Tag Archives: saltillo tile

Our Design Studios

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If you want to see great examples of saltillo tile flooring and decorative tiling, you can visit our design studios located in Phoenix, Arizona or our location in Tucson, Arizona. Each location features a tremendous variety of tiling and showcase various ways to utilize tiles for design. If you are in the Phoenix or Tucson area, we encourage to visit our studios which we are certain will inspire you and provide unique ideas on how our tiles can improve the look of your home.

Phoenix Location: 2036 W Greenway Rd, Phoenix AZ 85023 | Phone: (602)954-6272
Tucson Location: 1148 E Broadway, Tucson AZ 85719 | Phone: (520)622-4352

Please enjoy this gallery of photo’s taken at each of the locations:

What to consider : Kitchen Remodel

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A kitchen is not only the place where you prepare your meals but can also be a gathering place for dinner parties and family holidays. So a kitchen should accommodate what you need for cooking, and also provide the type of space you need for dining, storage, and entertaining guests. A kitchen should reflect your lifestyles and its decor should complement the architecture of your home. There are many things to consider when designing a kitchen, and the first step is setting goals for the space.

Kitchen RemodelA kitchen remodel can be a huge undertaking, so make sure you ask your self why you are doing it and what to you hope to accomplish as an end result. Do you want to add space by knocking out walls? Do you need a kitchen that is less cluttered and easier to clean? Will you be replacing the cabinets and counter tops? Do you need to add functionality to your kitchen with new appliances and ease of access shelving? Do you want to replace that old vinyl flooring with beautiful saltillo tile? (See how we worked that in?)

It’s also important to keep in mind how you use your kitchen. Track your daily routines there. Also consider how many people live in the house and who prepares the meals. Think of things such as whether the cook in the family is left-handed or right-handed. What type of meals do you cook in your home? What is the traffic pattern in your kitchen? How often do you dine there? Will you be using the space for entertaining? HGTV offers a helpful worksheet to help determine how you use your kitchen.

Let’s not forget perhaps the most important thing to consider, budget! Do research to find out how much items cost before starting. Don’t forget that you may not be able to do all the changes you want to do yourself, so figure in labor to your budget costs as well.

Here are some other things to consider:

  • Size of the space
  • Orientation of sunlight
  • Connection of kitchen to adjacent rooms
  • Homeowner’s lifestyle
  • Condition of the building

If you need help or design ideas on remodeling your kitchen, please call Mexican Tile and Stone today.

Outdoor Patio and Pool Tile Designs

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While we have shown a lot of different design ideas on how saltillo tile flooring and decorative tile can improve the look of the inside of your home, don’t forget tile and stone can greatly enhance the outside areas of your home as well. Whether it’s using saltillo tile as your patio decking or using tiles to decorate your barbecue, tiling can create a great looking exterior for your family and friends to enjoy. Please take a look at these examples:

Remodel your kitchen with decorative tiles!

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For some of us who love to cook, we spend the majority of our time at home in our kitchen. Why not make your kitchen a stylish and decorative room that’s functional and easy to clean! Decorative tile is a perfect solution for kitchens. Sealed tile as a counter top is resistant to stain and wipe clean with ease. Tile on the wall and floors can also make your kitchen one of the best looking rooms in the house. Take a look at this slideshow that demonstrates how great tile can make your kitchen look!

Advantages of Saltillo Tile

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Advantages of Saltillo TileMany people wonder what the advantage of have Saltillo flooring is? Well there are several advantages to using Saltillo tiles.

Allergies
Tile flooring has the advantage of helping people who have allergies as it does not trap as much dust and dander as carpet.

Long-Lasting
Saltillo tile will last much longer than carpets, linoleum, and even some wood floors.

Environmentally Friendly
Saltillo tile is all natural as it is made from clay found in the Northern Mexico area of Saltillo. After he clay is formed into tiles, it is dried in the sun and then fired in kilns or caves. Occasionally, they will have the footprint of a dog or child which makes for a wonderful conversation piece in your living room.

Variety in Color
There is a great variety in the colors of the tiles depending on the positioning of the tile in the kiln.

Cooler In the Summer
Anyone who lives in a hot climate like Arizona knows that tiles help keep your house cooler.

Easy to Care For
Because Saltillo of the color of Saltillo Tile, it tends to hide the dirt. But even when it needs to be cleaned, a quick sweep or vacuum is generally all that’s needed. In the event you do need to mop Saltillo Tile, you can just use water, diluted vinegar (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water), or a floor cleaner made for clay tiles.

Re-seal to Restore Shine
If you wish to restore the original shine of your Saltillo tile, you can reseal it every year or two. However, re-sealing is optional and you may not even need it except in high traffic areas.

What Causes the Color Variations in Saltillo Tile?

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saltillo_pool_deckWhen the tiles are cured in caves (or kilns), the tiles are stacked on end, overlapping slightly, so that they will not fall over. Before firing, the kiln is sealed with clay to prevent heat from escaping. Then fire is started at the bottom of the cave and fuel is added to increase the heat until the proper temperature is reached. Obviously, fire will not burn without oxygen, and at some point during the firing process the available oxygen in the atmosphere in the cave is used up. The flame then seeks the next available source of oxygen which it finds in the form of iron oxide in the clay tile, and burns it, flashing the surfaces of the tile. The light buff color in the tile is the area that was flashed; the peach color in the tile is the area, which is shielded from the flame by other tiles. The color of the tile is also effected by:

  • How the tile is stacked in the kiln.
  • How the flame/heat is controlled inside the kiln.
  • Whether or not a color additive is added to the clay during the manufacturing process (see the section on Moreno Saltillo tile.)
  • Sometimes a green hue is apparent from the firing process.

Saltillo Tile for your pool deck!

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saltillo tile outdoor pool deckingWhile there are many uses for saltillo tile, on of our favorites is for pool decking.  Saltillo tile is perfect for giving your pool deck a unique and stylish look.  If you are considering remodeling your outdoor patio and pool deck area,  we strongly recommend using saltillo tile. If you have any questions regarding installation or how we can improve the look of your pool area, please contact us at 602.954.6272 for a free at-home consultation.