For certain types of Cotto, this treatment is applied before the material leaves the factory, and the tile is supplied as a finished product (for example LUCE and Aurora are finished tiles).
All other Cotto products are untreated, and the operation of treating and protecting the surface is done on site. This is essential indoors, whereas outdoors it is not necessary and even inadvisable, as it robs the material of its natural breathability and prevents potentially damaging moisture trapped under the floor from evaporating freely.
Treatment for indoor is an exact process involving certain distinct steps:
The first two steps are carried out generally by the flooring contractors, once only, whereas the third is a simple operation repeated periodically by the user throughout the life of the Cotto surface, and will serve also to keep the floor clean.
WASHING
This operation is fundamentally important to the success of the following treatment step, and must not be carried out until the bonding interface has dried (20-30 days are needed typically for cement mortar, and 10-15 days for tile adhesive, depending on weather and seasonal conditions).
TREATMENT
Treatment is carried out on the floor when dry (the room should be well aired during these operations, even in winter, so that moisture can evaporate more easily); the floor will need between 3 and 10 days to dry after being washed, depending on the season, the type of Cotto and the method of installation.
There are many types of treatment, and no lack of good proprietary products available, traditional and modern alike.
Traditional treatment using paste wax:
Treatment using liquid waxes:
With these products, the procedure is much simpler than with traditional paste waxes. Liquid waxes are self-levelling and self-polishing water emulsions applied in successive coats with a brush or rag (no “elbow grease” required).
MAINTENANCE
The floor will now need no further treatment, but it can be freshened up periodically, depending on the level of wear and tear, with a proprietary liquid wax available from stores everywhere.
For normal cleaning purposes, use neutral detergents or simply wash with clean water.