Howdy, I am wondering if its possible to stain terracotta tiles & then seal them.?

Question

My balcony tiles are cheap, orange & in need of a make over. I want to stain them a darker colour, possibly a dark grey or brown. Every hardware store I ask has never heard of this... I really hope a method or product exists.

Thanks all ;)

Answer 1

Part of the reason the hardware stores tell you that is because no such "specific" product exists.

   Are the tiles Glazed fired? Have any appearance of a sheen to them, or just raw, fired, terra cotta?

   Obviously whatever you apply will endure the environment and usual wear that a Floor does.

   Certainly if the tiles were never glaze fired, almost anything applied will "Stain" them. A test on a single tile in an inconspicuous area would alert you to any success or failure of any substance used.

Answer 2

get a water base stain and seal it with a water base sealer. End of story.

Answer 3

DIY Doc is the best answer.  If they are glazed,  you cannot stain them.  Sealing the terracotta tiles will slightly darken them.