Sealing terracotta before laying

[hopefultiler]

Hello All. I am about to lay some reclaimed terracotta tiles. I have some LTP sealer to seal them before laying and grouting. My question is, should I seal the back or just the surface that will show?
Thanks.

 

[DHTiling]

Hi.. You say reclaimed .. are they already sealed.. ?.. could well be linseed oiled and waxed.. so not a straight forward project.

 

[Perry]

As Dave says what are the tiles or pics would help. can be laid by a compertant. dIY er just find out all about them before you start

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Don't seal the back!

 

[Perry]

Don't seal the back!

John I remember the days when all I laid was terracotta, slate, and limestone in that order. You must of been the same.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

John I remember the days when all I laid was terracotta, slate, and limestone in that order. You must of been the same.

Pete - all great products ruined by inexperienced trades. At least your bricks are keeping the natural theme going!

 

[Perry]

Pete - all great products ruined by inexperienced trades. At least your bricks are keeping the natural theme going!

Yes Jhon but the next 3 jobs 1 in swizerland two in Dublin lol

 

[White Room]

Yes Jhon but the next 3 jobs 1 in swizerland two in Dublin lol

Your'll be able to hide some of your money there Pete :greedy:

 

[Perry]

Your'll be able to hide some of your money there Pete :greedy:

Sorry John lol fingers Mark behave yourself you have met er indoors do you really think I would have any money left ?

 

[hopefultiler]

Thank you for your replies. The tiles are 8 inch square terracotta with a slight hollow in the back. There is some old cement on the back of some. They have not been sealed with anything before, they are super absorbent all round. One or two are broken and the colour of the surface is consistent with the inside.

Would I be right in just sealing the top surface then, before laying, before grouting and then after finishing the whole job?

Thanks.

 

[bugs183]

You only have to seal the tops.
If you lay them and keep them clean as you go then there is no need to pre-seal. Use slow dying adhesive if you can if you're not used to tiling. Back skim the back of the tile to fill the curves in the back, and use a 10mm notched trowel to spread the adhesive on the floor.
These need to bedded in well as the adhesive gives these tiles their strength.
Once layed use Boiled Linseed oil thinned down to about 2/3 with white spirit. Use a short hair paint roller and seal the tiles. It could take up to 5 coats before you can see the sealer has worked. Then grout, then wax.
We never use sythetic sealers on terracotta as it uses lots and lots and would cost a fortune. Plus i've not seen any sealer that works with Terracotta as well as Boiled Linseed oil.
But maybe some chaps know a modern sealer that would replace linseed oil.

 

[Perry]

It does depend what tiles some you cannot use oil on as before a picture would help

 

[hopefultiler]

Thanks again for the replies above. I have included a picture now including the broken ones so you can see the colour right through the tiles. 90% of them are completely absorbent and soak it up and go dark as soon as you show them water. The remainder do appear at first appear to hold the water on the surface except where they have been scratched. Presumably these have been sealed previously. I guess it is likely that this will be linseed oil rather than modern chemical sealer. Is there any way to tell?

 

[Perry]

They are Mexican Carrillo by the looks of it i would use langlows patina you are able to use it over most sealers try a tile before you lay them. Oil no good will go straight though them didn't think you could get them in the uk anymore where did you find them ?

 

[Perry]

Most of them were sealed with benntons sealer which worked but left them shinny then most waxed them nothing worst than wax on terracotta IMO

 

[hopefultiler]

Hello pjc, thanks for that. I found them in a crate at this place, a reclaim yard in Dorset by Hurn Airport. Ace Reclamation - Specialists in Reclaimed & Traditional Building Materials There is a pic of the tiles waiting for laying. The one with the orange tint (front left) is one with a bit of water resistance, the pink ones are un treated and are like sponges.

I will test on broken pieces as suggested. Should I still use the LPT sealer first or would you just go straight for the Langlows?

 

[Perry]

What LPT sealer ? Where are you? I would use platina then OSMA oil when it dulls down in a few weeks the tile with water resistance more than likely has been sealed