Polanco
- Description
- Specs
- Coordinating Colors
- 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, stair risers, accent walls, and decorative focal areas.
- Designed for feature installations, accent panels, patterned layouts, borders, murals, and traditional Mexican tile designs.
- 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.
- Hand-painted ceramic tile may show natural variation in color, brushwork, glaze, pattern placement, size, and surface texture.
Recommended Rooms
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Shower walls
- Fireplace surrounds
- Stair risers
- Interior accent walls
- Decorative focal areas
- Light-use residential floor accents
Specifications
| Product Type | Talavera Special Design Tile |
| Collection | Talavera Special Designs |
| Available Formats | Decorative field tiles, accent tiles, pattern tiles, mural-style designs, and select set or box options where available |
| 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, pattern, brushwork, texture, and size |
| Crazing | C2 · Moderate; fine surface crazing may be present or develop over time |
| Sold By | Individual piece unless a set, 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 |
| 2" x 2" | 36 tiles |
| 3" x 3" | 16 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, set, or pack options are provided for ordering convenience and may not include a quantity discount unless specifically noted.
- Pattern direction, layout, and rotation should be reviewed before installation, especially when creating repeated designs, murals, or focal panels.
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.
- Hand-painted tiles may vary slightly from piece to piece and from shipment to shipment.
- Pattern placement, line work, and brushwork may vary slightly due to the handmade process.
- 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 before installation to balance color, brushwork, shade, and handmade variation.
- Confirm pattern direction, tile rotation, and overall layout before setting tile.
- For repeated patterns, arrange tiles in advance to confirm the desired flow and design orientation.
- 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
- Hand-painted
- Glazed ceramic
- Traditional Talavera character
- Decorative pattern and accent tile design
- Natural variation in color, brushwork, size, and finish
- Designed for backsplashes, stair risers, fireplaces, accent walls, murals, and focal installations
- Coordinates with Talavera solid color tile, trims, borders, and specialty pieces
Beautiful
The tiles are ordered were amazing. Better in person. Delivery was nice also, they protect led the tiles perfectly. Thank you for that.
Perfect for my kitchen backsplash
Used this tile with the cobalt blue rope tile to create a gorgeous backsplash.
Beautiful tiles
I was really pleased with the overall purchase and shipment of my tiles. They came securely packaged and the image is exactly what I received. The colours are very bright and are beautifully painted. Definitely would order from here again!
Review
Thank YOU!! YAY! Love your tile selection!
Polanco Talavera
Beautiful tiles, the colors are restrained but bright. We're excited to have them in our bathroom. Quick and easy delivery.
Review
Your tile is beautiful!!! We cannot wait to see it and install it in our home!
Review
Hi, I received the package of tiles I ordered from you and I am amazed at how nice they are! You are a seller I will recommend to everyone! Thank you for such honesty!
Review
Thank you so very much for such providing such a beautiful product and such superb customer service. I so enjoy browsing through your selection of tiles. I could not find anything comparable here in Hawaii. Mahalo!
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
After searching every tile store locally and having no success, I was so happy to find your store online. These tiles are so beautiful and so many to choose from. Choosing became the most difficult part. My order came promptly on the day it was promised and the tiles are just as beautiful as on the website. The prices were fantastic, the only grief I had was the cost of shipping, but understandable due to the weight of the product.
Review
Ordered sample tiles -- they look very much like posted on the web. Delivery was on time. Working on the final design and will place the full order soon.
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