Mexican Tile, Talavera Tile, Tile Paste Floor or pasta floors have references since 1857 and are appreciated in colonial houses, hotels, buildings, museums and haciendas. They are a true cultural heritage, fruit of the European architectural and decorative influence, with an artisan elaboration that is preserved in some of the factories in Merida Yucatan with great variety and tradition in colonial paste floors and Mexican Tiles mosaics.
Mexican pasta tile floors can be of traditional designs, such as those found in the colonial houses of the Historic Centers of Mexico and surroundings; also with geometric, floral, modern or special patterns with their own design for delivery and shipping, such as those used in the restaurant Salón Imperio in the Empire State Building in New York or some hotels in the Caribbean, ideal for indoors or outdoors. Mexican colonial paste tile floors are very versatile when combined in illuminated spaces due to their great variety of patterns and colors.
INDEX:
Beginnings
The first references to what are now Mexican handmade pasta floors date back to 1857, although its consolidation as an alternative product to natural stone (mainly marble) was at the Universal Exposition of Paris in 1867, where the Barcelona company Garret, Rivet y Cía. presented it as a type of tile that did not require firing but was consolidated by means of presses. The tile sizes were basically 10 x 10, 15 x 15, 20 x 20, 25 x 25 and 40 x 40 cm, but the most common were 20 x 20 cm.
Development
The coincidence of this technique with the development of the Mexican tiles floors of modernism made the designs more complex and artistic and the manufacturers counted fashion designers among their collaborators, such as Alexandre de Riquer, Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Josep Pascó and Enric Sagnier. Antoni Gaudí designed a single paste floor, for the Casa Batlló, which was not finally placed in this house but in the Casa Milà and is now used on the sidewalks of Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona. The drawings represented geometric, floral or vegetal forms. The simplest designs had a pattern that was repeated and combined piece by piece. Generally, decorators composed the designs by simulating a carpet that occupied the entire room and required tiles that formed a perimeter border. It was also common for the composition of the final image to be obtained by combining 2, 4 or 6 different pieces, which complicated production and installation considerably. Currently the development of these paste tile is done in Mexico, these floors have spectacular, handmade designs used in colonial houses throughout Mexico.
Manufacturing and installation process
The hydraulic Mexican pasta floor or Mexican handmade pasta mosaic is made piece by piece. The artisan chooses the colors to be used and prepares a paste with water, mixing white marble powder, white cement, sand and pigments.
This preparation is poured into the "trepa", which consists of a mold that integrates bronze or brass spacers fitted inside a frame. Each space is filled with its corresponding color. The more shades the drawing has, the more time it takes to produce it. Therefore, the cost of the tile increases. This layer, the decorated one, which is the one that is visible, is about 4-5mm thick.
When the "climbing" has been filled with the different colored pastes, a second layer is added, of a similar thickness, formed by a mixture of gray cement and sand, with the function of absorbing the excess water of the first one. Finally, it is filled up to 20 or 25 mm, which is usually the thickness of the brick, with the support layer, consisting of gray cement, common cement and sand of a more porous texture to facilitate adherence in its placement. The filled mold is placed under a hydraulic press that compresses it. It is then removed from the mold, left to dry and immersed in water for 24 hours. In order for the cement to harden perfectly, the paste tiles are sprayed with water and placed in a humid chamber for 28 days, which is the time it takes for the cement to harden due to the chemical process initiated by the water. This is the reason why it is called Hydraulic mexican tile Paste Mosaic and not because of the fact that hydraulic presses are used (originally the presses were manual).
This gives them great strength and solidity. In addition to their resistance, Mexican colonial paste floors are characterized by their versatility, their great variety of patterns and natural colors that make them suitable for both interiors and exteriors.
It is important to note that although its use has decreased, there are still many factories where Mexican tiles floors or paste tiles are still made in the traditional way, both for use in the restoration of old colonial houses and to be placed in new properties.
Today, it is used in floors, walls, pools, fountains, kitchen counters and it is even possible to create outdoor furniture such as benches.
The beauty of Mexican paste tile flooring is that it is widely used in Mexico, reviving and making popular its use, some know it as Mexican pasta tile flooring or Mexican mosaic pasta tile. Artisanal Mexican pasta tile is somewhat antique looking but adapted to the modern needs of the contemporary user.
MEXICAN TALAVERA TILES BY DESIGN
Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles F-10 - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4 x 4 inches)
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green fleece
Type of finish: Painted
About this item 9 Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4x4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles Color y Tradicion F-30 - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 inches)
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green fleece
Type of finish: Painted
9 Paste tiles
Ceramic Tile Size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may present slight variations in color, designs and size due to the handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico
9 Mexican Tiles, Mexican Talavera Tiles Color y Tradicion C176 - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 inches )
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican Tiles
Ceramic Tile Size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Mexican Talavera Tiles Color y Tradicion C187 - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in)
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4x4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C115
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Paste Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C122
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
About this item
9 Mexican tiles
Ceramic Tile 4x4 inches
Tiles may present slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C261
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles- Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C172
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican tiles
Ceramic Tile Size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
50 Mexican tiles, paste tiles mosaics 4"x 4" hand-painted Talavera Tiles F-60 paste tiles
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, Terracotta, Blue
About this item
50 Mexican tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may present slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
Color y Tradicion 9 mexican tiles, paste mosaics 4 x 4 inches Talavera Tiles C119
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4x4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
Color y Tradicion Talavera C120 - set of 9 mexican tiles paste tiles floors (4 x 4 inches)
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles- Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Mexican Tiles C248
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C354
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Paste Tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C207
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4x4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C175
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4 inches
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
About this item
9 Mexican tiles
Ceramic Tile Size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may present slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - Set of 9 Mexican Tiles (4x4 in) Color y Tradicion Talavera Tiles C190
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 pasta tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Sun & Moon Mexican Tile - Talavera Tile - Hand-painted tile
Material: Talavera
Color: MIX
Type of finish: Painted
Shape: Square
COMBINED MEXICAN TALAVERA TILES
25 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles hand-painted 4 x 4 hand-painted designs
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4
Color: Various colors
Type of finish: Painted
About this article
25 Mexican Tile Mixes
Colonial patterns similar to image
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 each
100 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles, hand-painted Mosaic 4x4 assorted designs
Material: Ceramic
Color: Various colors
Type of finish: Painted
Style: Southwest
About this item
Mix of 100 Mexican tiles.
Over 30 colonial patterns similar to the image.
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 each.
MEXICAN TALAVERA TILES SPECIAL EDITION
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles - 4 x 4 inches hand painted C395
Material: Ceramic
Size: 4x4
Color: Green, terracotta, blue
Type of finish: Painted
About this item
9 Mexican tiles
Ceramic tile size: 4 x 4 inches
Tiles may have slight variations in color, designs and size due to handmade process.
Handmade in Mexico.
9 Mexican Tiles, Talavera Tiles (4 x 4 in), hand-painted skulls design
Material: Talavera
Color: Mixed
Type of finish: Painted
Shape: Square
About this item
Day of the Dead Tile 9
Measurements 4x4 inches
Tiles may present slight variations in color, designs and size due to the handmade process.
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MAINTENANCE OF MEXICAN TILES
The Mexican paste tile is an excellent choice for the home because of its durability. Maintenance is minimal and they will look like new for many years. The appearance of the floor is one of the fundamental elements for our home to be pleasant. That is why Mexican tiles are an unbeatable option to give a different touch. However, there are many doubts about how to polish pasta tile floors correctly and enhance their shine.
How to polish pasta tile floors?
The best way to polish Mexican tiles paste floors is to clean with a solution of water and vinegar; then use a brush to remove the dirt from the complicated areas; in case the dirt is not removed with vinegar, make a paste with baking soda and water and apply it on the dirty area; and finally, rinse the floor and apply soda, which will give it the shiny touch. A simple and very economical process.
How to clean stained Mexican floors?
Cleaning Mexican paste floors at home is very simple: you will not need expensive products or machinery, you can do it in a few steps and without complications.
Make a paste with baking soda.
Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with a little water until a paste is formed (with a texture similar to toothpaste).
Apply the paste on the part of the mosaic floor you want to clean.
Leave it on for at least an hour to soften the accumulated dirt.
Sponge and remove the remaining dirt.
Then wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth to be sure to remove the debris completely.
Clean again, this time with vinegar.
Combine ¼ liter of vinegar with 1 liter of water and use a sponge to wipe the mixture over the pasta floors.
Rinse everything.
Clean the pasta floors with hot water to remove traces of residue and finish rinsing with a damp cloth.
Advantages and disadvantages of Mexican Tiles floors
Mexican tiles Paste require only soap and water for cleaning.
Its finish is matte or glossy.
As it is a porous material, it is recommended to apply sealer if it will be used in the kitchen, which will also give it a shinier appearance.
It is available in different sizes
It is a good thermal insulator, reflects the sun's rays and does not heat up.
There are many colors to choose from.
There are more than 350 molds or designs to choose from.
The handmade mexican tiles paste mosaic can withstand heavy loads, because of this, it also has a fairly long life span.
It tends to improve visibility.
It does not provide restrictions when used outdoors.
A disadvantage is that this type of floor tends to be more slippery when it gets wet from rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to lay Mexican Tiles?
It is recommended that in any remodeling or construction, the Mexican tiles pasta tile flooring should be installed last. If it is placed before, it can get stained with the daily work of plumbers, painters, carpenters, electricians and even the masons themselves.
The Mexican tiles floor of tile paste to place it should be wet for 15 minutes before placing it. The objective is to saturate the mosaic with water so that it does not "absorb the humidity" of the mortar, otherwise it can become loose.
Mexican tiles mosaics are handmade products and can have variations in thickness, so care must be taken not to affect the level of the floor.
The separation between pieces should be approximately the thickness of the mason's trowel (1 to 2 mm). Once installed, the floor is swept and washed before sealing with the melt (it is prepared with water and very liquid white cement in order to fill all the cracks).
After the melt has been applied, the entire surface should be left to dry for 2 to 3 weeks depending on many factors (time of year, floor level, geographical area, ventilation, etc.). During this period of time, people should be restricted from walking on the floor to avoid staining or scratching it before polishing.
How to cut Mexican Tiles?
Knowing how to cut Mexican tiles floors is an important step in the installation of Mexican tiles floors. In the event you do not have the knowledge or skills to cut pasta tiles, you are going to need exact measurements, which is usually not a viable option when homes, restaurants and other establishments have unique floor layouts. It is highly unlikely that the floor you plan to install tile on is going to be perfectly square or rectangular and that it is going to have the exact measurements to allow for tile spacing and grout gaps.
To cut Mexican pasta tile floors, you will need a tile cutter to help you with your installation job. We recommend using a high-end tile cutter with a good quality (diamond) tipped blade to ensure you get a clean, quality cut on your tiles. Chances are you are making a considerable investment in the tiles you are installing in your home or facility, so it is equally important that you invest in the quality of your cutting tools that will help you get the desired result.
Can I use Mexican Tiles Paste on walls?
Yes, Mexican tiles paste can be used on walls, especially as a backsplash for wainscoting. You can get creative with the use of mexican tiles paste, you can even use them on the ceiling. They are usually used as murals in bars, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms. Their use is for protection and decoration.