Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

zoeq

Oct 20, 2004, 2:09 PM

Post #1 of 12 (6507 views)

Shortcut

Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

Need lots of tile for remodeling. I would like to use traditional tiles for a casa antigua. Any recommendations?

gpk

Oct 20, 2004, 3:19 PM

Post #2 of 12 (6500 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

The unglazed terra cotta tiles are beautiful, but rather soft. Also, they need to be sealed or cured. Friends in San Miguel have an old-fashioned cleaning lady who treats their floors with a mixture of gasoline and used crankcase oil once or twice a year. The floors look incredible, but they have to vacate for three or four days after each treatment.

Cynthia7

Oct 20, 2004, 8:22 PM

Post #3 of 12 (6466 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpk] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

The saltillo tiles are beautiful when finished correctly. I like the crankcase oil and petrol method. There are wonderful tiles being made that look old and look like stone or slate or antique tile. They are easy to care for and probably cost accordingly.

Esteban

Oct 21, 2004, 7:26 PM

Post #4 of 12 (6435 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

You might ask around about concrete tiles. The making of these tiles seems to be a fading lost art. Here in Mazatlan there is a place that makes them and each tile is colored and molded with a large hand press.

zoeq

Oct 21, 2004, 8:27 PM

Post #5 of 12 (6429 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Esteban] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

I understand there was a factory in Queretaro that made tiles, possibly the concrete ones you spoke of but the factory closed about 20 years ago according to one architect. Such a shame to lose this craft. Does anyone know of another factory still in business? I saw some colorful, patterned tiles in a magazine Casa y Campo, I believe. They are made in Spain but I´m hoping to find something closer.

zoeq

Oct 21, 2004, 8:29 PM

Post #6 of 12 (6428 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

Just saw you noted a factory in Mazatlan, Estaban. Thanks for that.

Cynthia7

Oct 22, 2004, 9:59 PM

Post #7 of 12 (6405 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

We used the Mission tiles in our home in SMA. They are concrete and can have up to 5 colors in them. I thought I would like having the rugs in my floor and I do. We got ours in San Luis Potosi at a lovely showroom- family owned-good service and wonderful quality. we sealed them with a water based sealer they recommeded and they are beautiful. I notice in the older homes that sometimes they update the floors and take them up. It breaks my heart to see them disappearing. They were used in churches when they had a Mission building period and needed travertine mosaics and came up with this method of marble dust and portland cement- packed in a mold with design-colored and pressed. I think the proper word for them is encaustic.

esperanza

Oct 23, 2004, 5:03 AM

Post #8 of 12 (6400 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Cynthia7] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

There are several places in the town of Jocotepec, Jalisco (at the far western end of Lake Chapala) that make the tiles you're talking about.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Nancy Boyd

Oct 23, 2004, 7:28 PM

Post #9 of 12 (6373 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

esperanza, Are the tiles you are talking about being made in Joco saltillo tiles?

esperanza

Oct 23, 2004, 7:39 PM

Post #10 of 12 (6371 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Nancy Boyd] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

No. The tiles I'm talking about are the ones the other posters are talking about, the concrete tiles with paint-glaze designs on the tops.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Oct 23, 2004, 7:40 PM)

zoeq

Nov 1, 2004, 6:14 PM

Post #11 of 12 (6305 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

Now I am hopeful that I can get these multi-colored tiles for my casa. If you have specific names of stores, please post them. Thanks.

Cynthia7

Nov 1, 2004, 8:56 PM

Post #12 of 12 (6291 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] Traditional floor tiles

Can't Post | Private Reply

We got our mission tiles in San Luis Potosi at a family run factory. They had a lovely large showroom and they only had what they made. They are made of portland cement and marble dust- packed in molds- each part of the mold will have a diifferent color- up to five different colors- charged according to the number of colors. Their are hundreds of patterns and will wear for many years. I do not have the name of the factory but when I return to SMA I will post it. In Mexico they are called mosaicos. Interesting fact - no duty to US because they are not baked- this I was told by the owners daughter.