Different sealers and their use
To seal your tiles you need to determine the correct sealants to use for your chosen finish and the correct sealants to use for your chosen terracotta range, please contact us for more information. This can be determined by whether the tiles are to be laid indoors or outside, if laying outside you have fewer choices of finish as waxes are not suitable for exterior use likewise Boiled linseed oil which is a traditional finish for terracotta is not best suited for outside applications either.
Note: Before you seal your terracotta you will need to clean down the tiles, ensure they are free from dirt and dust, on our handmade ranges you may have to wash down with a stain and residue remover, rinse well and allow to dry thoroughly before sealing. After washing the tiles they can be stood up on their sides to air and dry completely. Failure to dry or clean will result in moisture or dirt being sealed into the terracotta and this will effect the final appearance and performance of the oils and sealants.
To seal your terracotta for outside use, the following products can be used:
To darken slightly a Stone oil can be used as a pre-seal but must be finished with a final sealant to protect the tiles against spills etc. for this you can use a Paving Sealer that will completely protect the terracotta and leave a matt finish.
To darken more deeply an Antique stone oil can be used and finished with a Paving or Stone sealer as detailed above.
To keep the terracotta in its original colour shade apply 2-3 coats of a clear Paving or Stone sealer for a great protective and matt finish.
To seal your terracotta for interior use depending on range chosen, the following products can be used:
To darken slightly a Stone oil can be used as a pre-seal but must be finished with a final sealant to protect the tiles against spills etc. for this we have a range of products depending on what finish you require:
A colour enhancing or an impregnating sealer will completely protect the terracotta and leave a matt finish.
Or Final coat the Terracotta with a Satin or Gloss finish Tile Sealer that will completely protect the terracotta and leave the desired finish.
Or you can use the traditional method for ageing the terracotta for that old lived in appearance that is loved by many, pre-seal with our Boiled linseed oil and finish with a clear wax or to darken further an Antique wax, if you want a quicker alternative the Tile or Stone Sealer with a Satin or Gloss finish can be used with the Boiled linseed oil as a pre-seal but will not give the leathered look achievable with waxing.
To maintain the tiles in their original colour, seal with a Clear Tile impregnating Sealer and if you want a gloss or satin finish, apply a top coat with a Tile Wax Or Tile Satin Sealer
All the information above applies to our Handmade and machine made ranges, our Stoneware range needs just a final seal with a Paving or Exterior Tile Sealer after laying covering grout lines as well to fully protect against oil spills, contaminants and scuffing etc.
Our Porcelain ranges do not need sealing nor onward maintenance
