Terracotta restoration

Terracotta Tiles

Terracotta is a fired clay tile, mainly composed of clay and silt. Saltillo tile is a rough-edged terracotta tile that is almost always found in shades of red, yellow and orange that are hand made & fired in wood ovens. The original clay originates in Saltillo, Mexico. Saltillo-type tiles are now manufactured at many places in Mexico, and high-fire "Saltillo look" tiles, many from Italy, compete with terracotta originals.The process is more eco-friendly than some other tile production, but it makes for a less durable product.

Saltillo tile is highly porous, and soaks in liquid easily, generally they can hold 40% of their weight in water! As it is unglazed, very porous, and easily stained, this tile must be carefully installed and sealed. Once placed, it stains and scuffs easily if not properly sealed and maintained with a quality sealant. To avoid stain issues, please contact us for advice on pre-sealing them before installation. The process of installing pre-sealed tiles is simpler and less costly for the overall project.

More information about pre-Sealing

Caring for Slate, Sandstone and Terracotta

Terracotta cont.

The surface of terracotta is generally uneven. Cleaning can remove accumulated soil, but professional stripping is necessary to remove old coatings, sealers and wax. We use commercial grade sealers, these specialized coatings have high wear characteristics and will enhance and protect the colours of the natural stone, help prevent staining and make for easier maintenance. The modern sealers we use are non-flammable, non-toxic and low VOC's.

Firstly we do a quick test on the sealer/coating on the slate/sandstone floor to determine which sealer has been applied previously, to ensure the new sealer is compatible. Some coatings may need to be stripped completely before commencing any works. We will advise our recommendations upon inspection. (We offer free quotations.)

At Best Marble & Tile Care, we specialize in cleaning, stripping, re-sealing, and restoring of Terracotta floor tiles.