Unglazed terracotta floor tiles look perfect in a period style kitchen. But over time they can become dirty and stained. Here is a brief guide on how to clean and re-seal tiles back to their soft sheen.
Terracotta floor tiles became popular in Victorian times for use in kitchens and servants quarters. As hygiene became more important, people realised that they were easy to keep clean and not as expensive as other forms of decorative tiles.
Naturally terracotta tiles have become more porous over the years, which allow watermarks and stains to soak in. You can test your tiles for porosity by placing a puddle of water in the middle of the tile, wait 15 minutes, if the water has soaked into the tile, then the tiles will need to be impregnated with boiled linseed oil. This will darken the tiles, so to get a rough idea of the finished colour of your tile, wet them to assess the effect.
It can be a good idea to lay the tiles on top of a damp-proof membrane, it would be then safe to apply a floor sealer that will only require sweeping or vacuuming to prevent dirt and grit becoming ingrained. A wipe with a damp mop will freshen up the finish. It might be an idea to check yearly if your tiles are becoming porous again.
So, now you can begin your step to step guide:
1) You need to clean your floor. Scrub away any dirt, a solution of 25% floor cleaner in a bucket of warm water should be sufficient. You can apply this with a light sponge, leave the solution on for about 15 minutes, and then give the floor a good scrub. If the stains appear to be slightly more stubborn, apply the product neat then wipe off the excess dirt and grease and rinse with warm water, use a towel or a dry mop to then dry the surface that you've cleaned.
2) You now should be ready to prepare the tiles for oiling. Ensure that the tiles are thoroughly dry before applying the oil. It may be an idea to leave to floor for a few days to really ensure that it's bone dry, you can put down dust sheets to prevent any spillages. Vacuum the floor playing attention to the grouting and nooks and crannies where dust may be hiding, leaving patches of dust could spoilt the finished floor.
3) Your floor should now be ready to apply the boiled linseed oil is the traditional finish for these types of unglazed tiles, which gives them a soft sheen. To encourage the oil to absorb into the tiles, you should ideally leave the can in a warm place over night; it might be an idea to leave the heating on for a few hours before hand. You can then apply the oil generously to the tiles with a paintbrush. Once the oil has been distributed it might be an idea to wait about 20 minutes to check whether there are any pools of excess oil laying on the surface of the tile. If there are, take your brush and go over the floor making sure that you get rid of the surplus oil. Once you've finished, clean your brush with white spirit to get rid of the oil.
4) Apply a second coat, you should leave your tiles for at least 8 hours before applying a second coat, again make sure you're not left with a surplus amount of oil as dust will stick to the tiles.
5) Now you're ready for the protective finish, wait at least 24 hours before you apply a coat of stone floor sealer using a brush. It's important to ensure that the product you're applying is oil based and not a water based product, as water won't be suitable for applying over the already oiled tiles. Why not choose a colour enhancer seal, as this will bring out the warm clay tones?
6) Test your floor to see if it's watertight, pour a few spots of water onto your tiles to test if the tiles are still porous. After 10 minutes check if the water droplets are still beads or whether they have soaked in. If the water is absorbing into the tiles apply a second coat of finish.
7) Finally you should carry out regular maintenance; the finish should be water and grease resistant. Regularly vacuum or sweep your floor to prevent any dirt becoming ingrained. Occasionally wipe the floor with a damp mop, and carry out the water droplet test every year, re-apply boiled linseed oil if necessary.
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