Can Saltillo Tile be used Anywhere?

Saltillo tile originated from the Mexican town of Saltillo, hence giving it the appropriate name. At first this attractively rough clay tile was used in and around the city, until it spread to the rest of the country. Eventually, saltillo tile became very well known and spread into the southwestern United States and beyond. Because of the nature of the clay used to make saltillo tile, these tiles are not resistant to frost and colder weather and are very porous. For these reasons saltillo tile should be used as a primarily indoor tile for houses in wetter and more temperate climates. In dry climates such as the American Southwest and Mexico, saltillo tile is very widely used as an outdoor tile. If you want to give that rustic, simple desert-like beauty to the outside of your home, it would be advisable to use a very strong sealant to prevent the elements from eroding and discoloring your saltillo tile prematurely.