Mexican handmade decorative tiles are excellent for walls in kitchens and baths. These tiles have their own unique installation, suitability, and history that we are going to cover them.
The most reasonably priced authentically handcrafted Mexican tiles are from Milagros in the UK. Mexican tiles start at 60p each or £54 per square meter. Because we import the Mexican tiles ourselves and purchase them directly from the producers, our rates are competitive.
Although identical to handmade Moroccan, Spanish, and French tiles, they offer the same quality at lower costs. The following colors and styles are currently available in our inventory:
30 colored 10.5 x 10.5 cm tiles
10.5 cm x 10.5 cm decorative tiles, a total of 58
Two (15 x 15 cm) arabesques
10 9 x 14 cm house number tiles
6 7 x 21 cm brick/metro tiles
6 x 13 cm brick/metro tiles
38 inset 5 × 5 cm tiles.
In the UK, we have the largest selection of handcrafted Mexican tiles. House and Garden (March 2015) and Elle Decorations both showcased our tiles (April 2015).
Mexican tiles created by hand are of the greatest caliber and are appreciated by architects and designers. They have been used in restaurants across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia. (For a list of recent commissions, please see the list opposite.)
Samples
For the cost of the tile + £2 for delivery and packaging, samples are sent out.
Delivery costs £10 for every 100 tiles, whole or in part. Delivery from 400 to 1600 costs about £60 per pallet. With the exception of Northern Ireland, the Highlands and Islands, and more outlying areas of the UK, these delivery costs are the same across the whole UK mainland.
We ship to the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and other nations worldwide. Outside of Europe, please call for a price; the website will provide one for Europe.
Call us if you are unsure. Both our London store and our Bristol warehouse are available for tile pickup.
Handmade Mexican Tiles Installation
What you’ll require for the installation of handmade Mexican tiles are the following:
Tile cement (we recommend a good quality adhesive such as Mapei)
grout for wide joints (available in a range of colors with recommended Ardex)
Blade cutter (either an angle grinder or a wet wheel table cutter)
Tile separators
An angled trowel
float for rubber grout
Sponge
Before tiling, read the instructions on the adhesive and grout packs.
Make sure the surface you’re going to tile is flat and sound.
Choose a starting location and layout for your handcrafted Mexican tiles before you begin.
Utilize adhesives suitable for the surface you are tiling.
Choose the Mexican tiles’ spacing, which is typically 3 to 5 mm.
Use spacers to evenly space tiles, not at their corners.
Using a notched trowel, apply glue to the wall. Put a small amount of adhesive on the tile’s back.
Apply enough pressure while installing the tile to the wall to flatten the ridges the notched trowel left behind.
Using a rubber grout float, press the grout into the joints after mixing it to a creamy consistency.
Before the grout dries completely, sponge out any extra.
Rarely flat, the tiles might have different thicknesses. Tilers should use their aesthetic sense to make decisions.
This is meant to serve as a general tiling guide.
Ordering Advice for Handmade Mexican Tiles
Per square meter, there are 90 Mexican tiles. Therefore we advise giving yourself 10% extra to account for installation waste.
Before making a bulk purchase, we advise obtaining a sample tile to give you a clear idea of the tile’s appearance and color.
The simplest approach to determine the proportions of each color in a mix of Mexican tiles is as a percentage; for instance, 30% Mexican white and 70% mustard yellow will give you a predominance of mustard yellow.
Calculate the square meter of each area that needs tiling before adding them all up if you have several.
Tile glue and grout are required to install the tiles. Wide joint grout, which is available in five colors—grey, limestone, white, sandstone, and black—is what we advise.
The colors depicted on the website and in printed materials are not intended to be final. Exact color reproduction is not possible with printing, computer screens, or photography.
Mexican Tiles Suitability
Because they are not freeze-tolerant, the Mexican tile’s suitability is for indoor application. Kitchen worktops shouldn’t be covered with these tiles. When properly put on a suitable substrate with a substrate-appropriate adhesive, Milagros tiles are acceptable for bathrooms, kitchens, and shower room walls. For floors, handmade wall tiles are not appropriate.
Maintenance
Check your silicon joints’ condition on a regular basis, and fix any cracks that you find. Usually, the grout deteriorates before the tiles do.
Characteristics
The vibrant colors and textures of the handcrafted tiles. There are fifty-eight colorful Mexican tiles in thirty different colors. The patterned tiles’ backgrounds mirror those of the “Mexican White” plain tiles. Kitchens and bathrooms can benefit from the handmade Mexican tiles. They have a character that can’t be achieved with tiles that are manufactured and bear the erratic stamp of a human hand. As a result, their surfaces can be uneven, occasionally concave, and occasionally convex. When placed, this creates a distinctive pillow look. Mexican tiles, while identical to handmade tiles from Morocco, Spain, and France, give the same quality at lower costs.
The Makers of Tile
We import handcrafted Mexican glazed terracotta wall tiles that are produced at a family-run facility in the state of Guanajuato. The workshops handle the entire process, from digging up the clay to burning and designing the tiles. The three different types of clay plus a component that gives the combination flexibility are combined to create the handcrafted tiles. An unglazed “cookie” is produced by manually rolling out and cutting the clay, then firing it in a kiln. After that, they are glaze-fired once more. The placement of the tiles in the kiln, the length of the fire, and the makeup of the clay all affect color and size variations. Due to Dolores Hidalgo’s reputation for pottery and tile production, there are numerous tile factories and workshops. A variation of Talavera is the prevalent fashion (the Mexican name for Maiolica). The design applied over the glaze is a defining characteristic of this method.
Handmade Mexican Tiles History
Making handmade Mexican tiles is a tradition in Mexico. Although the Spanish brought the methods to Mexico more than 500 years ago, tiles have a long history and were initially used decoratively in Egypt about 400 BC. There wasn’t much stone in Mesopotamia, but there was plenty of clay, and it was encouraged to be used for writing and adornment. The Persians learned how to make clay tiles, which they then passed on to the Arabs, who carried them to Spain. After passing across Europe, the technology then made its way to the New World. Spanish ceramicists were transported to the New World by Dominican Friars who were anxious to tile their monasteries. They also taught the native people how to produce tiles. Puebla, Mexico City, and Dolores Hidalgo were chosen as the three main centers for the production of tiles. Dolores Hidalgo is where our Mexican tiles are created.
Fundamental qualities
All measurements are approximate, and size variations occasionally exceed 2mm. (The tiles are not entirely square or flat.)
Surface imperfections are common and can happen.
The glaze’s natural tendency to crackle and craze is a feature of handmade tiles. The grout used can either heighten or diminish the craze.
Mexican handcrafted tiles can chip, nick, or scratch like all other types of tiles. Possible minor chips on the tile edges. When sliced tiles are necessary, and the damaged edges can be removed, use these.
Installation
Mexican tiles created by hand are rarely smooth, and their thickness might vary. Installers should utilize their eye to make aesthetic choices and, ideally, be familiar with laying handmade tiles.
Since a typical grout gap is greater than 3mm, wide joint grout is advised. Ardex or Mapei grout and glue are our top choices.
We advise waiting until your tiles have arrived and been tested before scheduling a fixed date for a tiler.
Always verify that the delivered tiles are accurate and undamaged. Wait till the tiler arrives before leaving this.
We do not advocate sealing our glazed tiles; however, this can be done.
Use a tiler who has experience in laying handmade tiles. You might want to double-check the tile placement and grout gap dimensions.
To provide the tiles with a firm bed on the adhesive, it is important to take into account that they are not entirely flat.
Milagros is skilled at installing Mexican tiles, and we’re delighted to offer guidance and technical assistance.
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