed tiles and installed correctly with proper installation materials.
However, projects can become costly and complicated quickly if the tile isn’t sealed well in manufacturing. In that instance, a tile installer must lay out all the tiles before installing the floor. Then, more coats of sealer need to be applied until the tiles are saturated with the sealer. This is very important.
Next, the subfloor should be treated with a crack isolation or crack prevention membrane. We sell a product that doubles as a crack-prevention and waterproofing membrane. This 2-in-1 product saves time and money.
Following the subfloor preparation, focus on using high-quality thinset. Terracotta floor tiles are usually handmade, so they are heavy and vary in size and thickness. Thus, semi or fully-modified thinset should be used. Do not buy cheap thinsets.
But you can buy cheap grout. Our Saltillo terracotta floors look great and function perfectly with mortar mix as the grout choice.
Following all those steps, apply a topcoat sealer across the entire floor. That last coat of (high-quality) sealer adds scratch resistance and UV protection and seals the grout lines.
We are sticklers about installing these tiles correctly, so terracotta flooring is not hard to maintain.
Are Terra Cotta Floor Tiles Good for Kitchens, Bathrooms, & Showers?
ideas for tile patterns & decor
Terracotta floor tiles are a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. But like anything else, they must be installed properly.
Kitchens with terracotta floor tiles offer an inviting warmth for spicing things up! Consider adding colors of Talavera or Cement tiles as the backsplash choice. Copper sinks and hardware are also complimentary to terracotta kitchen tiles.
Installation is even more critical in bathrooms and showers. In wet areas like these, stick with broad grout lines to add natural texture to the floor. Also, carefully seal grout lines in bathrooms, showers, and kitchens. Oils, soaps, lotions, and grease will stain grout if it’s not adequately sealed.
What’s the Difference Between Terracotta Clay Tile & Saltillo Flooring?
presealed vs. unsealed clay tile floors
Saltillo flooring is terracotta flooring. But not all terracotta floors are Saltillo floors. Yes, read that again. ☺
Terracotta is made from clay, so Saltillo is a type of terracotta. It’s called Saltillo, however, because that clay is sourced from a specific riverbed region in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Only terracotta clay tiles handmade with Saltillo riverbed clay can be called Saltillo tiles. These produce some of the most durable terracotta floors.
If you’ve never seen how Terracotta tile, specifically Saltillo tile, is made… this is a MUST watch! The centuries-old handmade process is still followed today!
Where Can I See Terracotta Flooring Pictures?
explore these homes
I’m so glad you asked. We are active on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook and have dozens of illustrative Pinterest Boards. We also have robust photo galleries at Saltillo Tile Shapes and Sizes. Or explore these photos!