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Terracotta – Traditional interior laying

1. Interior laying

When laying Salernes terracottas, it is very important to pay particular attention to the variation of colours and shades. These are positive characteristics that we come across in small-scale manufacturing. For this reason it may be good idea tomix them from different packages before beginning to lay the tiles.

Terracottas are "battled" with a bat and a rubber mallet.

Prior to laying the terracottas, they must be soaked in clear water until saturation (count approximately one hour per millimeter thick), then left to dry out in an upright position for an hour. The terracottas do not require any treatment at all prior to laying. Despite all the care taken during transport, it is possible that a few terracottas are damaged. If this should happen at the time of the drying, put them aside to be used for cuttings.

The laying will be done on a screed of thin mortar (250 litres of river sand washed for 40 kg of cement), done as the work progresses little by little and a minimum of 4 cm thick. It will be sprinkled with pure cement before placing the terracottas. To ensure that they will be securily adhered to the screed they will be "hit" with a bat and a rubber mallet. Great care must be taken when laying the skirting boards, around the room to insure perfect finishing.

Most of the terracottas must be laid with a joint that can vary from 3 to 8 mm depending on the size and calibration of the tile. Joints are made with a slurry liquid made up of two thids of very fine sieved sand and one third of grey cement. The liquid is spread over the terracottas, saturated in water, using a rubber scraper. Then it just has to be sprinkled when it is dry with the same mixture. It is finished off with pure cement smoothed on with an iron to make the joint nice and smooth or directly with a sponge for a more rustic joint. Cleaning will be done as soon as joints are firm, with a sponge (it will have to be cleaned at least 3 times to get the best results).
When the laying is finished and the joints are hard, we recommend that you place a carpet in geo textile that will effectively protect your floor from dirt due to the work while your terracotta is drying.

Terracotta – Treatment for interior teracotta

There are 3 phases:

Cleaning:

In all cases it is done by using an acid-based product to neutralize some efflorescenses occurred during the drying when the work is finished.

Impregnation:

It will be done when the floor is thoroughly dried (wait for at least a week) and then

. either with water repellent products.

. or old herbal essence turpentine, linseed and wax

The floor must look clean and dry. The impregnation will be done in several layers by using a brush or a varnish roller to ensure adequate protection.

Top coat :

Some products creat a satin finish instead of a gloss effect. You can decide wheter you prefer a polished finish effect, polishing will bring out the desired finishing touch, or else a satin effect.

We have a brochure of laying and treatment to give you more détails on these 2 chapters.

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Terracotta – Traditional interior laying

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