grinding terracotta tiles to even surface

[Lauri Marder]

hi- new member here-
We are dealing with a vast expanse of installed kiln-dried terracotta tiles, which are not laid evenly enough, and we wish to take off the high points and smooth the surface. Can someone recommend a method? Would a wet- polisher work? What type of disks could be used? Thanks!

[user123]

HI! I have absolutely no idea, just want to welcome you anyhow, Lauri :-)

[jay]

hi and welcome not sure on polishing i think it might become ugly due to different colouring or shades in tile make up also open up poures in tile grind a spare or off cut first to see you may have to seal after to see full effect

[pjc]

If you grind them you will take off the crust as such and will give the a different texture and make them more porous not something i would adv is this something you have inherited ? :Pete

[Lauri Marder]

No, these are newly laid, in Venezuela. A huge expanse- they are not finished or sealed, and they will be eventually sealed and waxed (in the usual way, with oil and then a wax). The tiles have a very uniform somewhat pitted surface, completely flat, like bread slices. We use the floor for various activities, and the ones that stick up are a problem. There are also some which are laid higher than others, and it would be good to level them off. I know it's not the usual thing to do this, but wonder if it could be done, without for instance damaging them. A lack of uniformity in colour or texture might not be a problem since we are talking about various shadings anyway, and such a big expanse- thousands and thousands of tiles.

[pjc]

if they are not finished cant the bad ones be taken up laid correctly i have done them with a sander before but its never looks the same :Pete

[Lauri Marder]

Hi, Pete

Thanks for your answers- no, there are too many of them to do that with.

[pjc]

Hi, Pete

Thanks for your answers- no, there are too many of them to do that with.

how big is the floor ? can you post some pics

[Lauri Marder]

I am not sure how to do that, but let me try

[Lauri Marder]

Sorry, I can't post a photo - don't really know how

[user123]

Sorry, I can't post a photo - don't really know how

Ok Lauri,

you can't post an image via the quick reply, but can you see the 'Post Reply' button on the bottom left of the page after the last post? If you click on that, you have more options for the message, one being the little paperclip symbol for attachments, click on that and a new small window opens where you can choose to add an url, which is unlikely you'll want, but underneath that you can browse in your PC pics and choose from there and then insert by double clicking. The text will turn into the picture once submitted.
Go and try?

[Lauri Marder]

thanks- I did what you said, and hope you find it attached. I have some more up-close images but have to locate them-

[Lauri Marder]

trying again

[user123]

Nope, nothing there...try again? Otherwise, you can email me and send me yor pics (via my website - see 'view my homepage') underneath my name/avatar) and I put them up for you, are they in jpg or gif?
But grinding down terracotta sounds really dodgy to me... I would do as pjc said and have them taken up and replaced...

[user123]

trying again

ah, well done..

[mikethetile]

you can sand them with a floor sander

start with a very coarse grit and work your way up to a very fine to remove scratches

do not wet as this will make a slurry which will clog the paper

its a very dusty job and floor sanders are not really a diy tool , i would find a local that can come and do it for you

[enduro]

Go onto Natural Stone Restoration Alliance | Home they specialise in floor grinding, its a forum similar to this, but they only deal in natural stone products, and i bet there is someone on there near to you.

[Lauri Marder]

Thank you for this link- that may help a lot!

[enduro]

Thank you for this link- that may help a lot!

No problem, we are here to help, but these guys are truly experts in stone restoration, and they are world wide so they could probably put you onto a guy in your area. Lets us know if you get it sorted.

[Dave]

Cheers Enduro....Another happy member sorted by a tilersforums trusted advisor....

[lucius]

You cant realy grind or sand terracotta as you will take of the fired skin which protects it, if you did you would have to seal them with something pretty tough but the colours would be different. Have you tried to take one up because if it has been laid that badly the may come up easy.
Lucius

[Lauri Marder]

Thank you Lucius-

They won't be easy or possible to take up, they are pretty firmly set and one would damage the surrounding tiles if one tried. Also too many are problematic. Thanks for the advice about the fired 'skin' of the tile_ i did not know that.

Lauri

[lucius]

If I read it right you say the job is in Venuzela, ime assuming that these tiles are not that expensive to buy if so how about smashing the dodgy tiles out, just hit them with a big hammer in the middle and they should break without disturbing the adjacent tiles and replace with new.
Just a thought.
Lucius.