How to Remove Glaze From Terracotta Tiles

Sweep the tile clean of debris, and fit a palm-sander with 150-grit sandpaper. Put on a dust mask and protective work gloves.

Sand the tile with the palm sander, holding the sander flat against the surface of the tile. Begin sanding in one corner of each tile, and work the sander in a circular motion around the tile. To avoid burn marks, do not press hard on the sander; allow the weight of the sander to do the work.

Vacuum the tile clean with a shop-vac or handheld vacuum after the initial sanding. Check the sandpaper, and replace if it worn.

Repeat the sanding and vacuuming process until the glaze is removed. Thoroughly sweep the work area, and carefully vacuum any remaining debris before continuing.

Put on a pair of rubber gloves, and wash the de-glazed tile with a trisodium phosphate cleaning solution. Dip the sponge into the solution and wipe the tile until it is free of dirt, oil and sandpaper residue.

Prime the prepared tile with bonding primer before re-painting. If you prefer the look of raw terracotta, install the de-glazed tile in a rustic setting without painting.