Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have to disagree with everyone on here and say that I love Saltillo tile. It now comes in a presealed finish that makes it much easier to install and maintain. I have 4 dogs and had it in our old house with no problems. Its no more delicate that ceramic or porcelain tile and the clay used gives it a depth and a color that you can't find in the substitutes. Do some research. Unless you have a household that is brutal on floors, it should be ok for you.
I live in Tucson, AZ, so I know quite a few people who have saltillo tile floors. All I have seen look really beat after just a couple of years. My brother got it because he and his wife have a lot of Mexican antiques and they wanted a greatroom floor that could extend straight outside onto their patio. My brother has said flat out on many occasions that he considers it the biggest mistake he's made in his beautifully decorated, very well-cared-for home.
He purchased the tiles and had them installed by one the best-known firms in his area. The grout is crumbling and many of the tiles are chipped. Company reps have been back several time to do repairs which they don't charge him for (because they can see the floor has been cared for properly) but, still, the problems have never really been solved. He has one dog and two daughters, so it can't be that the floor is used in any crazy way.
If you are seeking a rustic look may I suggest ceramic or porcelain tiles that are made to look like slate. Some of the better ones are hard to tell from the real thing, yet have fewer maintenance issues than real stone. Slate-look tiles come in a huge variety of color variations and some even have a terra cotta color in the mix that might work with your style.
Last edited by Jukesgrrl; 12-17-2011 at 08:32 PM..
Reason: Grammar
I live in Tucson, AZ, so I know quite a few people who have saltillo tile floors. All I have seen look really beat after just a couple of years. My brother got it because he and his wife have a lot of Mexican antiques and they wanted a greatroom floor that could extend straight outside onto their patio. My brother has said flat out on many occasions that he considers it the biggest mistake he's made in his beautifully decorated, very well-cared-for home.
He purchased the tiles and had them installed by one the best-known firms in his area. The grout is crumbling and many of the tiles are chipped. Company reps have been back several time to do repairs which they don't charge him for (because they can see the floor has been cared for properly) but, still, the problems have never really been solved. He has one dog and two daughters, so it can't be that the floor is used in any crazy way.
If you are seeking a rustic look may I suggest ceramic or porcelain tiles that are made to look like slate. Some of the better ones are hard to tell from the real thing, yet have fewer maintenance issues than real stone. Slate-look tiles come in a huge variety of color variations and some even have a terra cotta color in the mix that might work with your style.
Maybe ours was a different style of Saltillo or a particularly good batch....I just don't know but we didn't have any chipping, our grout was solid and our floors still looked beautiful 4 years after installation. I don't know why we had a good experience but even with the normal wear and tear of 2 adults, 4 dogs and occational parties and visitors, we never had a problem. We are thinking of having them installed in this house too. I hope we have as good of luck here too.
Maybe ours was a different style of Saltillo or a particularly good batch....I just don't know but we didn't have any chipping, our grout was solid and our floors still looked beautiful 4 years after installation. I don't know why we had a good experience but even with the normal wear and tear of 2 adults, 4 dogs and occational parties and visitors, we never had a problem. We are thinking of having them installed in this house too. I hope we have as good of luck here too.
Inconsistency - in both looks and quality - is one of the hallmarks of saltillo. I, too, live in Tucson, and worked in flooring here for about 13 years. Everyone who ordered saltillo was given a detailed instruction sheet for care, and a detailed sheet of what could possibly go wrong without being a warranty issue.
That said, I know several commercial establishments who have saltillo tile that, to my eye, looks great. The "pops" and chips only add to its character in these settings. I'd never put it in my home, though; I'd want the greater durability and lower maintenance of porcelain.
i got it. love it. do a sealant every few years works great.
Same here. Our Saltillo tile has been here for about 40 years and still looks great. No cracks, no grout problems, and we use a sealer on it about every 3-5 years.
A lot has to do on who installs it and their knowledge of Saltillo.
Inconsistency - in both looks and quality - is one of the hallmarks of saltillo. I, too, live in Tucson, and worked in flooring here for about 13 years. Everyone who ordered saltillo was given a detailed instruction sheet for care, and a detailed sheet of what could possibly go wrong without being a warranty issue.
That said, I know several commercial establishments who have saltillo tile that, to my eye, looks great. The "pops" and chips only add to its character in these settings. I'd never put it in my home, though; I'd want the greater durability and lower maintenance of porcelain.
What you call "inconsistency" is what I call "depth and character". A lot of our our home is custom finishes, by either DIY or by professionals using materials that aren't mass produced. I'd rather have depth and character with some maintenance required than to have cookie cutter/mass produced finishes. "One of a kind" and "unique", when they are done with taste and in character with the architecture of the home adds a lot more value than mass produced finishes. I love Saltillo it adds warmth and depth to a room.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.