A saltillo tile floor in Mexico. Wikimedia Commons
Floor Maintenance Part III: Tile
In Parts I and II we talked about hardwood and stone floor maintenance. Today we’re going to talk about the various kinds of ceramic tile flooring and how to maintain each.
Ceramics are all made of some dirt or powder that is mixed with water to make a paste, then formed into tiles and fired in a kiln. Some kinds are impermeable when glazed and are the easiest floors to maintain, but others need almost as regular care as hardwood or marble.
Terra cotta
Meaning “baked earth,” and based on clay, terra cotta is one of the most ancient housing materials still in use. We have terra cotta artifacts from thousands of years ago. It is very porous, so unless it is glazed it needs particular care.
In modern times we usually coat it with boiled linseed oil or wax it like a stone or hardwood floor. As with other waxed floors, cleaning waxed terra-cotta means removing the old wax layer. Linseed oil sealants are removed by putting down emulsifying agents to draw out the oil, which can then be taken off with a rotary scrubber. In either case, be sure to use clay-safe pads. The rotary scrubber will not work well on grout lines, which will have to be scrubbed by hand.
Because the emulsifying process is time-sensitive, it’s best to divide the job into sections and do one at a time. The floor should dry overnight, and it will then be ready for the two coats of sealant you should apply.
Encaustic
Encaustic tiles are those where the design is part of the material itself, and not painted on or part of a glazing process. Any wearing down over years or decade does not erase the image or design. They were popular in the Middle Ages and later in the Victorian era, but modern ones usually come with a penetrating sealant already in place.
They are not usually glazed, though, because as long as they are well maintained, their special value is the patina they develop with usage. Dirt can still get into them, so they need cleaning every so often with a pH-neutral solution and gentle scrubbing with something soft. Wipe up liquid spills promptly, as they may cause discoloration. Floor sections under a lot of wear and tear may need occasional resealing.
Saltillo
Named after the village in Mexico where it is traditionally made, saltillo is a type of terra cotta fired at low heat and softer than other common ceramics. Saltillo is a little tricky to install, as it is laid down unsealed and unglazed, which makes it hard to avoid the porous tiles absorbing moisture from the cement and grout, or even oil from people’s hands.
The special advantage of this method is that by being so porous, the tile bonds more securely to the grout, make a more durable floor once the sealant is applied. Properly installed, a Saltillo floor should not need any more maintenance than polishing and a couple more coats every 2-5 years.
If you live in Northern Virginia and are interested in a new tile floor, or care for your existing one, give Unique Carpet & Floor a call at (703) 369-1600 or email us on our website. If you’re looking to redo a floor, you can stop by our showroom at 10753-A Ambassador Drive in Manassas.