The Professional's Guide to Saltillo and Mexican Tile

Saltillo tile is not forgiving.
And most of what's written about it is wrong, incomplete, or written for homeowners who will never touch the floor again.

The Professional's Guide to Saltillo and Mexican Tile is written for people who actually work on these floors and have to live with the results.

This book is a field-tested guide to the care, repair, restoration, and long-term preservation of Saltillo and Mexican tile. It doesn't promise miracle fixes. It explains what really happens when clay tile meets water, chemicals, coatings, moisture, and time.

Inside, you'll learn how Saltillo actually behaves, why factory finishes matter, and how aggressive stripping can permanently change a floor. The book walks through real-world cleaning chemistry, stripping acrylics and urethanes, deep cleaning bare tile, stain removal, repairs, grout problems, drying and moisture management, pickling and color staining, sealing, finishing, and long-term maintenance.

There are entire chapters devoted to mistakes professionals make, how jobs go sideways, and how to avoid repeating expensive lessons. You'll also find guidance on pricing Saltillo work, inspecting and reporting conditions, exterior and historic installations, safety and liability concerns, and the tools that help rather than hurt.

The appendices include practical reference material you can actually use on a jobsite, including chemical guides, troubleshooting charts, inspection checklists, client care sheets, disclaimer language, and Saltillo-specific terminology.

This book is written from decades of field experience inspecting failures, restoring damaged floors, and teaching professionals how to slow down and make better decisions.

If you're looking for shortcuts or glossy brochure advice, this isn't the book.
If you want honest guidance from someone who's seen what works and what doesn't, this one belongs on your shelf.

Written for:

• Stone and tile restoration contractors

• Floor care professionals

• Inspectors and consultants

• Historic restoration specialists

Saltillo rewards restraint, testing, and respect for the material.
This book shows you how to do the work without creating problems you can't undo.