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Terrazzo - Sanding and sealing


tegwini

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I am looking for someone with experience, knowledge and the equipment to treat my salon floor, about 40 sq metres, 30 mins NE of Poitiers.

I have discussed this with a UK company, which does not travel so far for work, and they say that we need to 'sand' it down with a machine then seal it.

The tiles are in perfect condition (about 9 " square) the grout is discoloured, but the main problem is that the glaze/gloss is dull where there was foot traffic, and thus the floor needs after cleaning to be sealed with some kind of gloss.

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE OF THIS - OR CAN ADVISE ME ? OR CAN DO THIS WORK ?
Many thanks


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I used to recommend and sell HG products in the showroom where I worked in the UK.

I have bought and used them in France, but I would suggest you source them in the UK, if only because the instructions will be in English. Some of the products are corrosive and need careful handling.
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Merci bien Clair

I shall have to have a go as there seems to be no alternative other than to re-tile, but I quite like them - lovely cream colour - very marble in appearance & nothing wrong with them.

Quite apart from the hassle & waste of re-tiling

'used to recommend and sell ...'    goodness me what haven't you done!

Regards

Tegwini

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I loved working with hand-made tiles, loved visiting the suppliers in the south of France (hard work translating at 3am though!), loved helping people spend their money buying expensive imported marble and limestone!

Unfortunately the boss was just a [:@]...

[Www]

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You dont need to re-tile if the existing ones are sound and just lost their sheen. What you need is a specialist contractor who will re-polish the floor using diamond pads and re-seal. I know a UK company who does this kind of work at home and abroad. Message me if you want his details.
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No it isn't. I'm sure a bit of t'interweb research would reveal the firms that do this kind of thing. Take a look in your supermarkets and other large retail outlets. Have you ever wondered how they get the floor so flat? They fix the tiles first then hone them flat using machinery and increasingly finer diamond pads.
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Yes it would be if it was just dirt but from what the original poster said, the tiles have lost their sheen due to foot traffic. Thats unlikely to be just dirt requiring a clean. The surface will have been worn down and it sounds like it needs re-honing/polishing. In any event, terrazzo are porous and any ingrained dirt or stains will be difficult to remove with just a cleaner.
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  • 6 months later...

My apologies for this seriously delayed response - I had no idea that there were further replies, and during the summer I was very pre-occupied with my work in the UK, and the work we (and the artisans) were doing on our house in France. 

But, as we have now completed a large 3rd/top floor (ceiling-floor guttted, and large new bedrooms, bathroom & dressing room) and this was a major preoccupation too.   Thus  I searched for Clair's recommendations as the salon is now next.

Rookery - Many thanks for your interest - I did research this and found a couple of specialist local (London & S'ton)  firms, neither willing to travel to France. One offered to hire a machine out at a huge rate, but it would be a DIY job. And the gloss is the most important part.  Trouble is,  the cost would be so OTT for a UK company to travel to France and do the work.  Out of proportion to the job and the results I think. But I realise that terrazzo is porous, dislikes strong cleaners,etc  Almost tempting to tile over it!  If you know of someone who could do it in France please let me know.

Clair-  We will have another go at cleaning the tiles as I have a polisher/scrubber and plan to use the stuff you suggested.

Regards

Tegwini

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IMO, you're right to be thinking of getting someone in to do it 'cos once b****ed up, terrazzo can be difficult, i.e. expensive, to put right.

(In a former life, I used to build quality office blocks often with acres of marble and terrazo floors. Not surprisingly, all the best installers were Italians, either living in the UK or who used to come over specially from Italy. And they were normally VERY secretive about how the work was done, with screens all round the work area to protect it from prying eyes ...).

The critical words you are looking for are 'ponçage, 'polissage' 'artisan' and 'marbre'. Type a combination of these into you favourite search engine - or, even better, go talk to your local quality tile shop, i.e NOT Brico Depot :-), and you should find someone who can bring your floor back to its former glory.

HTH

Craig
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Many thanks Craig

Since this is the next project I will be exploring every avenue!

And yes, the tiles are Italian - we have a spare box in the sou sol. Some on the floor are still beautiful (they were under a carpet) after perhaps 35 years or more, so it's worth making some effort to make the entire floor (nearly 50 sq m) gorgeous again.

I shall be 'on the case' again on our next visit and also from here on the internet.

Regards

Tegwini

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DALICHOUX David

Place Gambetta - 34 120 PEZENAS

Tel: 04.67.98.90.41 oder 06.11.57.53.67

Fax: 04.67.09.47.61

E-Mail: david.dalichoux@liberty.fr

We had this guy come and gives us a devis to restore our old terrazzo floors, unfortunately our budget didn't run to it, but his work is excellent he does both restoration and new floors, not that near to you but may be he would travel.

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