Terra-Cotta Pavers

Made from natural clay, terra-cotta pavers have a soft body and a distinct earthy look that’s all their own. Also known as “Saltillos,” after the state of Saltillo in Coahuila, Mexico, where one type of this tile is hand-made, terra-cotta pavers work well in Southwestern or Spanish-colonial style homes. Many types are economical, but they do require the extra step of sealing.

Sometimes, handmade pavers will feature animal prints (thought to be good luck in Mexico). In contrast to more rustic-looking handmade Saltillos, machine-made terra-cotta pavers are much more uniform in color and size, creating a clean, more sophisticated look for modern homes. Terra-cotta pavers are available as presealed tiles that don’t need to be top coated after installation. But many people prefer to buy unsealed tiles and apply their own finish, which can be matte or shiny. Unsealed terra-cotta can also be stained to give it a lighter off-white or darker brown color, as desired.

Excerpted from Tiling Complete, 2nd Edition by Robin Nicholas and Michael Schweit.

Available in the Taunton Store and at Amazon.com.