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Hi
I’m looking for advice on how we can revamp our outdoor patio area. It’s currently tiled (see photo). Looking for advice on the best way to clean these tiles so they are back to being close to perfect again (tried high pressure with a few products that don’t seem to work). Open to paint or render ideas too.
thanks
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JPupulkovski. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about restoring paving.
It looks like there is significant staining to the pavers, and it is unlikely that you'll get a perfect result through cleaning. I'd suggest the easiest way to achieve a desirable finish would be to coat them with paving paint. Have a look at this helpful step-by-step guide: How to paint a concrete floor. The process will be very similar to your pavers.
Make sure to remove all that organic material between the pavers with your high-pressure washer before prepping the surface for paint.
I look forward to seeing your results, and please let me know if you have further questions.
Mitchell
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JPupulkovski. We're pleased to have you join us and looking forward to seeing how you can refresh your patio. We trust Mitch's advice was helpful, but don't hesitate to post again if you have any follow-up questions. We're here to help.
Jason
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @owenjohns. It's fabulous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about resurfacing terracotta pavers.
The first thing to check before resurfacing your terracotta tiles is whether they have been sealed. Terracotta is quite porous, so it’s often sealed to stop staining and grime build-up, but a sealer will also prevent paints from bonding. A simple way to test this is the droplet test: place a few drops of water on the tiles in a shaded spot and check back in half an hour. If the water has soaked in, the tiles are unsealed, and you may be able to paint them. If the water beads on the surface, then a coating is present and would need to be stripped before any paint would adhere.
If the tiles are suitable for painting, you can try a concrete or paving paint, though keep in mind these are formulated for concrete surfaces rather than terracotta. It’s essential to do a test patch in an inconspicuous area. Paint a small section, let it cure for 48 hours, then firmly apply masking tape and then rip it off quickly. If the paint comes away, adhesion is poor, and it’s not suitable. If it holds fast, then you should be safe to proceed.
If your goal is just to refresh and protect the tiles rather than change the colour, you could also consider a clear terracotta sealer. This won’t alter the look dramatically but will rejuvenate and protect the surface.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
