Staining terra cotta roof tiles...anyone ever tried this?
I've had some weird calls but this one really caught me off-guard. Has anyone ever tried to re-color terra cottaroof tiles? Assuming there's no glaze on them, I'm thinking a dye in a carrier such as acetone would be the only way. Whatever it is (if possible) would need to be applied light in multiple applications with no build-up, just color change. Then sealed w/matte solvent based? The exterior of the house has all been recently re-done so any run-off can not happen.
Any help or past experiences appreciated.
Thanks, Brad
I called the builder to bow out and he practically begged me to pursue it...He said that the painter is from the Desert SW and that folks change the color of those roofs all of the time. And there's alot of them! I am going to contact a few sources (roofers/painters/decocrete companies) to see if the dude is blowing smoke.
Thanks for the reply Lindy.
I have never done it, but I know that others do ... as to applying stains/dyes on vertical surfaces such as exterior walls and of buildings and various convex/shaped works of art. Nathan Griffin is the "master" of all that is "vertical" in the decorative/architectural concrete industry ... his company is Vertical Artistans www.verticalartisans.com. (if you have never checked out his website you will be amazed and inspired by it). You might want to call or email him. If you take on this project, or if you need some insights prior to reaching a decision to do so, I'm sure Nathan could lead you in the right direction, as to helpful hints and need to know info/techniques when it comes to applying any decorative concrete related material/product/sealer/etc on surfaces that are not flat and ordinary. Who knows, you might just kick start an entirely new enterprise (staining & sealing of old roof tiles... anything would be better and longer lasting than painting the roof tiles with "topical paints that are prone to pealing/flaking, IMO more like temporary cosmetic band-aids!
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Lindy
I have no experience with these types of products, but they could be a possible solution. Check out www.silacote.com, interesting stuff if they work and they offer samples. I think there is only one other manufacturer in the US, but this is very popular in Europe.
I appreciate the input! I will look into. Any product(s) recommended?
Personally I have never heard of anyone staining/dying terra cotta roof tiles; however have done so on porous terra cotta floor tiles (but of course they are on a level floor substrate not an sloped roof and convex in shape).
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I would think that prep and cleaning of these terra cotta roof tiles could be challenging since they are not a flat surface that can be easily scrubbed as a floor is due to the slope and shape of them ... as would applying a stain/dye in very thin mil coats to prevent running rivers/sort of striiped iimage of color and/or dripping of the stain/dye off the edges of each individual tile onto the one that is positioned/underlapping it with all these tiles being at a slope angle. Where there is a will there is usually a way ... if you take on this project please post pictures of the finished job and the manner in which you found was successful in doing so.
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Lindy A.