12 x 12 Square
- Description
- Specs
- Reviews
Why Choose 12 x 12 Square Tierra High Fired Terra Cotta Tile
This 12 x 12 Square Tierra High Fired terra cotta tile is handcrafted from natural clay and fired at high temperatures for added density, durability, and long-term performance. Its classic square format creates a clean, timeless floor pattern with rustic texture, natural clay variation, and the warmth of traditional Mexican terra cotta.
Samples may be ordered online when available. Samples are sold separately and shipping charges apply. Please keep in mind that sample tiles may vary in color, texture, and finish from future orders due to the handmade process.
Colors may appear differently on computer monitors. Lot variation in size, color, and texture may be present from shipment to shipment, and additional tiles ordered later may not match the original order exactly.
Details & Character
Tierra High Fired terra cotta tiles are handmade and fired at high temperatures to create a dense, durable clay body. The natural clay finish has a rustic, irregular surface with earthy color movement and handcrafted character.
The 12 x 12 square shape is one of the most versatile Tierra floor formats. It works especially well in Spanish, Mexican, Mediterranean, hacienda, rustic, farmhouse, and California-style interiors and exteriors.
How Floor Pavers Are Made
Tierra floor pavers are shaped from carefully prepared clay, dried, high-fired, and finished by hand. This process gives each tile its natural variation, surface movement, and handcrafted terra-cotta character.
See how they are madeWhere It Works Best
- Residential floors
- Medium-use commercial or industrial flooring
- Kitchen floors
- Bathroom floors
- Patios and covered exterior areas
- Wine rooms and cellars
- Entryways and hallways
- Living spaces and dining rooms
- Interior and exterior wall applications
- Showers, pools, fountains, and other wet areas when properly sealed and installed
Outdoor use depends on climate, installation method, substrate preparation, drainage, and proper sealing. Confirm exterior installation details with your installer before ordering.
Size, Pattern & Ordering
This product is sold as an individual 12 x 12 square tile. The format covers approximately 1 square foot per tile before cuts, waste, grout spacing, or layout adjustments.
| Approximate Size | 12" x 12" Square |
| Sold By | Individual tile |
| Approximate Coverage | Approx. 1 tile per square foot before cuts, waste, grout spacing, or layout adjustments |
| Pattern Type | Classic square floor layout |
Final quantity depends on layout, grout spacing, edge cuts, room shape, pattern direction, and installation conditions. Confirm final quantities with your installer before ordering.
Variation, Sealing & Installation
Tierra High Fired terra cotta is valued for its natural clay color, coarse texture, and handmade variation. Before installation, dry lay and blend tiles to balance color, surface texture, and size variation across the finished area.
Tierra tiles must be sealed to protect the natural clay surface. Use a compatible penetrating sealer suitable for terra cotta and the installation environment. Tile and grout should be sealed after installation, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, exterior areas, and wet locations.
For installation recommendations, refer to our tile installation guide.
What Makes Tierra High Fired Tile Special
Tierra High Fired terra cotta combines the warmth of handmade Mexican clay tile with a denser, more durable body than traditional low-fired terra cotta. The result is a rustic natural clay surface with better performance for demanding floor and wall applications.
- Handcrafted natural terra cotta
- High-fired for added density and durability
- Rustic coarse texture and natural clay variation
- Classic 12 x 12 square format for timeless floor layouts
- Suitable for floors, walls, wet areas, and exterior use when properly installed
- Works well with Spanish, Mexican, Mediterranean, hacienda, rustic, farmhouse, and California-style interiors
Recommended Use
PLEASE CONSIDER: Substantial variations are expected in all Tierra tiles. Differences in size, color, texture, surface character, and edge detail will occur from piece to piece. Each finished installation will be unique. View, dry lay, blend, and arrange the full range of tiles before installation.
- Recommended for residential flooring and medium-use commercial or industrial flooring.
- Suitable for interior residential and commercial wall applications.
- Suitable for wet areas such as showers, pools, and fountains when properly installed and sealed.
- Frost resistant and suitable for exterior environments, including temperatures below 0°C, when installed correctly for the climate and site conditions.
- Tiles and grout must be sealed with a compatible penetrating sealer to help resist moisture and stains.
Recommended Rooms
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Showers
- Patios
- Entryways
- Hallways
- Wine rooms and cellars
- Living spaces
- Dining rooms
- Residential and commercial wall installations
- Exterior installations when properly installed and sealed
Outdoor use is subject to climate conditions, drainage, substrate preparation, installation method, grout, and sealer.
Specifications
| Product Type | Tierra High Fired Terra Cotta Square Floor Tile |
| Collection | Tierra High Fired Natural Floor Tile |
| Size / Shape | 12" x 12" Square |
| Material | Handcrafted high-fired terra cotta clay |
| Finish | Unglazed, unsealed natural clay |
| Body | Red bisque, dense irregular handmade clay body |
| Texture | Coarse, irregular handmade surface |
| Edge Detail | Irregular handmade edges; slight dimensional variation is expected |
| Thickness | Approx. 1/2 in.; slight variation is expected |
| Variation | V3 · Moderate variation in color, texture, surface character, edge detail, and size should be expected |
| Firing Temperature | Approximately 1180–1200°C |
| Moisture Absorption | ≤ 5.3% |
| Frost Resistance | Frost resistant when properly installed; unglazed Tierra tile samples showed no damage after 300 ASTM C1026 freeze-thaw cycles, consisting of freezing water-saturated tiles to approximately 27°F and thawing them in water at approximately 40°F |
| Static Coefficient of Friction | SCOF ≥ .90 |
| Breaking Strength | ≥ 365 lbf |
| Sold By | Individual tile |
Tierra High Fired tiles are handmade from natural clay. Substantial variation in color, texture, surface character, edge detail, and size should be expected. Samples and add-on orders may not match the original order exactly due to handmade and lot variation.
Tierra tiles are fired at temperatures ranging from approximately 1180–1200°C. The high-firing process produces a dense, highly resistant clay body with moisture absorption of ≤ 5.3%.
For a comparison of variation and crazing degrees, refer to our Tierra Variation Details.
Coverage & Quantity
| Size | Approximate Coverage |
| 12" x 12" Square | 1 tile per square foot before grout spacing, cuts, waste, or layout adjustments |
| Classic, diagonal, or patterned layout | Final quantity depends on layout, grout spacing, perimeter cuts, room shape, pattern direction, and installation design. |
Tile Calculator: 12" x 12"
Estimate how many 12" x 12" Square Tierra tiles may be needed for your project.
Estimate is based on 1 tile per square foot. The calculator estimates the quantity required for the entered square footage only. It does not include additional material for cuts, breakage, grout spacing, layout adjustments, or future repairs.
PLANNING NOTE: The calculators estimate the tile quantity required for the entered square or linear footage only and do not include additional material. We recommend ordering 5–10% extra material to allow for cuts, breakage, installation adjustments, and future repairs. Linear, multi-row, and patterned installations may require additional material depending on the selected size, tile orientation, grout spacing, corners, transitions, and installation design. The customer is responsible for the final quantity ordered. Confirm the selected size, tile orientation, project measurements, layout, number of rows, and final quantity with an experienced installer before ordering.
Care & Installation
| Grout | Sanded grout is commonly used for joints greater than 1/4 in. Confirm final grout selection with your installer or grout manufacturer. |
| Sealer | Use a compatible penetrating sealer designed for natural terra cotta, such as 511 Impregnator. Tile and grout should be sealed to help protect against moisture and stains. |
| Layout | Dry lay and blend tiles before installation to confirm pattern direction, color balance, spacing, cuts, and transitions. |
| Cleaning | Clean spills promptly. Damp mop floor tile with a neutral pH cleanser and water. |
- Inspect and dry lay the entire order before installation.
- Blend tiles before installation to balance color, texture, size, and handmade variation.
- View and arrange the full range of tiles before installation because the completed installation will be unique.
- Confirm layout direction, pattern alignment, and grout spacing before setting tile.
- Plan cuts carefully around walls, corners, thresholds, drains, steps, borders, doorways, and transitions.
- Use proper setting materials for terra cotta tile and the installation conditions.
- Seal tile and grout with a compatible penetrating sealer.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners, acids, bleach, or harsh chemicals.
- Outdoor use depends on climate, drainage, substrate preparation, installation method, grout, and sealer.
- Frost resistance does not replace proper drainage, waterproofing, substrate preparation, or climate-appropriate installation practices.
- Additional tiles ordered later may not match the original order exactly.
- For installation recommendations, refer to our tile installation guide.
