How to Lay Mexican Saltillo Tile on a Concrete Slab

Guidelines & Recommendations

Saltillo tile is more than just flooring — it’s a story underfoot. Handmade from natural clay and sun-dried in Saltillo, Mexico, each tile carries with it old-world charm, artisan craftsmanship, and unmatched character. Whether you’re renovating your dream kitchen or building a luxury home from the ground up, learning how to lay Saltillo tile properly ensures that this rustic surface will stand the test of time.

While this guide outlines general best practices for installing Saltillo tile on a concrete slab, your specific project may require variations based on layout, environment, or tile selection. For the best results, we recommend consulting with a licensed contractor or professional tile installer familiar with Saltillo tile.

Please note: Rustico Tile & Stone cannot assume responsibility for installations not completed by one of our approved installers. Installation guidance is provided exclusively for customers who have purchased tile directly from us.

For a complete set of instructions, consider our How to Install Saltillo Tile eBook available on Amazon.

Step 1: Prep the Concrete Subfloor

“Think of this as the canvas for your artisan floor.”

• Remove all debris, old adhesives, and dust.
• Check for moisture issues — Saltillo tile is porous, so a vapor barrier may be needed.
  • Outdoor installation or spaces in wet areas, we recommend full coverage application of our Crest Crack Isolation & Waterproofing membrane for protection.
• Examine cracks or foundation issues. There will be surface and hairline cracks. Tip: If you do not see the cracks, spray water on the slab to make the cracks visible.
• Treat cracks with a crack isolation membrane of your choice. (Our installers prefer to use our Crest Crack Isolation & Waterproofing membrane.) For complex and/or commercial jobs, Ditra is a great option, though more expensive. Ditra is good for slabs with foundation problems or on slabs in sandy soil apt for movement.
• Leveling compounds may be required for uneven spots.
• Wood subfloor – Check out this article if you have a wood subfloor and need tips or how-to’s!

Pro Tips :  Brand new slab, apply the crack isolation membrane across the entire slab.  Your concrete slab will settle over time, resulting in hairline cracks.  The crack isolation membrane will help mitigate those cracks from transferring to the new tile floor.  This technique isn’t guaranteed to prevent all cracks, successful prevention is significant.

Step 2: Dry Lay the tiles

“Each tile is handmade and slightly different — that’s what makes it art.”

• Lay out a section of tile without mortar to visualize spacing and layout.
• Use a chalk line to create a centered guide to keep rows straight.
  • We do not recommend using spacers. Saltillo floors are handmade with small variations in size thickness. .  Any adept tile installer will install Saltillo tile flourishingly if our tips are followed.  Put simply, apply a craftsmanship approach as the terra cotta flooring is being laid.
  • This is not true of all types of Mexican floor tiles.  Our beautiful Cement Tiles & Cantera Stone tiles can be installed with spacers.
• Tile variation is normal and part of the beauty.
• Mix tiles from multiple boxes to balance color and shape differences.

Step 3: Apply Thinset & Lay Saltilllo Tile

If your Saltillo tile is unsealed, see tips at the bottom of this guide

• We recommend Crest Porcelanato or Crest Gran Formato semi-modified or fully-modified thinset, which can be found at a local home improvement store.
• A notched ½” x ½” trowel is recommended for a basic 12×12 size Saltillo tile. For other sizes, consult with your installer.
• Back-butter each tile for better adhesion. Thin & even.
• If using unsealed tile, avoid getting mortar on the tile face — it can stain. Consider pre-sealed tiles for easier installation.
• If using the DITRA product mentioned above, you do not need an elastic thinset.
• Again, we do not recommend using spacers with authentic handmade Saltillo tile. This allows for size/shape variations.
• Back-butter each tile for better adhesion
• Press firmly into place.
• Pay attention to detail and chalk lines to keep the tile layout and spacing consistent. This is should not be a complicated process.
• Cut Saltillo tile with a wet saw as needed.
• Make sure the thinset is fully dry following manufacturer’s recommendations . Overnight or a 24 hr period.

Step 4. Grout Saltillo tile 

Once the Saltillo tiles are set and dry

• Recommended grout includes a sanded grout or mortar mix. This can also be found at a local home improvement store.
• Use a float to apply grout across the joints.
• Wipe off excess grout with a damp sponge before it dries.
• Allow grout to cure fully before sealing.
• Check out more Saltillo Tile Grout Tips.
  • Grout Joint Size & Color Tips for Saltillo Tile
  • Grout plays a big role in both the performance and the final look of your Saltillo tile floor. Choosing the right grout joint size and color helps highlight the handcrafted beauty of Saltillo while ensuring long-term durability.
  • Recommended Grout Joint Widths
  • • 1/2″ to 3/4″ grout joints for traditional installations
  • • 1/4″ grout joints for more modern or tight-joint layouts (requires sorting tiles by size)
  • Choosing a Grout Color
  • • Gray grout: Complements natural Saltillo tones and hides dirt well.
  • • Brown or Tan grout: Warm and earthy, ideal for blending with Manganese or Antique Saltillo tiles.
  • • White or light grout: Offers contrast but may require more frequent cleaning and sealing.

5. Clean Saltillo tiles. You must clean your Mexican tile floor thoroughly to remove any grout haze or debris accumulated during installation. Then, allow the Saltillo tile floor to dry for several days. Our StoneClean 104 cleaner, water, and a sponge or brush can be used for cleaning the floor. If you choose to you any other type of chemical cleaner, follow this step with a few mop-washes of a 50/50 mixture of acetone and water. Any residual cleaning chemical must be fully removed before applying your topcoat of Saltillo tile sealer.

6. Finally, Seal the Saltillo tile floor. Once your installation is complete, cleaned, and is _thoroughly _dried, you can apply the tile sealer’s topcoat. An ideal topcoat sealer will last several years and can also be applied to the terra cotta grout lines. We recommend Crest or TerraNano topcoat sealer. Allow the terra cotta sealer to dry fully and cure. Once cured, installation is complete.

Learn more with our best advice about Spanish tile.

A few tips:

• Save $$ and time. Check out Why You Should Buy & Install only Sealed Saltillo Tile.
• Do not soak presealed Saltillo tile before installation. Just don’t. Ever.
• If you are installing unsealed Saltillo tile, you can soak these before installation or apply several coats of Saltillo tile sealer before installation. It’s better to seal the tiles than to soak the tiles.
• Do not dry stack Saltillo tile in installation.
• Do not skip the crack isolation membrane step. No one wants to repair hairline cracks in a tile floor because slab cracks were left untreated.
• We strongly recommend applying a waterproofing membrane across the full surface area of a slab in an outdoor tile installation.  This will reduce the possibilities for efflorescence & ongoing maintenance.

More Resources:

• Ultimate Guide to Saltillo Tile Flooring
• Recommended Saltillo Tile Installation Materials
• Saltillo Tile Maintenance Guidelines
• Saltillo Tile Shapes & Sizes
• Saltillo Tile Color Finishes
• 5 Things Not To Do With Saltillo Tile Floors