Terra Cotta
- Description
- Specs
- Reviews
You may order samples online. Sample must be purchased and shipping charges apply. Please keep in mind sample tiles may vary in color from future orders due to the handmade process.
Talavera tiles are NOT frost resistant, they should not be used on outdoor installations with potential freezing temperatures.
Mexico is world reknown for its skillful artisans in a wide variety of fields. Mexican writer Alberto Ruy Sanchez Lacy called Mexican tile a "chosen skin". Tiles have embellished numerous public and private spaces thoughout Mexico. A glimpse anywhere in Mexico, particularly in the central states, shows the widespread use of talavera tiles decorating a broad range of spaces from kitchens, fountains, facades, interiors of luxurious hacienda homes to churches. It is through traditional artifacts, such as handcrafted tiles, that one can perceive an artisan’s sensibility, and creativity. Handcrafted ceramic tile is a rooted cultural heritage in Mexico, since its practice of making it began in the late sixteen century, around 1570 and 1573. Mexican ceramic tiles have actively played a distinguished role as an important utilitarian and decorative element in Mexican architecture.
Mexican tile is functional, beautiful, and practical, it provides a long lasting wall or surface that is easy to care and maintain. You can install Mexican tiles in virtually any area you want to enjoy their warm and beauty.
The tiles are made from clay dug out of the ground and fired to a temperature at which the clay undergoes chemical changes and becomes permanently hard. Then the tile is glazed and decorated by hand, and fired once again to give it its final and lively finish. Its physical characteristics make Mexican tiles particularly attractive and distinctive. Mexican tiles are concave (not perfectly flat). They are characterized as unique, irregular, functional, and expressive.
Recommended Use
- Interior wall applications.
- Kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls, shower walls, fireplaces, accent walls, and decorative installations.
- Suitable for wet areas such as showers, pools, and fountains when properly installed and sealed. Gloss finishes are recommended for wet-area installations.
- Can be used on light-duty residential floors as decorative accents, borders, or inset applications.
- Not recommended for heavy-traffic floors or exterior freeze-thaw installations.
- Handmade ceramic tile may show natural variation in tone, glaze, size, and surface texture.
Recommended Rooms
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Shower walls
- Fireplace surrounds
- Interior accent walls
- Light-use residential floor accents
Specifications
| Product Type | Talavera Solid Color Tile |
| Collection | Talavera Solid Colors |
| Available Formats | Field tile sizes, subway formats, specialty shapes, and select box options |
| Material | Handmade ceramic |
| Finish | Glazed ceramic |
| Body | Red bisque |
| Texture | Smooth, hand-finished surface |
| Thickness | Approx. 1/4 in.; slight variation is expected |
| Variation | V3 · Moderate handmade variation in shade, texture, and size |
| Crazing | C2 · Moderate; fine surface crazing may be present or develop over time |
| Sold By | Individual piece unless a box or pack option is specifically selected |
| Recommended Grout | Sanded grout if joint is greater than 1/4 in. Non-sanded grout if joint is less than 1/4 in. |
| Sealer | Use penetrating sealer as needed for grout and installation conditions. |
For a comparison of handmade variation and crazing levels, refer to our handmade ceramic tile variation and crazing guide.
Tiles per Square Foot
| Size | Approximate Tiles per Square Foot |
| 1⅜" x 1⅜" | 64 tiles |
| 1" x 6" | 24 tiles |
| 2" x 2" | 36 tiles |
| 2" x 4¼" | 18 tiles |
| 2" x 6" | 12 tiles |
| 3" x 3" | 16 tiles |
| 3" x 6" | 8 tiles |
| 4¼" x 4¼" | 8 tiles |
| 4¼" x 4¼" Box of 90 | Approx. 11 sq. ft. before grout spacing, cuts, waste, or layout adjustments |
| 6" x 6" | 4 tiles |
Please Note: Customer is responsible for final quantity ordered.
- Final quantities should be verified before ordering.
- Industry standard recommends adding 5–10% additional tile to account for cuts, waste, layout adjustments, and future repairs.
- Review measurements and tile quantities with an expert installer before placing a final order.
- Box options are provided for ordering convenience and may not include a quantity discount unless specifically noted.
Care and Considerations
- Clean with a mild, non-acidic cleanser and damp cloth.
- Do not use abrasive pads, harsh chemicals, or acid-based cleaners.
- Colors may appear differently on computer screens. Ordering a sample is strongly recommended before final selection.
- Handmade tiles may vary slightly from piece to piece and from shipment to shipment.
- Additional tiles ordered later may not match the original order exactly.
- Certain matte and specialty glazes are acid-sensitive and may discolor if exposed to acid-based cleaners.
Installation
- Dry lay and blend tiles from multiple boxes before installation to balance color, shade, and handmade variation.
- Use proper setting materials for ceramic tile and installation conditions.
- Seal grout and tile as needed based on location, finish, and exposure to moisture.
- For installation recommendations, refer to our ceramic tile installation guide.
Qualities
- Handmade
- Glazed ceramic
- Traditional Talavera character
- Natural variation in color, size, and finish
- Available in field tile sizes, subway formats, specialty shapes, and select box options
- Designed to coordinate with Talavera decorative tile, trims, borders, and accent pieces
Nice, but should be called brown
This tile is a beautiful color, but it is not quite what I was looking for. I was hoping for something with more hints of orange clay color, but it is really more of a brown color.
Nice
These were nice tiles and just what I was looking for. They can within the week so was very happy with that. The only thing was that the tiles were slightly larger then 4 1/4 inches. So these made installing kind of difficult but it looks great now that it’s in.
Talavera Tile
All of my transactions with TYF have been 5+stars from beginning to end. High quality, reasonable pricing, fast delivery & outstanding support. Tile arrived exceptionally well packaged.
Review
I am so happy with your business and tiles!! I received my first order two days after ordering and not one tile was broken. Thank you so much. I do need a few more to finish my job. Thank you again.
Fireplace tiles
We ordered and received 5 different tile colors/patterns. Each one was beautiful and excellent quality. Delivery was prompt, and packaging was very sufficient to assure none were damaged. It was easy to reach a real person on the phone when I had a question, they were very knowledgeable and helpful. I'm searching for another project to tile!
Review
I received a few days your shipping, I am very happy regarding the result: the tiles are very nice and the packing was "perfect" no dammage at all!!! Thanks again for your work Have a good day Kind regards from Paris
Review
We love the tile. Each one is even more beautiful than the images on your website, even though the photos do the tiles justice-so we really felt comfortable with what we were buying. Price is right, and customer service is great. Thank you.
Review
Great...
Review
Beautiful tiles and delivery was prompt.
