Mexican Tile

**Matt Strader** · 07-02-2009, 04:27 PM

I heard a new trick today.

Terra Cotta is a very porous stone and has a tendency to drink (absorb) if it is with out sealer, what ever liquid is present... i.e. stripper, sealer. I have an upcoming job with very thick, heavily compounded with soil and just an all around mess, mexican tile floor. I was told.... Spray your stripper down, let it dry and re-apply the stripper. This will allow the stripper time to penetrate the many layers of wax that are present. I've never heard that before but I am going to give it a shot. Any thoughts? I will try it and let you know how it works.

Also, if anyone has any words of advice please share them. Mexican Tile can be a MONSTER to work on.

**Scrubbs** · 07-02-2009, 04:43 PM

Matt if I was you, I would spend a LOT of time reading the threads over on dirtygrout.com. You could be in for a real nightmare. Also be very careful about the psi too high could damage the tiles.

good luck,

Mark

**Richard Baldwin** · 07-02-2009, 09:08 PM

Wax absorbs into the porous tile. You try to strip and clean it and you get "most" of it out. What is left is a little bit that wont come out. You wax overtop of it and it shows through.

If you take this job you may regret it.

Unless you plan to sand it down or something, I would stay away from it. Here is my nightmare mexican tile job, please take a careful look at what the wax does after you do everything in your power to remove it:

**Gary T** · 07-03-2009, 12:50 PM

I'm really not sure about the method you mentioned, I personally have never heard of it.

I like Johnson's Fastrip for these jobs. Give plenty of dwell time and Don't let it dry. You may need a few applications to get all of the crud out. Let it dry for 3 days minimum or you may have issues with what you put back on there. Aldon Chem, Glaze N Seal have excellent products for Mexican tile. Aldon's custy service blows but their products a tops.

Take your time and price accordingly. I am usually $3-$5 per SF.

**Matt Strader** · 07-03-2009, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Gary T

I'm really not sure about the method you mentioned, I personally have never heard of it.

I like Johnson's Fastrip for these jobs. Give plenty of dwell time and Don't let it dry. You may need a few applications to get all of the crud out. Let it dry for 3 days minimum or you may have issues with what you put back on there. Aldon Chem, Glaze N Seal have excellent products for Mexican tile. Aldon's custy service blows but their products a tops.

Take your time and price accordingly. I am usually $3-$5 per SF.

3 Days? Really?

**Richard Dunn Cleans** · 07-03-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Matt Strader

3 Days? Really?

Matt, remember my pm to you and I mentioned let it dry a day or more. Some of these floors require that. Just another suggestion on mex tile, if it has a coating on it I have gotten out my handy dandy scooter that I use to grout and lay ceramic tile and went over each and every tile with a very good razor blade scraper before I ever put any finish remover on the floor. Lot of work but it made a real difference in the strip job. The picture in this thread shows not only finish remaining on the floor but I suspect the light and dark areas are there because the floor was not completely dry when finish was put on it, if indeed that was the case. Richard