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).

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 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? Wide grout joints between pavers require lots of grout, so you’ll need to mix a fairly large quantity to cover even a modest area of floor. While your grout is slaking, dampen the tiles with water. This helps slow down the setting up of the grout and makes grouting easier. For smaller areas, use a sponge and water and wipe the tiles down 3. Mist larger areas using a pump sprayer, like the kind used for misting indoor plants. For really big floors, use a garden hose fitted with a mist nozzle. Don’t leave any standing water, just dampen all tiles and grout joints.Sealers will break down after 2-3 years (depending on usage and cleaning products used) so for regular cleaning use a sealer friendly cleaning product such as Neutral Tile Cleaner which has been especially formulated for the regular cleaning of Sealed Stone and Tile surfaces keeping them fresh with a pleasant lemon scent. Efflorescence 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 other type of grout available for outdoor use is brush in grout. There are two different application methods for brush in grout: Both types of grout ideally require tile surface temperatures of at least 10 degrees Celsius and no more than 40 degrees Celsius.

Two main types of grout are applicable for outdoor use. The first is the standard cement-based grout, and the second is the brush in grout. Below are some of the pros and cons of both, which will help weigh up what is best for you. Rated for outdoor use Dirt and harsh weather conditions can damage patios, but proper grouting is one of the best ways to protect against this. Grouting will seal off the gaps between tiles and help to prevent the build-up of dirt and damage to the outdoor tiles. Anthracite Riverstone Outdoor Which Types Of Grout Can Be Used Outdoors? The best sealant we find for Terracotta is a topical sealer called Seal and Go that generally leaves a satin finish that coats the tiles to stop dirt and grime penetrating into the clay. An impregnating sealer (that generally leaves a matt finish) does not work particularly well with a soft clay such as Mexican Terracotta due to the high porosity of the clay. Tile Doctor recommends that Terracotta in particular requires a regular top up of sealer in high traffic areas once or twice a year. MEXICAN (hand-made) 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 Once a good seal is achieved leave the sealer to cure for a minimum of 12 hours to cure, before applying the Ironwax Satin/Gloss.Terracotta has been used for hundreds of years as floors in the UK. The Romans had the art of heating rooms through the use of warmed terracotta down to a fine art. Fashions come and go as do the associated production skills. Whether the Romans left Britain or the Britain’s moved away from Roman power is still debated, either way over the next hundred years the use of Terracotta disappeared. 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. The first step is to clean between the tiles using a utility knife to remove any thin-set mortar left on the tile from outdoor tile installations. Step 2: Mix your grout If using a cement-based grout: Again, using the grout float, scrape away any excess grout by holding the float almost vertical to the tile and moving diagonally across the surface. Step 5: Clean tiles with a damp sponge It’s important to keep the tiles clean whilst you apply grout. To do this, get a moist sponge and sponge frequently to clean the tiles without removing grout. Step 6: Grout the rest of the patio

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) 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. Your tiler will need to correctly prepare the tiling substrate to ensure it is flat, level solid and clean beforethey start laying the tiles. 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 neutralises any alkaline salts inherent in the floor thus preventing the build-up of Efflorescence which can be a problem with older floors. Dry application– This method is used to apply brush in grout where the bedding materials used to fix the tiling are impermeable and therefore will not allow drainage of application water or where the temperature conditions are dropping below 3°C, with concern that the water application (Wet Application) will freeze and expand in the joint, before it has drained away, making it weak. 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. After placing the tile on the adhesive, they can use their hands or a rubber hammer to level the tile surface. To cut the tiles, ideally they should use a water-cooled tile cutter, or if skilled enough they could use an angle grinder type cutter with the appropriate blade (i.e. unslotted and continuous). The suggested grout joint between the Handmade Terracotta tiles can vary from 5-8mm due to size tolerance and edge finish. On the Reclaimed Terracotta, these tiles feature an even higher size variation and will require a grout joint between 5-10mm to allow for this.

As above, the sealer can be applied to the tiles before they are laid, or at least 12 hours before grouting the tiles. Ensure you shake the bottle well and apply the product in accordance with the instructions on the bottle. Remember if using a roller, brush or cloth they must be appropriately washed out with white spirit and then disposed of carefully. Do not leave them exposed to direct sunlight, as if linseed is allowed to dry on a roller, brush or cloth, it can become self-combustible. Cement-based grout comes in powder form, which is added to water before being applied. The most common type of outdoor grout is sanded grout. This is used when grout joints are 1/8 inch or wider. Once grouting is complete, both types will need around 72 hours to start curing and up to a week to be fully cured. First of all, before we get into either type of grout, it is important to note that both must be rated for outdoor use. If you use grout that is not suitable for the outdoors, it will not last and may damage the tiles. Cement-based grout

All said and done, sealing terracotta tiles has moved leap and bounds in the last few decades. The choices are out there to have the style one wants. It is just a matter of choice. 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. When it comes to grouting outdoor tiles, the process is similar to indoor grouting, but with a couple of important differences. To start with, the grout being used has to be rated for outdoor use. If you follow these steps properly then you should have no problem grouting your outdoor patio. The main problem beginners face is the initial challenge of grouting all the tiles before they harden. FAQs What is the best grout for outdoor tiles?