Advice on Terracotta Cleaning & re-sealing

[Matthew77]

Hi All

I'm needing some advice on cleaning back & resealing some terracotta tiles. My local tile shop has put my name forward to one of their customers to do the work. I've been told by the shop manager that the customer has all the right strippers & sealers supplied by LTP and all I need to do is clean back the terracotta and reseal it. Areas seemed a little vague but I'm told its around 10m² of floor.

I'm under the impression that there may be a bit more work involved in this than just stripping the sealer/oil/beeswax back & re-sealing it all. from what I've read terracotta needs between 9 & 12 coats of sealer?

Also if more than one coat of Stripper/sealer/oil/beeswax is needed how long should a job like this take with drying times between stripping & sealer coats take roughly?

Tool wise do I need any specialist tools or brushes to clean the tiles and the sealer off?

Thanks

Matt

[Dave]

Hi Matt..

Do you know what it is sealed with..?

[Matthew77]

no Idea what its sealed with

[Dave]

Does the customer..?..

[Marble Life Ltd]

As Dave has said it will depend on what it has been coated with topical or impregnating product? secondly what products have this shop advised by LTP? how have they advised the product have they seen it? Do they have experience in stripping and re-sealing floors? I'm very careful when a shop has advised customers of what products they need (especially the chains) for all you know the guy that advised them may have been working in toy r us last week.

As for equipment a rotary with brushes and pads is a big advantage with a wet pick up the last thing you want to be doing is on your hands and knees with a scrubbing brush. A scrapper on a handle will come in handy if it is a thick topical coating!

As for re-sealing 9-12 coats goes this will depend on the product and the finish wanted by the client.

when your doing it in your process make sure your rinsing thoroughly after every application and vac off.

[Matthew77]

I'm guessing the customer does or at least thinks they do as I've been told they have been dealing with LTP and have all the required products from them. Thought I'd have a bit of a read up on google, the forum & come here for some advise before speaking to customer as I've never used oils or bees wax before

[Dave]

If it is sealed with linseed etc then LTP Solvex is what they should have supplied..it is only a small floor so can be done by hand no probs.. all the instructions/methods are on the LTP site..

LTP Online | Pick Finish

[Matthew77]

thanks Dave.