Shaughnn-- I even took precautions. 1983 We did the lobby of a corporate office building (Echlin Industries, Branford, Ct.-- new construction) and the helpers who grouted, did a terrible job. My father sent me in on a saturday with a buffing machine and a full 30 gallon carbouy of muriatic acid, and told me he didn't care if I had to mix it 1:1-- get it clean. I wrapped and vasalined every metal surface anywhere near where I was working, opened all doors and windows-- took all precautions, and although I didn't have to go as strong as 1:1, I DID have to go to 3:1, and that was strong enough. I can't even imagine how bad the fumes must have been in an enclosed area full strength! Anyway. Monday morning, I'm on another project, and the job super comes and grabs me mid morning to let me know to call the office (back before cell phones, obviously). I called my father and he's going nuts over the phone, telling me I better get down there, that there's a problem. When I got back to the job, literally 150 feet from where I'd been working, a brand new stainless steel water fountain was a nice bright orange. Permanently. $1600.00 out of my paycheck, when, as a union apprentice, I was making just under 500.00 a week.

I never got a detailed invoice but when I talked to the tile in-house designer originally, I remember she checked prices and it was about $5 a tile. I got the floor and ceiling tile from them also and because the talavera was an accent and we didn't order a large quantity, I didn't price it anywhere else. Thanks for the ideas.

I'm not a tile expert but I think that's not Saltillo tile. It looks like a glazed/fired ceramic tile, like this. http://www.efloors.com/marazzi-super-saltillo-desierto-12-x-12-porcelain-tile-ug2e/tile/marazzi/porcelain/catalog_73086.htm?gclid=CLTEhNmUjb4CFc1j7Aodmm8A4w http://www.marazziusa.com/products/porcelain-stoneware/glazed-porcelain/super-saltillo If you want real Saltillo tile, I believe it's still made. Lowes has something that says it's Saltillo. http://www.lowes.com/pd_37091-66607-SAB12R_0__?productId=3436524 Here's a company near me that sells Saltillo. http://www.floridamexicantile.com/ Maybe they would ship or possibly recommend someone nearer to you.

One thing your might consider is a hand made glazed quarry tile. We found some that are hand molded -- the glaze has a kind of texture to it and they have little divots and dimples. They are a good complement to the old wood of our kitchen cabinets. I wanted something that would look appropriate in our old house, but did not want wood and stone would not have seemed correct in our 1927 house. I saw a kitchen with tiles similar to these on a Historical Society house tour and then went in search of something similar. Our tiles are made by Seneca Tile, in Ohio, but there are several companies that offer glazed quarries, both machine and hand made.