Using Terracotta Flooring

 Choosing flooring materials involves research into performance, air quality, costs, and aesthetic fit. Terracotta tiles offer a durable, functional, and rustic option for many British homes.

What Is Terracotta Flooring?

Terracotta is a type of ceramic tile made from baked clay. The name is Italian for "baked earth." It is fired at a much lower temperature than other ceramic tiles and is known for its characteristic reddish-brown colour, which results from high iron content in the clay.

Historically, terracotta has been used for over 20,000 years for everything from roofing and flower pots to drainage pipes. It remains popular today due to its affordability, availability, and versatility across various architectural designs.

The Appearance of Terracotta

While reddish-brown is standard, colours can range from yellowish cream to deep browns depending on where the clay was sourced. The tiles can be shaped into various designs, providing many styling options. The overall vibe is often described as "bucolic," evoking the feeling of a Mediterranean villa or a traditional farmhouse.

Where Is It Traditionally Used?

• Mediterranean Region: A long-standing traditional choice in Italy, Spain, and Greece.

• Mexico: Often seen in haciendas.

• Southwest United States: Popular in states like New Mexico and Arizona.

Types of Terracotta Floor Tiles

• Density: High-density tiles are treated to be more durable and are a better choice for heavy-use areas like hallways or kitchens. Low-density tiles are cheaper but less suitable for main flooring.

• Porosity: Terracotta is naturally porous. "Natural" tiles are untreated and highly susceptible to stains and water retention.

• Finish: Tiles can be "burnished" (smoothed with abrasives) or glazed. Unglazed tiles are prone to mould and can crack in cold climates if absorbed water freezes—a significant consideration for unheated conservatories or outdoor patios in the UK. Glazed tiles offer significantly more protection.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros:

• Temperature Control: Naturally absorbs heat. While it helps keep rooms cool in summer, it is also an excellent partner for underfloor heating, as it retains and slowly releases heat.

• Eco-Friendly: A 100% natural product that is entirely recyclable.

• Durable: Impact-resistant, fire-resistant, and unaffected by wood-boring insects.

• Acoustics: Effective at absorbing sound and reducing echoes in large rooms.

Cons:

• Aesthetics: The rustic look and inconsistent colouring/shaping (often called "character") are not for everyone.

• Maintenance: Unsealed tiles absorb water, which can lead to mould or cracking.

• Climate Sensitivity: In the UK, outdoor applications require specific "frost-proof" terracotta to prevent the tiles from shattering during winter freezes.

Best Uses in the Home

• Kitchens: It pairs well with various unit styles, from Shaker-style cabinets to natural oak or modern slate finishes.

• Bathrooms: While beautiful, it requires annual seal checks to prevent moisture issues, especially near baths and showers.

Maintenance and Care

Daily cleaning requires only sweeping, dry mopping, or vacuuming. Spills should be blotted immediately to avoid permanent staining.

The Seal Test: To check if your floor needs resealing (typically every three years), pour a small amount of water on a tile. If it beads on the surface, the seal is intact. If it absorbs into the clay, it is time to reseal.

Steps to Reseal:

1. Clean: Sweep or vacuum thoroughly to remove grit.

2. Repair Scratches: Use fine-grit (1000-grit) sandpaper to gently smooth out surface scratches.

3. Mop: Clean with warm water and a little washing-up liquid; allow the floor to dry completely (this may take longer in the UK's humid climate).

4. Protect: Use masking tape to protect skirting boards and other surfaces.

5. Apply Sealant: Use a roller or brush to apply a tile sealer specifically designed for terracotta, available at most DIY stores or builders' merchants.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

South Bucks Stone Floor Professional Details Renovation of Travertine Kitchen Floor

This client from Amersham contacted us regarding their Travertine Kitchen floor which they were simply not able to keep clean. Frustratingly any spillage went straight into the floor and stained the tiles. I called them to discuss the problem and offered to come round and survey the floor which is a free service we offer.

I can provide a quote over the phone, but my preference is to visit and test different cleaning products and techniques on the floor before quoting. Doing it this way allows me to work out an accurate quote and gives the customer the confidence I can resolve their problems.

After agreeing a suitable time to call I visited the property and could instantly see that their main problem was the sealer protecting their Kitchen tiles had failed and as described dirt was becoming stuck in the pores of the stone. Natural stone like Travertine is porous and without a sealer in place dirt becomes lodged in its pores where is becomes very difficult to shift.

 

The kitchen was stunning but let down by the dirty floor which had been installed around twenty years ago when a new extension has been added to the property. Typically, a sealer should last between three and five years depending on use and what cleaning products are used to maintain it, so it wasn’t surprising that the original sealer had worn off.

I quoted for deep cleaning the floor including the removal of the old sealer and then applying a robust impregnating sealer which is recommended for Travertine. Happy with the price we scheduled a date for the work to be done.

Deep Cleaning a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

On the first day the floor was given a thorough deep clean using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, this product is our go to Tile and Grout Cleaner and when used in a strong dilution is strong enough to remove sealers. You find with sealers that they wear down first in the busiest sections of the floor so its important to remove all the sealer from across the floor or you end up with layering.

Pro-Clean is a strong alkaline cleaning product and it’s sprayed onto the tile and grout and then left for ten minutes before working it in, this allows it time to soak into the pores and start breaking down the dirt.

The floor is then scrubbed using a Rocky floor machine fitted with a series of diamond burnishing pads of increasing grits. This process generates a lot of soiling, and this is hoovered up with a wet vacuum after each pad.

The work begins with a coarse 400-grit burnishing pad which strips the Travertine and I work up to a 3000-grit pad which really brings up the finish of the stone to a slight sheen as the client requested. The floor was then left overnight to dry.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

On day two I started on the sealing process first checking that the floor had dried sufficiently to accept the sealer. After discussing sealer options with the client earlier they had expressed a preference for a natural look, so I chose to apply a sealer called Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which doesn’t colour the stone in any way and is almost undetectable.

Ultra-Seal is an impregnating sealer that works by soaking into the pores of the stone occupying the space and thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. Two coats were applied with a microfibre cloth allowing it to soak into the tile for a few hours before walking on it.

Once the seal had dried, I went over the tiles again with the 3000-grit pad which buffs of any excess sealant and brings up the sheen. Now with the floor being completely protected with Tile Doctor Ultra Seal the client shouldn't have any problem with spillages which can be simply wiped away.

 

Once finished the deep pitted dirt was gone and the floor looked much lighter and cleaner. My client was very impressed with the transformation and has recommended us to her friend who also lives in Amersham and has a similar stone floor.

I mentioned earlier that a sealer’s life can be impacted by the product you use for regular cleaning, it’s a fact that most supermarket tile cleaners are simply too strong and can damage the sealer so before leaving I took time to discuss aftercare cleaning and for Travertine, I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which as well as gently cleaning the stone also helps maintain the patina.

Source: Amersham Stone Floor Cleaning and Sealing Service