Isn't there a product made for grout, that seals it against stains and sort of fills it in so it doesn't collect dirt?

I also wanted to add that I found that there are some paint shades that seem to neutralize pink.

I have some vintage wallpaper on the stairs and upper hall that has a pink-beige background that I dislike. Painting the surrounding walls, trim and ceiling in Behr Navaho White worked. In fact I liked the complex shade so well that I painted the LR and DR in it also. That may be too strong of a shade for your roooms, but I bet there are others that would have a similar effect.

Beth H. is a Houzz Rockstar!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I'm late to the party, I know, but for what it's worth...my sister and I...in our late 60's/mid 70's respectively have our entire home done in stone look porcelain tile flooring. It is so easy to care for, and I don't find it any harder on my back and legs than anything else I've had to stand or walk on. I'm a huge Saltillo fan. PLEASE don't get rid of that beautiful tile! Clean it and enjoy it forever! If I could have the home of my dreams, it would probably have natural slabs of French limestone for flooring...uneven surfaces be hanged! I'd be so thankful for the beauty I'd never consider anything else! Anyway, one man's treasure is another man's poison, so that's just my 2 cents...hope you can come to a decision you can live happily ever after with...and thanks for sharing your home with us.

HGTV's Fixer to Fabulous redid a house with similar floors.....Outdated to Modern | Season 1 Episode 3 - Dave & Jenny Marrs (daveandjennymarrs.com)

We had a Florida Beach condo with Saltillo tiles. I decorated with whites, tans, and aquas. It was beautiful. Everyone who came in loved the condo, especially mentioning the floor. I would never, ever tear out Saltillo tile. It is timeless and classic. I love Beth H.’s ideas.

I‘m 70 and downsized 6 years ago. I live in Florida and have terrazo througout my home. I have a bad back but would never cover my floors. I did discover that wearing tennis shoes in the house saves my back. Before that discovery I had alwars been one to take my shoes off. Theres a lot of really good ideas in here. I would definitely keep the the tile. I had that tile in my kitchen of previous house. There are some really good tile cleaning companies here. They come in with machines and clean tile and grout then put a type of liquid dye on the grout. I had mine done, it came out beautifully. I was surprised that the price was low too. Only needs to be done every 10-15 years. I was told years ago that engineered flooring is not good in the kitchen.

Haven’t read all the comments but I LOVE Saltillo tile! Please keep it. Area rugs and runners can break up the look and I think you’ll like it better when you’re not staring at a sea of it.

So, we just interviewed contractor option #1 (68 5-star yelp reviews). We said "we're keeping and working with the tile" and he immediately started trying to convince us to replace the tile with hardwood. Ugh! He said that the cabinets we have are a different depth than what is typically done now, and that it would be hard to work around these and avoid damaging them during demolition. He also mentioned the limits they create with design. (Which I have worked through myself over the past week with all of your fabulous comments!) I get a feeling this guy is doing a lot of identical low end to mid tier remodels. He was also saying we would do "semi custom" cabinets. Does that mean something? We will keep interviewing!

I can't say anything about the logistics of the floor and what your current cabinet depth is, because I don't see that mentioned.

But semi-custom cabinets are the bulk of kitchen cabinets sold at big box, and kitchen design places. Semi-custom is based mostly on a 3" increment of width and standard depths, with many manufacturers offering decreased depth or more customized variations in width for an upcharge. It's possible to design a decent kitchen on the 3" increment and no customization if you have flexibility at the ends of cabinet runs and are redoing floors.

A lot of contractors will have a fairly standard thing that they do for almost everybody because they are used to doing it. It can be from extremely limited to a relatively limited menu of options and that will often work for a lot of clients.

This guy seemed to be dismissive of any idea my husband or I suggested. Maybe we are too sensitive and are suggesting things that are crazy. Our cabinets, which are junk and are falling apart, take up 21.5 inches at the base and then have an overhang. When my husband started talking about closing the side door and widening the window he said we should just close up the door and close up that wall completely.

You didn't marry every guy you dated, right? This contractor is not the one for you. If he's not listening to you now, things will only get worse. His strongest point may be the ability to solicit Yelp reviews!

Look for an experienced kitchen designer. S/he should have good contractors to work with. Saltillo is still made, and reclaimed ones are also available, so patching shouldn't be a big issue.

this^

GC's are not designers. (my husband is one and he doesn't give one fig about design) They think in terms of work and money return. This one you had sounded lazy. why does he care if you want to widen your window? that's actually more money for him. maybe he isn't good at that sort of thing so he's trying to lead you in a direction that's he comfortable with.

you need a new guy.

Also, for kitchen cabs, look for an actual kitchen remodeling company. That's how I found my guy. They do custom and pre made cabs as well as custom painting (with lacquer) . They do all the construction surrounding it, countertops, tiling, the whole nine yards.

If you can design yourself and feel comfortable w/doing your own countertop shopping and tiling jobs, hire a custom cabinet maker for your cabs. (but they aren't kitchen designers unless they have someone on hand to do that)

I also found him on yelp with over 80 5* reviews. I can verify that he was that good because I know the business. I recommended him to a friend who actually moved her entire kitchen to the other side of the room. He did it. no problem.

(btw, make sure you get finished panels on the sides of your cabinet run. )

The average length of time homeowners stay in a house is 13 years. Many people say they are going to age in place, but many people do not. Even my parents who lived in a house 40 years and said they would die before moving eventually moved. Unless you really dislike the floors, I am not sure I would preemptively make a decision at this point.

And you are going to be replacing any vinyl flooring before 20 years anyway (unless you use commercial VCT which isn't particularly cushiony) and lots of people would replace the kitchen you are planning now in another 20 years as well.

I don't have any vested interest if it stays or goes, I am just bringing up the timelines for a number of things. I know people on these forums who are in their third house or more since I joined the old Gardenweb.

Who are all these people who fall and have bum joints? These homeowners are in their 40s for goodness sake! I'm in my late 60s, no kind of fitness freak, and have never fallen. I climb stairs and ladders, hop on boats, drag brush, lift big rocks - live my life! Why be putting everyone in assisted living?

@latifolia It was my 15 year old who crashed the hardest on our Saltillo! ;) But he *is* kind of accident prone...

@latifolia, your earlier comment cracks me up, because I've been married to my high school boyfriend for 24 years :) But yes, I agree, we will keep looking for someone who will listen to us. We are now both 47 years old, and we've never fallen in our own house, and I hope it will be a while before that becomes an issue. We can keep these floors, plan to age in this house, and STILL rip them out in 10, 15, 20 years if they become a problem. I had gone around and around and made my decision as discussed above and the first professional I spoke to wanted to rip them out. We'll continue the hunt. Also, @User, painting the fireplace will definitely be part of this process.

I once read that you should get a minimum of three bids, which I relay to everyone looking to hire out. Even if you liked this first guy, you should still get a second and third opinion. Also, might be worth checking the Better Business Bureau.

A bit interesting to read! I've read houzz advice to buy a small rug to see it at home, and then buy the largest one. Maybe that would work.

He said that the cabinets we have are a different depth than what is typically done now, and that it would be hard to work around these and avoid damaging them during demolition.

Our cabinets, which are junk and are falling apart, take up 21.5 inches at the base and then have an overhang.

You have standard depth cabinets. 'The base' you are referring to is the toe kick. The actual depth of the cabinet includes the 'overhang' and is typically 24" To tuck nicely underneath standard depth countertops.

And there is this: This guy seemed to be dismissive of any idea my husband or I suggested.

Send Contractor #1 packing. Doesn't even have the job and he is outright lying to you. If you think he is being dismissive now, just wait.

And let us all please get real. A Saltillo floor almost guarantees that the house is on a slab. A slab of hard concrete. 4-8 mm of vinyl is not going to feel much different. 3/4" of wood isn't going to feel much different. Running shoes, gel mats--invented for a reason. I have 2 layers of plywood & vinyl over wood floor joists. The floor is hard; I have cushy mats in front of the cooker and the sink.

Saltillo tile is thick. Around 3/4". And requires a thick layer of thinset. Top of the slab is going to be at least 1 1/4 lower than the top of the saltillos. Remove 1.25" and replace with 8 mm (less than 3/8") of vinyl--higher end stuff to be that thick--who knows what kind of ugly is going to left exposed? In front of the fireplace, for example. I don't see any cased openings but, if there are any, most likely the jambs & casing will be in high water. And have to be replaced. Any doors will be too short.

And there is moisture to be taken into account. Saltillo & mortar are porous and allows the slab to breathe. Is there a vapor barrier under the slab? The last thing you want to happen is for moisture to wick up under the slab and get trapped underneath vinyl.

https://www.floordaily.net/floorfocus/managing-moisture-issues-under-floating-floors-flooring-forensics-may-2017

Potentially having to mitigate moisture wicking from the slab--needs to be researched, tested--because the cost is not insignificant.

The saltillo floor is beautiful and it IS a high end floor. It is perfect for your home; almost anything else is going to be a downgrade.

Do all of you have Saltillo floors in your homes? If they are so classic, timeless, and durable that the OP shouldn't even consider removing them, then why would anyone else ever consider any other floor?

My point being that it is fine, to recognize that something is a "timeless" floor and still not choose it for your house, which means it is also fine that someone else to choose to remove it from their home while still recognizing it is "timeless." The exact same thing goes for "durable" and "lifetime." I don't really care what the OP picks, but I do hope this site hasn't talked @Kathy Peachtree into the choice she doesn't love just because everyone else thinks she should. Even I have seen enough Hallmark movies to know that you marry the one that you love, not the one that everyone else sees as the smart choice.

I don't like Saltillo floors and would tear them out, it is fine that others would not and I am happy the OP has decided they love them, but they are not for me.

I have found this entire discussion fascinating and helpful. We do have a beautiful house, but we haven't decorated to take advantage of it. We fell in love with this house when we first walked into it and when I think back to it, it was because of the tile, the arches, and the wood ceiling. (Also a canyon lot with a view, and the previous owners did a great job with additions that improve the floor plan). All of the discussions above helped me understand that we can decorate for the house that we have and it will be lovely (I hope!) Also, I do not like the thought of ripping out a solid, functional, sturdy floor, although I appreciate the input of those who have done so and why this was the right decision for them, and the reasons that others would do so. This floor does not make any noise - if my floor was creaking or crackling I might lose my mind! Also, in San Diego it is a positive that the floor is cold, at least for me - it's never super cold here, and the smooth cool tiles feel wonderful underfoot. Yes, the grout is dirty and we need to have it cleaned and sealed. I don't feel like I have been pushed to a decision that isn't the right one for me. Instead, I feel like the back and forth and differing perspectives have helped us make the right decision.

In general terms I just think its interesting that I have been here long enough to see terrible dated cheap things that must be removed (all someone else's descriptions) become the best of all possible worlds. Vinyl used put you in the trailer trash category no matter how nice your house actually was, and now it is far superior to anything else for flooring even in the most discerning and luxurious of houses (probably the opinion of the same people who told you it needed to be torched immediately in 1998). I'm just waiting for all the people who think carpet is "the most filthy disgusting" thing on the planet to start putting it in again. And they will.

"Vinyl used put you in the trailer trash category no matter how nice your house actually was,"

That same vinyl is still looked down on. Let's not pretend that the vinyl going into luxury homes is the same cheap vinyl that is reserved for the cheapest rental properties. No one is here suggesting that peel and stick vinyl planks are a good solution.

I would not use a blanket statement saying that Saltillo tile is a high end floor! Just like with many products out there, there are expensive/original versions of a product and cheap (mass produced) versions of a product. I can't tell what the OP has from a photo, but the saltillo tile we ripped out was definitely not a high end tile floor.

If you live in an area that has homes with saltillo tile, like So. CA, and have been inside those homes, you start to see the difference between original saltillo (1920s) and the mass produced imitation products of the 1990s onward. Of course, there are companies that still make old style saltillo, but most homeowners will not pay the price for those products. A saltillo tile from floor & decor is not the same as handcrafted saltillo tile from ARTO!

I’m a big fan of real Saltillo tile. Here in Texas, we go pick it out in Mexico, and it must have chicken foot imprints in a few. :)

They’re so organic, versatile, historic, and interesting. They aren’t supposed to look perfect, that’s the charm of them.

Really glad to hear you’re keeping and embracing them. I’d never rip out authentic ones (yours clearly are).

Hope the rest of your project goes well. :)

Restored!

See this vacation rental link to the Wonder Haus. It is decorated in a way that compliments the tile floor.

I don't really agree that every tile people called, cheap, dated, and ugly was actually cheap. I heard the same about Amtico, who made really high end stone-, brick-, wood-look solid vinyl tile 50+ years ago, and classic plain and checkerboard installations and faux slate installations, if it was " fake plastic" it had to go and be replaced by something "real". There's not a lot of leeway in these forums, often a Good/Bad dichotomy.

And I have actually seen peel and stick offered as a good solution to cover up something better that is out of favor, right here in these forums.

I am looking forward to the conversation returning to decor, a new kitchen, etc. You’ve decided to keep the tile floors, get them refreshed and design in a way that enhances them. You live in SoCal, which has tons of homes with these tiles, so it makes a lot of sense.

Moving in that direction, @rz2znp showed you a lovely house with your tiles. What seems to be missing in your house is more white, to give contrast to the Saltillo floor. Do you like modern furniture? I think the lighter lines of modern sofas and chairs would also go better with the tile floors.

I disagree that rugs are hazards. I’ve had area rugs in all of my homes and never tripped on any of them. Some rugs help delineate seating areas.

This is one of the more interesting conversations about floors on Houzz. Glad it has amused you, Katie, but happier that it helped you make a big decision.

Read every comment and love your home :) looking forward to your reno and happy you have a plan in place!

@RedRyder, I love the photos that have been posted throughout this thread, and I do like modern furniture with sleeker lines. I like the suggestion of "organic modern" that was made above, and have found a number of photos to use as inspiration. I agree we need to lighten everything up. I have an interior designer and I'm looking forward to a lighter brighter home!

I am looking forward to the conversation returning to decor, a new kitchen, etc. You’ve decided to keep the tile floors, get them refreshed and design in a way that enhances them. You live in SoCal, which has tons of homes with these tiles.

Moving in that direction, @rz2znp showed you a lovely house with your tiles. What seems to be missing in your house is more white, to give contrast to the Saltillo floor. Do you like modern furniture? I think the lighter lines of modern sofas and chairs would also go better with the tile floors.

I disagree that rugs are hazards. I’ve had area rugs in all of my homes and never tripped on any of them. Some rugs to help delineate seating areas makes sense.

This is one of the more interesting conversations about floors on Houzz. Glad it has amused you@KatieParker

Sorry I reposted that. Don’t know why that happened…

I think light and modern sounds fantastic! I’m sure there are tons of photos with your floors and lighter interiors for inspiration. Glad you have an interior designer with you for the ride. Keep us posted.

I've never tripped on an area rug, but I in the past I have slipped by walking fast and stepping on a corner that slid out from under me. I solved that by using full size rug pads to give them grip, and I only buy rugs thick enough that don't buckle. (or for smaller rugs, I only buy the kind that have rubber backing.)

The thin woven rugs are so pretty, but they buckle and creep no matter what.

Not everything in a house can be constructed like a padded room. People have to walk on concrete and much worse and uneven surfaces to get from point A to point B all the time.

Or actually, what they do is get in a car, Start talking on the phone, pick up their Starbucks and hurtle down the highway at 70 miles an hour 5 feet behind the car in front of them, with half a mind on what they are doing, probably thinking about if they are going to slip on their carpeted or uncarpeted steps at home.

The Houzz discussion boards are intense. I’m here for it. Looking forward to seeking more input as we move forward.

This is a nice floor but the room doesn’t look designed . It seems all over the place and many of your wood pieces blend into the floor. If you keep the floor use the money for a designer and new furniture etc . You need rugs to anchor you furniture.

Inspiration for you and your designer.

I have the “cheap, fake” 90s faux-Saltillo porcelain/ceramic/whatever. When we bought our house 8 years ago we talked about changing the flooring. But we didn’t hate it so we couldn’t justify the expense. Now we love it. The grout needs a refresh, but the tile has held up well through 30 years and two families. We built our new kitchen over the existing footprint specifically to not change the flooring (still in progress).
Anyway, it’s cool to hear you are embracing yours! You really do have a beautiful home, and I’m looking forward to following your progress.

Saltillo floors were popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and we put them in our kitchen, but took them out in our kitchen redo 7 years ago. I do consider them dated…unless you have Spanish architecture, perhaps. I don’t recall the demo to take them out being that bad. Yes, the grout can get pretty bad looking, but if you decide to keep them, consider “repainting” the grout - tile stores sell products specifically designed for that. I did that with our old Saltillo kitchen floor and it really looked like a new floor.

AFAIC, the Saltillo floor works with the bones--the ceiling & arch. The elephant in the room is the fireplace & hearth. It is eating up a huge amount of floor space and looks like an ill-advised addition sometime after the home was built. Probably when one or the other of the additions to the house were made. (Our house is so small that the front and back doors are nearby and easily used. We are in San Diego. The 1963 original house was less than 1000sf.)

And the FP sure as heck isn't earning its space in San Diego.

I would spend the $$$ to remove it altogether or replace it with something smaller and more style appropriate.

@jaja06 I like those tiles! maybe they were 90s but there's something about that shape that looks cool again. the thing is, they would work better with a modern home, not so much with the traditional details you have there.

It may be because I’m so used to them, having grown up seeing them everywhere, that they almost seem neutral to me. A style that can go with so many others. They’re just there, like a wood floor, other types of tiles, whatever. I’ve never understood on these boards why they’re treated as some awful element that should be ripped out, labeled as dated (they’ve been around hundreds of years), or else you can only do Spanish decor around them.

They’re not for everyone, I truly do get why, but it really illustrates how regional differences can drive and influence threads on Houzz.

I’m just thinking out loud. This isn’t in response to any specific post, just Saltillo tile threads and other threads in general, that almost always go the same way. :)

ci lantro, that's a good point about the fireplace.

Katie, it appears you never even use it. Do you?

I think it's far too big for the room. And lets get real. San diego has the most perfect weather on the planet, so using it in winter really doesn't happen.

What do you think about removing it (or making it smaller and doing an insert) in order to gain more livable space?

@User Hm that's interesting to hear you say. I never envisioned that, but I'm no pro :) We have always tended to lean more traditional than modern, but I can see how a more modern style would look great - it's actually how I envision OP's house. All I can say is that the vibe of our house makes me feel SO good, and part of it is that I love the tile. I do agree with @Jilly that it has become like a neutral to me.

@ci_lantro, @Beth H. : this fireplace is a mystery and we definitely do not use it. The same owners who added the arches and the tile put in the fireplace at the same time, which doesn't make sense, but here we are. In 2019 we got an estimate to remove it and fix the ceiling accordingly, and it was a LOT. I'm going to get estimates again with this round of talking to contractors and see how it comes out. If we can't remove it, we will certainly paint or somehow resurface to match the walls when we paint everything.

Well, I lived in San Diego County for 13 years, (Leucadia, then Cardiff) and used my fireplace in both houses regularly during the winter. There was minimal heating in both places. That was before the long-term drought and increased fire risk in the area, however.

Keep the tile but replace the brick on the fireplace. It doesn’t go with the style of the floor.

Good idea to keep tile, also with kitchen, i would open it up and put peninsula, to increase counter. i would not remove fireplace but for sure change it to same colors as walls? TV on top would work too. White kitchen and more of modern furniture with nice light rugs would be great. You also need to add plants and curtans.

I love the tile, finding anything similar and affordable is impossible these days