Terracotta Tile Cleaning

Welcome to my Work History archive where you will find detailed examples of the cleaning and renovation of Terracotta tiles carried out in Somerset

Cleaning and Renovating Terracotta Tiles

Terracotta tiles have been around in certain parts of the world for over two millennia, in fact the word Terracotta means burned earth. The ancient Romans used a variety of terracotta tiles in their villas and palaces for many centuries. Terracotta tiles are thicker than most modern tiles giving them strength and durability.

The one big downside to Terracotta is the fact that it has no glaze on the surface and being very porous can soon pick up and store muck and dirt very quickly. If you have ever owned a Terracotta floor before you will be able to relate to this problem however the answer is to ensure you have the correct sealer in place.

Traditionally Wax was used to protect terracotta tiles however with the advent of modern purpose made sealers we don’t recommend it. Not only is it troublesome to remove but it scratches easily and we have seen situations in kitchens where dirt and oil trapped in the wax turns black and becomes very unsightly.

For sealing Terracotta we actually recommend Tile Doctor Seal and Go which works well on clay tiles such as Terracotta and is also water based so doesn’t give off a smell as it dries. When applying a sealer always make sure the floor is dry first as applying a sealer to a damp floor can lead to inconsistent results. Because of this we typically clean and seal Terracotta floors over two days so we can clean on day one and then apply the sealer on day two having let the floor dry off overnight.

Below you will find detailed examples of work we have carried out in the past, it should give you some idea of what’s involved and what can be achieved with the right techniques and products.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovation Frome

Problematic Terracotta Kitchen Floor Tile Solved in Frome

1 Comment / Frome Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning /

Photographed below is a Terracotta tiled kitchen floor at a property in Frome that was installed six months prior and was already proving problematic. I was asked to pop over and discuss the floor as they had been struggling to keep the tiles clean. Apparently after installation the builders offered to seal the floor, however they did not use enough sealer, so marks and stains soon started to appear. To resolve this several layers of wax were then added but this only caused more issues.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Cleaning Frome

Although traditionally used as a coating for Terracotta we are not keen on wax finishes as the wax is easily scratched leaving a nice crevice for dirt to become ingrained, wax is also difficult to remove. After surveying the floor, I recommended stripping off the wax and what was left of the previous sealer, deep cleaning the Terracotta and grout and then sealing with a modern product designed for use on Terracotta which is notoriously porous.

Happy with my plan I worked out a detailed quotation for the work which was accepted and a date set for the work to start which would take two days.

Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

After taping up the kitchen units to protect them from splashing, work started with the application of neat Tile Doctor Remove and Go; this was allowed to dwell and soak into the floor and soften up the layers of wax. After 10 minutes the floor was scrubbed using a 240-Grit Carbide Brush attached to a rotary machine, the grout was also scrubbed at this point and on completion the floor was vacuumed.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Frome Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor During Cleaning Frome

The next step as to treat the Terracotta to an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up worked in with a poly brush. This treatment further cleans the terracotta and neutralises efflorescent salts which can be a problem with porous clay tiles like these. Again, once done the waste was extracted using a wet vacuum.

Removing some areas of wax build-up was a struggle and the cleaning process had to be repeated two to three times before we were happy the floor was clean and free of coatings. The floor was then given a final water rinse and left to dry with a couple of air movers left in place to aid drying of the floor.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

We returned 3 days later to give the floor plenty of time to dry, several moisture readings were also taken on arrival to confirm the Terracotta was dry and ready to seal. Having previously discussed sealers it was clear the client wanted the floor to have a bit of shine and so I recommended Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra. Terracotta is very porous, so it took six coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra before it was fully sealed.

You can see from the photographs how much lighter and cleaner the floor looked after the work was complete making a significant difference to the kitchen. For aftercare we left a complimentary bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective product we recommend for cleaning sealed floors.

Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor After Renovation Frome Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor After Renovation Frome

My client was very happy with the improvement and left the following feedback:

“Lucas was fantastic. Explained everything in detail, was patient with all the questions and has done an amazing job with the floor. Highly recommended.”

 

Professional Renovation of a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor in Somerset

Problematic Terracotta Kitchen Floor Tile Solved in Frome Read More »

Terracotta Floor Restoration Minehead

Terracotta Kitchen Floor Tile and Grout Revived in Minehead

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning, Minehead Tile Cleaning, Terracotta Tile Cleaning /

This client from Minehead got in touch regarding the Terracotta tiles on their kitchen floor. I was told that the floor hadn’t been professionally cleaned and sealed for over ten years and since that time the grout had discoloured and the tiles had become permanently dirty and difficult to clean.

Terracotta Floor Before Cleaning Sealing Minehead

I had a good idea of what the floor would need but to ensure there were no surprises I arranged an appointment to visit the property and survey the floor. This would also enable me to work out a detailed price for deep cleaning the terracotta tiles and grout and then sealing it. It was clear that the previous sealer had worn off some time ago and now dirt was making its way into the pores of the terracotta and grout leaving it looking permanently dirty. This is quite common with terracotta; being made from clay it is very porous and does need a lot of sealer to prevent that from happening.

Happy with my quote I was given the go ahead to renovate the floor and a date was agreed for the work to start which typically takes two days, one to clean and one to seal.

Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

To clean the floor, I started with an application of neat Tile Doctor Remove & Go. This was left to soak in for ten minutes and then scrubbed into the floor using a coarse Silicone Carbide brush fitted to a rotary machine. These brushes are very effective on tile and stone and do a good job of bringing the ingrained dirt to the surface.

The brush does a good job of cleaning the grout but for the best result I find it necessary to follow up with a stiff grout brush. Once the whole floor had been treated in this manner it was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted using a wet vacuum.

The floor was then treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which was then scrubbed into the floor using a black pad. This process further cleans the tiles, dissolves any efflorescent salts and neutralises the pH level of the floor after the use of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a strong alkaline. The floor was then rinsed again with water and dried with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

The next step would be to seal the floor however with Terracotta being so porous I decided to leave the floor for two days to allow it to fully dry out. After checking the floor was dry with a moisture meter work began to seal the floor using Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra.

Terracotta Floor After Cleaning Sealing Minehead

Sealing the floor prevents dirt from becoming ingrained in tiles, keeping it on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away and Seal and Go Extra adds a nice subtle sheen to the tile improving its appearance and enhancing its colour and features. Six coats were needed to ensure it was fully sealed and provide long lasting protection.

You can see from the photographs on this page how well the floor came out. My client was delighted with the results and said we had transformed their kitchen.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a sealer safe tile and grout cleaner that won’t impact the sealer increasing its longevity.

 

Professional Restoration of a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen in Somerset

Terracotta Kitchen Floor Tile and Grout Revived in Minehead Read More »

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