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Terracotta tiles

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Terracotta tiles

Terracotta tiles are closely associated with the Mediterranean countries of Spain, France and Italy where they have been in use for many centuries. Terracotta is a manmade tile where an earthy clay is fired in a high temperature kiln until it is a solid tile. Like ceramic tiles, terracotta comes in 2 different versions - natural unglazed terractta and glazed terracotta.

So why should you choose terracotta over any other tile? What is it that sets it apart? Well I suppose it all comes down to your personal style choice. I've seen and installed plenty of terracotta floors in kitchens to create a homely and warm country style that has been very effective. Terracotta has a certain appeal when you want to create that old-world cottage atmosphere. When teamed up with an old Aga or Rayburn stove, shaker-style kitchen cupboards and some nice burgundy wall paint they look fantastic.

Of course there are maintenance issues with terracotta just like any other tile out there, although a glazed terracotta is much easier to maintain. An unglazed terracotta is porous, which means that any grease, water or dirt can seep into the tile and stain it permanently. I've seen this happen so many times, but the good thing is that you can quite easily avoid these types of problems by sealing the floor properly.

In the course of this article, we'll lay out the ideal places to use a terracotta tile and how to maintain it.

Terracotta tiles » » Benefits & drawbacks