Comments on: How To Seal Terracotta – Step By Step http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/ Tile and Stone Maintenance Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:05:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ian Taylor http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Ian Taylor Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:47:32 +0000 http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/#comment-254 Hi George, OK, clearly you have cement bluhm or haze. This has happened because you have grouted the terracotta without sealing (at least that is what I am guessing). That cleaner is pretty aggressive so be careful, anything that contains hydrochloric acid should be used with caution. It will also lighten the colour of the grout, so if it is a dark colour, it will be lighter after you acid clean it. Regarding keeping the tile wet for 5 minutes: firstly I would recommend pre-wetting the surface - really saturate the tiles with water (this may kick off some efflorescence but that can't be avoided at this stage), this will mean that the tiles do not suck the acid cleaner in straight away, and so help keep the cleaner where it is needed, at the surface. Also, put the acid in a spray bottle and keep spraying it over the the 5 minutes (where suitable protective clothing of course!). Then scrub or agitate the tile with a scrubbing brush or pad. Rinse down and repeat - maybe a couple more times. This may be a slow process but there is no real alternative. Also, I guess it gets pretty hot where you live, so do this early in the morning or late in the evening. Regarding the sealers, I am not sure what is available in your region, but there was a distributor for Aqua Mix in Mexico: http://www.aquamix.com.mx/aqua_van.htm hope that helps Ian Hi George,

OK, clearly you have cement bluhm or haze. This has happened because you have grouted the terracotta without sealing (at least that is what I am guessing). That cleaner is pretty aggressive so be careful, anything that contains hydrochloric acid should be used with caution. It will also lighten the colour of the grout, so if it is a dark colour, it will be lighter after you acid clean it.

Regarding keeping the tile wet for 5 minutes: firstly I would recommend pre-wetting the surface – really saturate the tiles with water (this may kick off some efflorescence but that can’t be avoided at this stage), this will mean that the tiles do not suck the acid cleaner in straight away, and so help keep the cleaner where it is needed, at the surface.

Also, put the acid in a spray bottle and keep spraying it over the the 5 minutes (where suitable protective clothing of course!). Then scrub or agitate the tile with a scrubbing brush or pad. Rinse down and repeat – maybe a couple more times. This may be a slow process but there is no real alternative.

Also, I guess it gets pretty hot where you live, so do this early in the morning or late in the evening.

Regarding the sealers, I am not sure what is available in your region, but there was a distributor for Aqua Mix in Mexico: http://www.aquamix.com.mx/aqua_van.htm

hope that helps

Ian

]]> By: George http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/comment-page-1/#comment-253 George Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:52:35 +0000 http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/#comment-253 P.D. LPC-85 is an acid solution that acts as a cleaner before using any sealers. Its main ingredients are hydrocloric acid 20%, phosphoric acid, nonionic surfactant. P.D.
LPC-85 is an acid solution that acts as a cleaner before using any sealers. Its main ingredients are hydrocloric acid 20%, phosphoric acid, nonionic surfactant.

]]> By: George http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/comment-page-1/#comment-252 George Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:45:42 +0000 http://www.tileandstoneblog.co.uk/terracotta/how-to-seal-terracotta-step-by-step/#comment-252 Hi, about 4 months ago we put terracota on our fence walls but we were reccommended to use a mix of cement and sand as the grout. Well, the cement has make the terracota color very dull. I used a product called LPC-85 and some color is back. I haven't finnished the whole fence because instructions says that terracota has to stay wet for 5 minutes which is pretty hard since it absorbs the liquid almost right away. I want to know if you have any advice in what I've done already or whatever is ahead to bring back the color and to seal them after. I haven't looked for your Seal & Finish Low Sheen product here in Panama (Central America)but first I would like to read your advice. Hi, about 4 months ago we put terracota on our fence walls but we were reccommended to use a mix of cement and sand as the grout. Well, the cement has make the terracota color very dull. I used a product called LPC-85 and some color is back. I haven’t finnished the whole fence because instructions says that terracota has to stay wet for 5 minutes which is pretty hard since it absorbs the liquid almost right away. I want to know if you have any advice in what I’ve done already or whatever is ahead to bring back the color and to seal them after. I haven’t looked for your Seal & Finish Low Sheen product here in Panama (Central America)but first I would like to read your advice.

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