Contents
How do you care for terracotta tiles?
- Scrub away any dirt.
- Prepare the tiles for oiling.
- Apply boiled linseed oil.
- Redistribute any excess oil.
- Leave to dry before a second coat.
- Seal with a protective finish.
- Test the floor again for watertightness.
- How to maintain terracotta floor tiles.
How do you clean and protect terracotta tiles?
To protect terracotta tile (terra cotta tile) surfaces and help prevent staining terracotta should be sealed. LTP recommends the application of LTP Boiled Linseed Oil or LTP Stone Oil and then LTP Clear Wax or LTP Antique Wax which will render the terracotta tile surface water and oil repellent.
Does terracotta tiles need to be sealed?
Because unprotected terracotta floors pick up dirt and stains very easily, it is important to seal them. At this stage the tiles aren’t porous anymore and several layers of warm wax are then applied over the course of a month to protect the tiles from stains and damage.
How do you clean terracotta tiles naturally?
Unsealed terracotta tile is highly porous since terracotta has no natural glaze. Sweep the tile regularly to remove surface dirt before it can be ground into the material. For ground-in dirt, use warm water and scrub gently with a soft brush.
What’s the best way to clean terracotta floor tiles?
First, you need to clean the floor with the neutral pH soap, then wipe or mop the floor in the best possible way and leave it to get dried; this might take a day or so. Once the tiles get dried and clean, you can take the warm linseed oil and apply it in the whole area with the brush.
What kind of seal do you use on terracotta floor tiles?
Terracotta floor tiles absorb a lot of moisture when being cleaned and rinsed so it is essential to allow the floor to dry before applying any seal. The floor which we have cleaned above, we are using a topical polymer satin finish seal. This sits on top of the floor tiles and dries to a hard wearing finish.
When to use a matt finish on terracotta floors?
Several coats are usually necessary on Terracotta floors. This type of floor seal is usually used when a natural matt finish is desired as the seal leaves no shine or evidence that a seal has been applied. This type of seal repels water and spillages and gives a little resistance to re-soiling.
Why does my terracotta floor look so dark?
Over the years the floor had may coats of Terracotta floor wax applied. As the floor was never cleaned properly before the wax was applied, dirt had become trapped in the wax and the floor appeared quite dark as a result.