Help!: Unglazed terracotta tiles

[mrhaze]

Please help folks!!

Had unglazed terracotta tiles put in my kitchen last week. Put a coating of the HG sealant on which smelt terrible and didn't seem to make any difference. So many people I spoke to then said used boiled linseed oil that I decided to try it and so far so good. I have been reading thing since though and it sounds like wax on top of the linseed oil will just act as a dirt magnet. Should I put something different on top? Would welcome advice from anyone with experience of these tiles as would like to now get messy in my kitchen without stressing!!

[Dave]

Hello and welcome..

Which HG sealer is it and how many coats were applied.. Some pics of the floor in question would be good to see exactly what you have.

[mrhaze]

Hello Dave, thanks for your reply. Here is a photo of the floor, just linseeded. the HG is impregnating sealer for terracotta. Also, should I seal the grout in the bathroom?DSC_0410 (2).jpg

[Dave]

Don't use that sealer over the linseed oil..


Did you thin the linseed down for first couple coats..? and how many coats have you applied..?

[mrhaze]

One coat of the hg was applied first, 2 coats of linseed have been applied, no I did not thin the linseed down

[Dave]

It is usually better to thin first few coats down to maximise impregnation... you apply the linseed to point of saturation but you must leave time between coats to allow the oil to oxidise.. then when saturated and dry then you can apply bri-wax or bees-wax to finish..

[mrhaze]

thanks Dave

[pjc]

Are they saltillo Mexican tiles ? Where are from ?

[mrhaze]

Unfortunately all the packaging has gone now. It did say Mexican tiles on the packaging and I asked the supplier if they were Mexican but they said that was the name of the tile and not where they were from.

[pjc]

Yes they are Saltillo where are you ? looks a little shiney is the surface a little tackey or was it when the oil dried ?

[mrhaze]

yes, about 5 of the tiles are a bit tacky, the others are ok. Am wondering if I should put beeswax on or i read about a hard coat beeswax which sounded like it would be more protective. any suggestions? many thanks

[timeless john]

Take any 'tacky' oil off the surface with white spirit as this will stay soft and attract the dirt.
I've always used Johnson Traffic wax for terracotta with a small polishing machine.

[pjc]

As John says but I never liked wax as it used to atract the dirt over time I always used langlows platina but it's not the easiest product to use if you never used it before

[pjc]

Where is the job ?

[pjc]

Take any 'tacky' oil off the surface with white spirit as this will stay soft and attract the dirt.I've always used Johnson Traffic wax for terracotta with a small polishing machine.

John terracotta slate was all I used to do twenty years ago could hold any terracotta in my hand and tell you what it needed things have changed that one in my pics was laid 7 years ago has been washed a couple of times with a mop in my dinning room no wax

[mrhaze]

Thanks for the advice folks. Yes, that is what I heard about the wax pjc, so I wondered if there was a different option. In Lincs, Uk

[pjc]

To far for me lol but if you pm me your number will talk to you