Terracotta floor or quarry tile floor?

[Demi]

Hi I'm new here and so please be kind!
We recently purchased a 200 year old slate cottage, knowing we would have a good bit of renovating to do.
The ground floor was covered in a plastic laminate, which we have now pulled up. We uncovered very wet terracotta tiles. Within days the floor dried out and has remained dry. The problem is, the dog thinks he's outside and keeps peeing on it!!
Anyway, some of the tiles are broken and underneath these tiles are thick quarry tiles, so at some point, likely many generations ago, someone has tried to smarten up the quarry floor by covering it with terracotta tiles.

Although we would love to keep the terracotta (we would need to get a floor specialist in), we would also consider taking it back to having a quarry floor. This would be a lot more work and expense, especially as it's sitting on ash and the whole lot would probably need to come up for it to be restored properly.

Apart from the dog thinking it's ok to pee on this floor, the other problem, is, its cold under-foot, so I have a couple of questions: 1, would you go the whole hog and take it back to the quarry tiles or go for the cheaper option? and if we scatter rugs over these floors, do we need to use only natural fibre rugs so that the floor can breath?

 

[Cubist]

Buy some warm slippers, boot the dog up the rear if it cocks a leg or squats and yes to quarry tiles and rugs - washable just in case you can't get to the dog in time.

 

[Demi]

Thanks Cubist

 

[Kearn]

No ‘specialist’ required. They would probably recommend modern Lino / ripping up and adding concrete and DPM / sealing etc…

Assuming the terracotta is bedded on lime rather than something impermeable, you could do the easy thing and keep it as is. Then as you say, only natural fibre rugs, use a mesh backer if they slip. Then the floor can evaporate moisture. Move rugs / furniture from time to time and try to use raised furniture with legs rather than solid against the floor.

The preferable option, is return to clay tiles. However, yes it’s more work, and they may not be in decent enough shape after centuries of abuse. Only easy way to find out is to be committed, and appreciate you may have to replace/ massively add in reclaimed to end up with a full serviceable floor. Being laid on ash/earth is perfectly normal and likely original.
it will allow moisture out, so don’t seal. If you try to lift and relay, chances are you’ll damage the tiles as they get fragile as they wear thin. Plus relaying won’t be easy, due to variable thicknesses. You’ll also lose the footsteps of history worn into traffic routes.

Get slippers, keep the room heated and well ventilated and you won’t have an issue.

Regarding the dog, that’s just training I’m afraid, of both owner and pup*, the house doesn’t need to change!

* not meant to sound judgemental, we are owned by a Beardie who loves cold hard floors…!

 

[Demi]

Thank you Kearn, you said what I wanted to hear. I grew up in a medieval house and my parents were paranoid about keeping that house as natural as possible. My mum used to say, "The house needs to breathe and it was built to breath, so why do all these modern things to it which leave it unbreathable?"
The footsteps of time give the house a romantic edge which I very much embrace.
We will wait for spring/summer before exploring more on how to restore this floor.
As for the dog, he's 11 years old and never before peed inside, so I believe he's just confused atm! He has a huge garden, so the excuses will run out pretty quickly.

One question: You said not to seal the floor and that's understandable, but I thought terracotta/quarry slates had to be sealed or they would disintegrate?

​

 

[Cubist]

Your dogs just marking his new territory - did the PO have one or maybe a cat?

The only legitimate reason to seal a quarry tile is inhibit/prevent staining, it does not nothing to aid preservation of the tiles structure.

Cubist - aka Far Flung Son of the Potteries.

P.S. My increasingly challenged memory caused me to forget that some advise sealing quarry tiles after they are first laid but before they are grouted in - but this advice was aimed at those who may later want to lift the tiles and remove the hardened grout from its edges. I'm not sure who might ever want to do this though.

 

[Demi]

@Cubist, yes, the previous owner had dogs and a cat, so you are likely right.

That's good news regarding not having to seal them. When I wash the floor (just water) it dries super quick which is great. Its not great that when my dog pees on the tiles and it absorbs that pee super quick though!