How to Refinish Mexican Tile

Mexican tile is made in Saltillo Mexico and sometimes called Saltillo tile.

Mexican tile is a type of terracotta made by hand using raw clay, but sometimes other types of terracotta are referred to by this name. Regardless, a terracotta or Mexican tile floor can be stripped and refinished repeatedly, letting you have the look of a new floor whenever you want. Many manufacturers produce the stripping and finishing products you'll need for this job, so choose one that best suits your needs.

Things You'll Need

• Mop bucket
• Cotton (or blended) mop
• Floor machine (175-300 rpm)
• Hi-pro (or black) floor stripping pad
• pH neutral tile cleaner
• Finishing product

Instructions

1. Determine what type of sealant was originally used on the tile. This will affect what sort of stripper you'll need, so it's important to know for sure. Apply either a water-based stripper or a strong alkaline cleaner to an inconspicuous bit of floor. Let it sit for around 10 minutes. If the sealer becomes tacky and begins to break down, you're dealing with a water-based sealer. If it doesn't, you're likely dealing with a polyurethane-based sealer and you'll need a solvent-based floor stripper.

2. Tape off any areas you want to protect from the stripper, remove all furniture from the room, and clean the floor thoroughly. Scrub any spots, stains or heel marks so they won't interfere with the stripper. Take a dust mop to the floor, to make sure you get it as clean as possible.

3. Separate the floor into sections so that you're working with only about a six-foot by six-foot area at a time. Fill the mop bucket halfway with the sealant stripper and apply with a cotton (or blended) mop. Begin applying the stripper in one of the furthest corners of the room. Let the sealant stripper sit for about 10 minutes, or for the manufacturer's directed time.

4. Use the floor machine on the prepared area by running it back and forth over the area. Places where finish has built up may need more attention, but high-traffic areas on the floor will have less buildup. When you've finished the area, mop off the excess stripper. If the stripper dries, you'll have to reapply it and then mop it up. Do this for each section of the room.

5. Rinse the tile thoroughly using warm water at least twice. Apply a neutral pH tile cleaner to reduce the residue left by the sealant stripper, and the finish will bond better to the floor.

6. Vacuum the floor and run a dust mop over it again to make sure there isn't any residue and it's ready for the refinishing.

7. Follow the manufacturer's directions and apply the finishing product to the floor. It will take around 20 to 30 minutes for it to dry, depending on how porous your tile is and the manufacturer's requirements. You might have to apply more than one coat.

Tips & Warnings

• After the neutralizer has dried, rub a dark-colored towel over the floor to check for remaining residue.

• Solvent-based floor strippers can be dangerous and tricky to work with. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

References

• Emulso: How to Strip a Floor FAQ
• North American Tile Cleaning Organization: Stripping Slate Tiles
• Aldon: How to Seal Mexican Tile
• CleanPro: Mexican Tile and Terra Cotta
• Floorbiz.com: Mexican Tile Flooring