terracotta floor renovation/cleaning.

playford

have an old terracotta floor in dining room discovered under carpet in house.

i have taken worst of cement off it, it has some bits and pieces of paint too.

is there a product i can use to get rid of cement off the tile?

will it also remove paint and general grim?

want to have some tiles black (checked pattern)as it appears house was originally like this, is it just black satin/floor paint then varnish rest of tiles??

if someone could reccomend products i'd be grateful.

jamesy

Here you go try this- http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/article015.htm

vansboy

I used wire wool, a paint scraper & linseed oil & buff up with old soft rags.

Use thick rubber gloves & loads of effort & it'll look amazing!!

You could start using Nitromors paint stripper if you can't get the paint off, but messy & nasty stuff to use!!

VB

debbie42

This web site has very useful info for renovation, and products which I use (and would recommend) on my terracotta floor. Their technical staff are very helpful. (I have no association other than as a satisfied customer.)
http://www.extensive.co.uk/rterracotta.php

The link earlier in this thread was for encaustic tiles: the black and red effect you mentioned earlier might mean that the tiles are of this type, rather than terracotta?

playford

im a bit scared of using strong acids indoors like the cement away stuff..

ive some liquid nitromorse to get for stripping a door upstairs.

i think i may try the wire wool/warm water option first as its only a small room. to get cement off.

maybe 5m x 5m?

is there a general acrylic sealant/varnish that is suitable to seal perm?

i dont want any up keep issues other that a usual varnish.

Doozergirl

My gut would be to pull them up

It's likely to be pure dirt underneath, therefore likely to suffer from damp and very inefficient for heating the room as you eill have no insulation underneath.

I have no doubt you will ignore me, lol!

(as an aside, I have had to take up terracotta quarry tiles from many floors to get the house to comply with building regulations and it hasn't been cost effective to relay them. I have re-used the tiles in gardens and even given them away on freecycle. This time I put them on ebay, just to see and they made £1000! :eek:)

tile_guru

Here you go just the answer

these products are american but have been imported recently and are superb

You will need

Nano Scrub
Sealer and Coating remover
Phosphoric acid cleaner

If you like give this number a call 01782 566166. Ask for a guy called Jase and he will tell you all about it and give you advice....

UYou can see the products here www.trades-direct.co.uk

Guru

playford

had a go at weekend.

sheet sander for worst of cement> wet and dry sandpaper> mop with bleach..

about half's done and it seems to be coming up nicely.

will make decisions as to finish when its scrubbed up.

vansboy

Doozergirl wrote: »

My gut would be to pull them up

(as an aside, I have had to take up terracotta quarry tiles from many floors to get the house to comply with building regulations and it hasn't been cost effective to relay them. I have re-used the tiles in gardens :eek:)

At our last house, the pravious owners had laid 1inch concrete over the tiled floor - hence me posting, earlier, my method of cleaning.

Should have gone on to say. I broke up the concrete & tile combination, before new floor was laid.

The tiles were then re-used in the porch & the step outside the office we made. Proudly boasting of the 100 year old recycling effort!!

Looked good, too!

VB