BDU Saltillo Tile College™

Desert Baked Beauty: Saltillo Tile

What you will learn: How Saltillo tile is made; what Saltillo tile looks like and its distinguishing qualities; the history of Saltillo tile; the best places to install Saltillo tile; limitations of Saltillo tile

If it’s a casual, rustic appearance you’re looking for in your ceramic floor tile flooring, Saltillo tile may be one of your greatest discoveries. Reflecting the ruggedly attractive essence of the American Southwest, Saltillo ceramic floor tile flooring will bring your space down to earth.

Certain varieties of ceramic floor tile or porcelain tile can really add an air of elegance and grace to your indoor or outdoor flooring project. That’s fine, if that’s the kind of effect you’re after. But what if you want a design that is a little earthier, and a little less uniform and refined? Sometimes, reflecting a more lived-in, seasoned atmosphere can lend a space its own kind of beauty, and it certainly adds character. Saltillo tile flooring can really help you to achieve a simple beauty, reflecting the arid climates of the American Southwest and the rugged, unspoiled charms of the desert itself.

The unique appearance of Saltillo tile

Characterized by its reddish-brown color, similar to terra cotta, Saltillo tile is traditionally made by hand and sun-dried before being put into the kiln. Because of this old-world artisan-based approach, the shape and size of each tile is varied just enough to make each tile unique to the space where it’s laid down. Sometimes, Saltillo tile features animal print patterns angled across the surface of individual tiles, caused by actual animals who wander across the drying tiles while on their travels in the desert! This earthy feature conjures up an sense of desert wildlife and a close-to-nature environment wherever you happen to live – the tracks of desert dwelling animals having been immortalized in your ceramic floor! Additionally, the tiles feature a raw-edge appearance which also varies from tile to tile, accentuating the rough-hewn beauty of these uniquely decorative ceramic floor tiles.

Where Saltillo tile was first made

Saltillo tile originated in a town called Saltillo, Mexico, the place after which this increasingly popular variety of ceramic floor tile is named. The region is surrounded by natural clay deposits, making it an obvious centre for the handmade ceramic floor tiles for which the region has become known. The making of Saltillo ceramic floor tiles was once a local cottage industry, but the scale of production has since expanded due to the demand for these uniquely attractive flooring tiles dried in the desert sun. This popularity is not restricted to the American Southwest, but is also found in households and commercial buildings everywhere. In the American Southwest and Mexico, the tiles can be seen to adorn anything from household foyers to restaurant floors and outdoor patios. Beautiful Saltillo tile has come to characterize life in that region, where use of the tiles is the most appropriate to the climate.

Where Saltillo tile is best used

Because Saltillo tile were originally made by local artisans in Mexico and the American Southwest for use in these regions, there are certain limitations on this variety of ceramic floor tile when considered for outdoor tile in more northerly regions of the world. Specifically, since the Saltillo ceramic floor tile is made for desert climates, it is not frost resistant, and must be sealed for most uses when installed in more moderate climates. In these cases, the best idea is to restrict its application to indoor spaces only. Sealing the Saltillo ceramic floor tile will also give it a necessary level of resistance to staining, which is a good idea for any natural material used as flooring.

Rugged, earthy, and unique in their non-uniformity, Saltillo tile offers an attractive contrast to the more stately and graceful porcelain tile. With the right attention and care, a Saltillo ceramic floor tile floor can emphasize the casual appeal of the Southwest in any indoor setting.

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