Bullnose Tile and Stone Ltd.

REBELLING AGAINST MONOTONY since 1993 

 About Saltillo Terracotta Tiles 

We import Saltillo terracotta pavers directly from the manufacturer and stock them in our warehouse.  The tiles are pre-sealed at the factory and require very little maintenance.  They wear beautifully over the years, developing a patina unique to Saltillo handmade terracotta. The tiles are always obtained from the same manufacturers because they have been producing the tiles for many decades and they make tiles of dependable quality.  

Bullnose Tile terracotta pavers are formed by hand.  They are made from clay that is dug out of the ground, hand-formed and fired in kilns.  This is done under somewhat primitive conditions.  Consequently, one should expect irregularities, possibly including but not limited to: finger prints, dog prints, lumps, bumps, wrinkles, dimples, blips, chips, fibers and brush marks.  The clay from which the terracotta tiles are made is screened for particles of lime found naturally in the clay deposits.  This is not an infallible process, as occasionally particles are missed or they are too small in size for the screen to catch.  When this occurs and they are left in the tile, they expand and burst when they become wet.  This phenomena even has a name “lime pops”.  Their presence is not indicative of a defect, but is

a characteristic of the tiles.  Generally, if they are going to appear at all, they do so immediately after the installation, as there is considerable moisture involved in setting the tiles.  They may be filled with grout if you want and are not a cause for alarm.  Mass produced tiles mimic these eccentricities to try and emulate the original material.  

Colour variation occurs naturally from piece to piece and batch to batch so no two tiles are exactly alike.  Banding, characterized by broad stripes of colour on the surface of the tile ranging from pale orange to dark red, is a result of the way the tiles are stacked in the kiln.  It is a nature of the product that is typical of hand-made terracotta.  

These properties are what give Bullnose Tile Saltillo terracotta tiles their vitality and charm.  Although the effect of these tiles is frequently copied, the machine-made imitators never capture the character, warmth, and distinction of the real thing.  Bullnose Tile terracotta is timeless and has strength of character, exuding the sun-drenched languor of the type of life we would all like to live.   

We are confident that your Bullnose Tile terracotta will continue to delight you after many years and bring pleasure and happiness to your home.