Mexican Tile Restoration

To remove dirt from Terracotta we need to find out the best type of  floor cleaner. If the floor looks matte it has most probably been sealed  with an impregnating seal. An impregnating sealer when applied, is  absorbed into the floor and leaves the floor looking natural without any  sheen.

Some floor have a dull (matte) finish witch may have been treated with an impregnating seal, the floor  tile needs to be cleaned and tested with a generic floor stripper. This is a  common type of floor stripper found at many types of stores and  suppliers. These floor strippers will not only remove dirt  and grime but will also remove many types of topical seals.

If the floor has a topical seal, it may well have been sealed with  either Linseed oil, wax or a polymer seal and may still have a shiny or  slight sheen. If the floor seal has worn off, there should still be a  shiny finish around the edges of the room where the seal has not been  affected by wear.

Over  the years the floor may have many 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.

Because this floor had a thick build up of Wax, the only suitable  stripper that would remove it is with a specialist stripper.

If you are deciding to clean your Terracotta floor, it is best to  hire a rotary floor cleaning machine with a floor scrubbing brush  attachment. If your floor is in not too bad a condition, you could clean  it using a stiff hand brush – but it would very time consuming and  laborious.

You will also need to take any safety precautions as advised by the  chemical manufactures. Remove any base boards where possible and mask  off any areas that may be affected by stripper.

First of all it will be necessary to strip clean the edges of the  floor with a hand scrubbing brush where the machine cannot reach.

You will need to allow the floor stripper to dwell for some time to  break down the dirt or seal according to the instructions. Where there  is a lot of seal, it may be necessary to let the stripper dwell for up  to an hour. It may also be necessary to repeat the stripping several  times to get a satisfactory result.

What is Mexican style tile called?

Saltillo is a form of terracotta floor tile or quarry tile. It's clay-based and  made in Mexico. Thus, it's Mexican tile for sale. Saltillo tile is a  low-cost option for extremely durable flooring.

What are terracotta tiles called?

Clay terracotta tile that is machine-made is referred to as quarry tile. Some consider machine-made clay tiles to be more durable than their handmade alternative.

Are terracotta floor tiles dated?

Some people argue terra cotta tile is a dated look,  and I agree if absolutely everything else in the space (furniture and  decor) is dated as well. However, terra cotta floors are a timeless  material that feels most at home in Spanish revival homes or spaces with  a Mediterranean vibe.