Terracotta Tile Cleaning Staffordshire
Terracotta is a wonderful tile suitable for flooring throughout any home. Although kiln-fired, is still requires maintenance in order to endure the effects of normal wear and tear. If the terracotta tiling in your home in need or restoration or repair Tile & Stone Medic Staffordshire have provided professional solutions for years and would love to assist.
Common issues we see with terracotta tile cleaning
- Marks from footfall, drops and other impacts
- Discolouration from ground in dirt
- Moisture damage
- Loose tiles
- Cracks and chips in tiles
If not regularly maintained, terracotta flooring will eventually show marks from footfall and other impacts. Surface scratches and abrasions are usually the result of high footfall, particularly from shoes with hard soles. Footfall can also press dust and dirt into the surface of the tile, slowly grinding microscopic particles which create abrasions. Over time these micro-abrasions will develop into large scratches, swirling and marks.
Terracotta tiles are both unglazed and porous, so they are especially vulnerable if not properly sealed. In fact, terracotta actually becomes more porous with time, so care should be taken to ensure your tiles are professionally sealed from day one. Signs that your sealer may need reapplying include fading and lack of vibrancy to the colour on the surface of the tiles and dark marks which seem difficult to remove.
If the tiles have been laid on a poor or unsound subfloor major problems can occur. Terracotta is particularly affected by moisture which gets underneath the tiles if the subfloor is not damp proof. If moisture penetrates the tile from underneath it can weaken or even destroy the entire tile before the damage becomes visible on the top layer. Keep an eye on your grouting and ensure that no tiles show any signs of movement, these are telltale signs that the subfloor may need servicing.
How we carry out terracotta tile cleaning
Terracotta requires a degree of maintenance to keep it looking its best, but if damage or excessive wear has occurred it can often be solved simply by selecting the right solutions and equipment and carefully applying them. If tiles have become scored or marked, a thorough buff and polish can vastly diminish the visible damage and get them looking great again. A heavy buff can do wonders to reduce the impact of staining if not necessarily remove it completely.
We use strong, quality sealer, thoroughly applied to protect from daily wear and tear. The sealer creates a barrier against dirt and spillages, taking the brunt of the impact from footfall and the like to protect the terracotta tiles. In our experience a new coat of sealer once a year maintains best protection from staining and damage.
If issues with the subfloor have caused damage to the terracotta then repairs may be needed to ensure a longer term fix. If tiles are broken and need replacement we are happy to assist with sourcing these.
Will repairing my terracotta tiles cause disruption?
We work to the highest standards of professionalism, always being conscious that our work should not excessively disturb or disrupt your environment. We get our work done quickly and efficiently, but this doesn’t mean cutting corners. Maintenance of terracotta does not require any dangerous or corrosive chemicals, nor heavy or noisy machinery. Any chemicals used will be thoroughly removed and neutralised before work is declared complete. All relevant health and safety procedures will be followed and risk assessments will be carried out where necessary.
If you have terracotta tile flooring in your home and are interested in our restoration services, general repairs, or anything else, we are here to help. Call Tile & Stone Medic Staffordshire today for a no-obligation chat about what we can do for you.
FAQs
Yes we can, securing loose tiles is a simple job for a professional and we’d be happy to help
Absolutely, we stock a range of high quality sealers which we can use to make your tiles shine like new.
In many cases yes, it’s one of our specialities. We’ll need to take a look at the amount of staining to make a proper assessment.
In many cases we can, although it depends on the type of tile and how serious the damage is. Let us take us a look at your floor and we’ll make an assessment. Please note we can only carry out floor repairs as part of a full deep clean or restoration for your stone floor. Unfortunately, we are not able to attend to carry out repairs in isolation.
