Mapei Ultracolor Plus Coloured Grout Terracotta 143

Product Information

Once the Mattstone sealer has been allowed to fully cure (12 hours), apply 2 coats of Ironwax Satin/Gloss with an hour between coats. Then allow 4 hours for the finish to cure before starting the grouting process using Ardex FL grout. If the tiler is not using our recommended Ardex FL grout, then please test your chosen grout on the surface of a sample tile, to ensure the grout can be cleaned away successfully. For stubborn areas of heavy build-up of dirt or sealer we would recommend following up with NanoTech HBU (please ensure the tile is wetted before applying).

Apply the product generously and evenly to the face and edges of the tile and continue to saturate for 3-4 minutes moving the product continuously with the roller or brush to ensure complete coverage. Allow 2-4 hours between coats and apply a minimum of 3 coats to ensure a good seal before grouting. A solution of Grout Clean-up diluted with 3 parts water will ease the problem temporarily, but you will find in most cases the efflorescence will repeat itself until all the salt crystals have evaporated on the surface, and this can take several weeks in some instances. In worst case scenarios Tile Doctor has developed a new product calledAcid Gel to combat efflorescence issues which is applied neat. Recommended Products for Terracotta Once the floor has been cleaned and dried apply Tile Doctor Seal & Go sealer with a paint-pad applicator and tray. Spanish or Mexican terracotta tiles are very porous and may require up to 8 or 9 coats of sealant, always allow to dry before applying the next coat. FRENCH, ITALIANOR SPANISH (semi hand-made)

Which Types Of Grout Can Be Used Outdoors?

If using a cement-based grout: using a grout float, scoop up some grout, then deposit it onto the surface of the tile, spreading it over the tiles and grout joints. Any of the grout mentioned previously will work fine for any type of outdoor tile, including porcelain. Again the most important thing to remember is that the grout is rated for outdoor use. How long do you wait to wipe off grout? These floors continually breathe and with our sealants, this is not a problem and in effect rather simple as the same process as detailed above can be followed. Wet application: When the tiles are fixed using permeable bedding materials, ProPave can be applied using the “Wet Application” method. Thoroughly wet the patio surface with copious amounts of water. Using a stiff broom, brush sand into joints ensuring they are filled to capacity. Ensure the paving surface and sand are kept wet throughout the operation with continued use of gentle water flow from a hosepipe. This water aids deep penetration and compaction of the jointing sand as it drains. Repeat process until all jointing is filled to full depth. Soak the area with water & top up any joints that require further material and wash off excess sand from the surface.

It is worthwhile considering adding sealer to the grout mix in the proportions of 1 part sealer to 10 parts water. This also effectively seals the grout.Once the floor has been cleaned and dried apply Tile Doctor Seal & Go sealer with a paint-pad applicator and tray. terracotta tiles typically require between 6 and 8 coats of sealant, always allow to dry before applying the next coat. Maintenance Cleaning Either before the tiles are laid, or before grouting the tiles, the tiles must be sealed with at least 2 coats of LTP Mattstone and 2 coats of the finishing product Ironwax Satin/Gloss. To ensure a good seal, apply the LTP Mattstone at 2-hour intervals until the sealer starts to sit on the surface. After the final coat of Mattstone, allow 45 minutes and then buff away any excess. Both types of grout ideally require tile surface temperatures of at least 10 degrees Celsius and no more than 40 degrees Celsius. It neutralises any alkaline salts inherent in the floor thus preventing the build-up of Efflorescence which can be a problem with older floors.

After cleaning the pH level of the floor will be alkaline so its best to neutralise this by giving the floor an acid rinse using Grout Cleanup. Using this product has other benefits to, ie.:

Before you start:

These tiles are generally made in a factory with some artizan involvement however the quality of the kiln is far better than Mexican and so are easier toclean, to seal and to maintain; naturally thisresults ina higher productioncost. Once grouting is complete, both types will need around 72 hours to start curing and up to a week to be fully cured. Grouting is especially important for areas with outdoor tiles. This is because there is a lot more exposure to the outside environment.

Tile Doctor Remove and Go is very effective at removing impregnating sealers and can be applied undiluted and used in the same way as Pro-Clean. It's worth noting that Pro-Clean is better with the removal of topical sealers however if you are unable to determine which sealer has been used previously then you may need to utilise both products. The most important factor in achieving a good finish is to use a tiler with proven experience of laying and sealing terracotta tiles, as the wrong application of adhesive, sealers, grout and finishing products can ruin these beautiful tiles, costing you time and money. Again this only really applies to cement-based grout. Using a sponge, you can seal the grout using an outdoor-rated grout sealer. Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

This type of clay is not made to a great standard and thus the porosity levels between each tile can vary greatly, this makes them hard to clean, hard to seal and generally harder to maintain. UK Tile Doctors have been trained to cope with these issues however it should be noted even with the right equipment, products and experience no guarantee can be made on a satisfactory outcome of what we at Tile Doctor and a customer would call a great finish given the low quality of this product. If the grout joints are less wide than this, then unsanded grout is fine. The grout must also be rated for no efflorescence. This makes sure that white residue isn’t formed when moisture is lost. Weber Joint Premium indoor/outdoor Brush in grout After treatement the solution should be rinsed off with water and removed with a wet vacuum. The floor should then be left to fully dry before applying a sealer. Sealing Terracotta Tiles In more recent times the opening up of travel to warmer climes in the 70’s piqued our interest in the material. No self-respecting conservatory extension of the 80’s seemed complete without a floor of Spanish terracotta.