A cottage in Haddington, East Lothian had multiple rooms totaling 70 square metres of Terracotta tiled flooring in need of cleaning and resealing. The terracotta tiles had been cleaned but not sealed for 30 years since they were originally laid. The tiles were installed across various rooms, including the conservatory, kitchen utility room, and front porch. Each room showed signs of heavy foot traffic, with some tiles loose and wobbly.

Due to the large area requiring work, the project was divided into three manageable sections. This allowed the work to be completed without disrupting the homeowners’ access and movement throughout their home.

In each work area, all movable furniture was removed, and the remaining furnishings were protected from the cleaning and resealing process. I first used a Pro-Clean solution, a highly effective stripper and cleaner for removing old sealant residue and addressing heavily soiled areas. After allowing the solution to sit for 10 minutes, I scrubbed the tiles with a black pad and then used a wet vacuum to lift the soiled solution. I then rinsed the floor with clean water and vacuumed it up.

To neutralize the alkaline floor after cleaning, I used Grout Clean Up, an acid-based product that not only prevents efflorescence but also improves the bond between the floor and the new sealant. During this step, I used a grout brush to ensure thorough cleaning of the grout lines.

After the cleaned and rinsed floor was left to dry, I repaired a few wobbly tiles to prevent cracking and safety hazards. I drilled small holes around the moving tiles and injected a filler to stabilize them, allowing 24 hours for the filler to cure before testing the repairs had been successful.

Finally, I sealed the tiles using two products to meet the customer’s requirements. First, I applied Tile Doctor’s Colour Grow sealer to enhance the Terracotta color, allowing 30 minutes of drying time. This is a tough sealer which enhances the tiles colour. Then, I applied six coats of Tile Doctor’s Seal and Go, a topical sealer that imparts a slight sheen, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next coat. The end result was impressive.