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mop-n-glow for terracotta

updated wed 8 sep 99

 

Rachel and Eric on sat 7 aug 99

Oh mighty source for earthly, clayey wisdom, is there amongst you a
person who knows about finishing pourous terracotta tile or brick floors. By
finish I mean sealing after installation so spilled water won't just soak
straight in. Here's the catch, the finish, by in-house code, has to be
non-petroleum based. Beeswax, tree resins, linseed oil, etc. are all ok.
Such knowledge will be greatly appreciated, especially by those of
us whom it falls upon to scrub the hard-sponge floor.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Mindling ^ Rachel Werling
Manos de Oaxaca ^ AP 1452
AP 1452 ^ Oaxaca, Oax.
Oaxaca, Oax. ^ CP 68000
CP 68000 ^ M E X I C O
M E X I C O ^
^ fax: 011 52 (952) 1-4186
http://www.foothill.net/~mindling ^ email: rayeric@antequera.com
fax 011 52 (952) 1-4186 ^
email: rayeric@antequera.com ^

AKitchens on sun 8 aug 99

Rachel and Eric,
Ten years ago I installed 1000 sq ft of saltillo (red clay) Mexican
tile in our house in Key Largo (I love these floors) and brick pavers
on the outside steps for better traction. I did not seal the outdoor
pavers. They have stayed clean since they are fired higher than the
saltillo (pronounced as sol-tee-oh) tiles. Easy to clean with a hose.
But inside we had several layers of water based acrylic sealer
rolled on the saltillo tiles (with paint rollers) BEFORE they were
installed. (The grout would have stained them if we had not done
that.) Then the tiles were installed, grouted and sealed again
several times. I routinely reseal them at least once a year maybe
twice in the kitchen. I can strip it down to the original tile and
start over, if I have a bad stain. If you consult any tile dealer
that carries saltillo tile (or cut limestone tiles) you should be
able to find the products. I am not sure if they are non petroleum
based products but they had the same milky feel as watered
down elmers glue. When it dried on my hands it peeled off.
footnote: I just remembered the saltillo tiles I laid in an outdoor
screened covered porch had to have a different finish on them
called tile wax, because they were exposed to the weather.
They have weathered fine but any stains got through to their
surface easier.
Try researching Miami tile dealers for product info. They do
a lot of Mexican tile in that part of the world. Good luck.
Nan

Rachel and Eric wrote:

> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> Oh mighty source for earthly, clayey wisdom, is there amongst
> you a
> person who knows about finishing pourous terracotta tile or brick
> floors. By
> finish I mean sealing after installation so spilled water won't just
> soak
> straight in. Here's the catch, the finish, by in-house code, has to be
>
> non-petroleum based. Beeswax, tree resins, linseed oil, etc. are all
> ok.
> Such knowledge will be greatly appreciated, especially by
> those of
> us whom it falls upon to scrub the hard-sponge floor.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Eric Mindling ^ Rachel Werling
>
> Manos de Oaxaca ^ AP 1452
> AP 1452 ^ Oaxaca, Oax.
> Oaxaca, Oax. ^ CP 68000
> CP 68000 ^ M E X
> I C O
> M E X I C O ^
> ^ fax: 011 52
> (952) 1-4186
> http://www.foothill.net/~mindling ^ email:
> rayeric@antequera.com
> fax 011 52 (952) 1-4186 ^
> email: rayeric@antequera.com ^

Joanne L. Van Bezooyen on sun 8 aug 99

Hello Rachel and Eric,

I have just completed my 4th installation of mexican saltillo tile which is very
is how I do it:
1. Soak the tiles in water.
2. apply thin-set mortar to cement floor
3. set tiles into the mortar
4. seal tiles with water-based 'penetrating sealer' (a Home Depot thing). Wait
seal again, wiping off the any sealer remaining after 5 minutes.
5. wait 24 hours.
6. grout between tiles
7. for exterior....that is it!
8. for interior....wait 2 weeks (I cover my tiles with cheap paper to prevent i
then apply a water-based top sealer.
9. Maintain outside tiles by applying penetrating sealer every few years.
10. Maintain inside tiles by applying top sealer every 6 months to clean tiles.

How does everyone else do iit?

Joanne in Tucson

Rachel and Eric wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Oh mighty source for earthly, clayey wisdom, is there amongst you a
> person who knows about finishing pourous terracotta tile or brick floors. By
> finish I mean sealing after installation so spilled water won't just soak
> straight in. Here's the catch, the finish, by in-house code, has to be
> non-petroleum based. Beeswax, tree resins, linseed oil, etc. are all ok.
> Such knowledge will be greatly appreciated, especially by those of
> us whom it falls upon to scrub the hard-sponge floor.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Eric Mindling ^ Rachel Werling
> Manos de Oaxaca ^ AP 1452
> AP 1452 ^ Oaxaca, Oax.
> Oaxaca, Oax. ^ CP 68000
> CP 68000 ^ M E X I C O
> M E X I C O ^
> ^ fax: 011 52 (952) 1-41
> http://www.foothill.net/~mindling ^ email: rayeric
> fax 011 52 (952) 1-4186 ^
> email: rayeric@antequera.com ^

Pamala Browne on mon 9 aug 99

by whose in house codes?? If you don't mind me asking. The very best way to
_seal_ them is with Mex-Seal(petroleum based)I went ahead and called a
couple of contractors ( I live in a very enviromentally aware area) and they
all said the only real sealant is petroleum based. I also cleaned houses for
many years and have waxed ,sealed and had to strip many of these darn tile
floors--not a fun thing to do.Mop-n-glo was my nemisis -it builds up so
badly and will discolor the floor -so it has to be stripped with ammonia on
a regular basis.Ammonia is no fun either!! BTW it will never seal the floor.
Linseed oil would always be sticky. I would really like to help you ,but I
cannot imagine anyone installing a saltillo tile floor and not wanting to
preserve it properly. There is a special wax that i used on top of a sealant
that worked beautifully for these tiles .Today is Sunday, so I can't call
the supplier ( I don't remember the name of the product) but I will call
tomorrow to see if it,by itself, can temporarily seal your floor. Okay?
Good luck! pamalab
----- Original Message -----
From: Rachel and Eric
To:
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 11:38 AM
Subject: Mop-n-Glow for Terracotta


> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Oh mighty source for earthly, clayey wisdom, is there amongst you
a
> person who knows about finishing pourous terracotta tile or brick floors.
By
> finish I mean sealing after installation so spilled water won't just soak
> straight in. Here's the catch, the finish, by in-house code, has to be
> non-petroleum based. Beeswax, tree resins, linseed oil, etc. are all ok.
> Such knowledge will be greatly appreciated, especially by those of
> us whom it falls upon to scrub the hard-sponge floor.
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Eric Mindling ^ Rachel Werling
> Manos de Oaxaca ^ AP 1452
> AP 1452 ^ Oaxaca, Oax.
> Oaxaca, Oax. ^ CP 68000
> CP 68000 ^ M E X I C
O
> M E X I C O ^
> ^ fax: 011 52 (952)
1-4186
> http://www.foothill.net/~mindling ^ email:
rayeric@antequera.com
> fax 011 52 (952) 1-4186 ^
> email: rayeric@antequera.com ^
>

Debra Wills on tue 7 sep 99

I live 65 miles from the Mexico border and all the old Mexicans here use
motor oil to finish the mexican tiles with... the smell goes away... it is
used motor oil....
Debra
message----------------------------
Oh mighty source for earthly, clayey wisdom, is there amongst you a
person who knows about finishing pourous terracotta tile or brick floors. By
finish I mean sealing after installation so spilled water won't just soak
straight in. Here's the catch, the finish, by in-house code, has to be
non-petroleum based. Beeswax, tree resins, linseed oil, etc. are all ok.
Such knowledge will be greatly appreciated, especially by those of
us whom it falls upon to scrub the hard-sponge floor.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Mindling ^ Rachel Werling
Manos de Oaxaca ^ AP 1452
AP 1452 ^ Oaxaca, Oax.
Oaxaca, Oax. ^ CP 68000
CP 68000 ^ M E X I C O
M E X I C O ^
^ fax: 011 52 (952)
1-4186
http://www.foothill.net/~mindling ^ email:
rayeric@antequera.com
fax 011 52 (952) 1-4186 ^
email: rayeric@antequera.com ^


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