Terracotta Tiles

• In this context, baked means fired in a kiln and earth means clay. Terracotta tiles are traditionally made of a naturally-occurring clay this is fired at a low temperature. They are most often made in Mexico and Europe. Terracotta tiles may be formed by hand or by machine. In either case, each tile is individual. The tile may be glazed or unglazed.
  
  

Advantages of Terracotta Tiles

• The main advantage of terracotta tile is its beauty. It adds a note of warmth wherever it is used, and it usually looks better as it ages. This flooring is resistant to mold, mildew, bacteria and allergens. It is also inexpensive and low maintenance, requiring just sweeping and an occasional wash with warm water and a mild soap, such as dishwashing liquid.
  
  

Disadvantages of Terracotta Tiles

• Terracotta tiles are made of a low-density clay fired at a low temperature and are therefore relatively porous and must be sealed after they are installed. Installing a terracotta floor is a job for a professional unless you are very experienced laying tile floors.
  
  

Buying Terracotta Tiles

• Terracotta tile is easily obtained from home improvement stores. Terracotta tiles in myriad shapes and varied colors are available from high-end flooring specialists. You can also buy (at much higher prices) antique reclaimed terracotta tiles from France and Mexico.
  
  

Other Uses of Terracotta

• Terracotta is also used for sculpture, with the earliest known being female figurines from 3,000 to 1,500 BCE in what is now Pakistan. Probably the most famous examples of terracotta sculptures are the Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses discovered in Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi Province in 1974. So far more than 7,000 life-size warriors, horses, chariots, weapons have been recovered. They were made for China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, more than 2,000 years ago.
  
  

Caution

• Terracotta has come to mean the dark-rust color characteristic of terracotta clay tiles. Ensure that you are buying real clay terracotta tiles, not synthetic imitations in other materials.