Ask Vicente: Terracotta Tiles


HGTV KitchenName: Maria Mitchell
State: BC
Country: Canada
Comment:

Hi Vicente,

I love the HGTV featured kitchen that you designed. Not only was I impressed with the whole kitchen, but your solution to staining terracotta tiles is brilliant.  We, too, have a combination of terracotta tiles and wood floors – my question is, how were the tiles prepared  and what stain did you use (color & make)? I’m presuming that the stain was put on the grout as well. My husband and I haven’t been able to see ‘eye-to-eye’ on the terracotta floors until we saw what you did. A tremendous cost saver, and it looks fabulous!

Look forward to your reply.

Much appreciated,

Maria
(a real fan of your design work)

Vicente Responds:

Dear Maria -

Thanks for the kind words!

The terracotta tiles were unsealed so they were able to take the stain and I used the same stain that I had used on the wood floors so they matched. (It was an ebony stain.) If the floors are sealed, the glaze is going to have to be removed so they can take the stain. And yes, we applied the stain to both the tiles and grout.

Good luck!

  1. #1 by christina on September 25, 2009 - 2:47 pm

    Can I please have information on the type/brand of stains you used on your terracotta tiles? This is really a wonderful solution if the natural orange color does not compliment your decor– Beautiful work!

  2. #2 by Deson on September 30, 2009 - 12:07 pm

    I would like some more information please.
    I have 16×16 off white tiles that arent glazed, most likely a ceramic, and look terrible, is it possible to stain and glaze these tiles as it seems you did in this brief article?

    Thanks in advance.

  3. #3 by Ashley on July 7, 2011 - 1:28 am

    I know that this article and these posts are a bit old but I can’t stand our terracotta tiles and would also like more information on the stain (e.g. brand, application method, wear, etc.). Thanks so much.

  4. #4 by Farah on December 9, 2011 - 8:13 pm

    I would love to go forward with this procedure on my terracotta tiles ASAP. Can you tell me how to remove the glaze so staining can take place? Thx so much!

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