Victorian Tile Cleaning

Welcome to my Work History archive where you will find detailed examples of the cleaning and renovation of Victorian tiles carried out in Tyneside

Cleaning and Renovating Victorian Tiles

Commonly found in the hallways of oldder UK properties Victorian tiles are very hard wearing and can provide a classic look to any space. We often find that the beauty of these tiles are hidden under years of grime and neglect and are often covered up with carpets etc as tastes have changed over the years. If this sounds familiar then all is not lost as they can be restored.

The standard bearer for quality Victorian tiles was a firm called Minton Hollins, an English manufacturer who made a very good product which lasted the test of time. Victorian building practices however did not include the use of damp proof membranes and we often find damp can be a major issue with these old floors leading to salt problems known as efflorescence.

Common problems we face when restoring Victorian tiles are the removal of carpet glue, paint splashes and cement. Loose and cracked tiles can also be a problem however due to their popularity we usually find finding replacement tiles isn’t a problem.

Below you will find detailed examples of work we have carried out in the past, it should give you some idea of what’s involved and what can be achieved with the right techniques and products.

Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor Restoration Hebburn

Water Damaged Victorian Tiled Village Hall Floor Fully Restored in Hebburn

1 Comment / Encaustic Cement Tile Cleaning, Hebburn Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning /

I was asked to quote for restoring a heavily marked and dirty Encaustic tiled Victorian floor at a village hall outside Hebburn. I was told there had been water damage and the tiles were in a very sorry state however these old floors can take a lot of punishment, and it never fails to surprise me just how well they can be recovered.

Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor Before Restoration Hebburn

I arranged a site visit to inspect the floor and discussed with the client the process I would use to restore it to its former glory. Having taken detailed notes and measurements, I was able to work out a plan for its restoration and from this provide a detailed quotation. The management team of the hall were keen to have the work done and I was given the go-ahead.

Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor Before Restoration Hebburn Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor Before Restoration Hebburn

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway

Having agreed a date for the work to start I began by giving the floor a good vacuum to clear any loose debris on the floor. I then applied a gel-based product called Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel to the tiles to keep moisture levels to a minimum. Old floors like these don’t have a damp proof membrane so you must take care not to exacerbate any damp issues. These tiles would be very porous after years of neglect and lack of sealer.

With the gel applied I used carbide brushes of increasing grits to start the cleaning and scrub away the worst of the stubborn dirt stuck to the tiles. This was then rinsed off and the slurry removed with a wet vacuum.

This improved the condition of the tiles, but more work was needed so another coat of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel was applied and the scrubbing repeated but this time using a coarse 200-grit diamond pad. This did the job, and you could really see the tiles coming back to life. Again, this was rinsed off and extracted as before.

The floor was then given an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which further cleans the tiles and neutralises the pH level of the floor which would have been high due to the use of Oxy-Gel which is alkaline. The gel was scrubbed in with a brush and then rinsed off and extracted as before. The acidic nature of this product also dissolves any efflorescent salts which can be a common issue with old floors like this one, especially if they have been damp in the past.

The floor was then left to dry over a two-week period; they needed that long as this work was completed in the middle of winter. As mentioned before there was no damp-proof course and the tiles had experienced previous flood damage, so they took quite a while before they were fully dry ready for sealing.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

I went back after two weeks, and after confirming the tiles were dry with a moisture meter proceeded to apply the first of what would be two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This was chosen as it contains a colour enhancer that did a lovely job of improving the colours in the tile, it’s also fully breathable which will help with any damp issues going forward.

Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor After Restoration Hebburn

As you can see this old Victorian tiled floor was vastly improved by the process and should keep that way for many more years to come. For aftercare I advised the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which won’t harm the sealer.

Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor After Restoration Hebburn Large Victorian Tiled Hall Floor After Restoration Hebburn

 

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Floor in Tyneside

Water Damaged Victorian Tiled Village Hall Floor Fully Restored in Hebburn Read More »

Victorian Floor Renovation Loftus Town Hall

Restoring the Beauty of a Victorian Tiled Floor at Loftus Town Hall

1 Comment / Victorian Tile Cleaning /

Late last year I was asked by Loftus Town Hall to pop down and look at renovating the beautiful Victorian Tiled flooring which needed renovation. They had experienced a flood previously and now the floor had had chance to dry out it was time to restore it back to its former beauty. I am based in South Sheilds so it’s a bit out of my area but I was happy to help.

Victorian Floor Before Renovation Loftus Town Hall

I arranged an initial visit to assess the floors condition and I could that the sealer had worn thin in the high traffic areas and this had allowed dirt to penetrate the tiles leaving them dull and uninviting. We agreed that the best course of action would be best to strip off what was left of the sealer throughout, deep clean the tiles and then re-seal. A quote was sent and accepted.

Victorian Floor Before Renovation Loftus Town Hall

Stripping and Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

The first stage was to remove what was left of the sealer. This work started by spraying the tiles with a strong 50:50 dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and then followed this up with a coating of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel leaving both products to dwell for sixty minutes. This is a long time but this gives the product plenty of time to break down the old sealer and dirt.

The town hall is Grade II listed and was built in 1879 well before the invention of the damp-proof-membrane so I wanted to keep the use of water to a minimum to reduce drying times.

I then proceeded to work the solution into the tiles using a Black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine and extracted the resultant slurry using a wet vacuum. The floor was then checked and any stubborn areas re-treated. The floor was given a quick rinse and then dried.

The next day I attached a 240-grit carbide brush to the buffer machine and ran it over the floor to ensure all the sealer and dirt was removed. This was then followed up with a 200-grit diamond pad to improve the surface of the worn tiles. Only water was used during this process for lubrication and once complete the soiling was rinsed and removed with the wet vacuum.

The floor was then given an acid rinse with Tile Doctor Acid Gel. This further cleans up the tiles countering any dormant salts in the tiles and neutralises the pH level of the tiles after the use of the use of strong alkaline cleaning products earlier.

After a final rinse and extraction with the wet vacuum I prepared the floor ready for sealing the following day.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Floor

For sealing I had recommended Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra which leaves a lovely subtle satin finish and is fully breathable so is perfect to use on old floors that don’t have a damp-proof membrane like this one.

Victorian Floor After Renovation Loftus Town Hall

Before starting with the sealer application, the moisture levels in the floor were checked with a damp meter. Sealing a damp floor can lead to a patchy finish so I was pleased to see the floor had dried and the plan to keep water use to a minimum had paid off.

The first coat was applied leaving an hour between coats to allow for drying. In total four coats were applied which left durable protection and a desirable sheen finish that lifted the appearance of the floor.

Victorian Floor After Renovation Loftus Town Hall Victorian Floor After Renovation Loftus Town Hall

For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner as it’s a mild yet effective cleaner that won’t impact the sealer. This is especially important with public areas like this one as cleaning teams tend to utilise much stronger and unsuitable products.

 

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in North Yorkshire

Restoring the Beauty of a Victorian Tiled Floor at Loftus Town Hall Read More »

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