Oxy-Gel Archives - Warwickshire Tile Doctor

Geometric Edwardian Floor Restoration Mount Nod Coventry

Edwardian Tile Hallway Restoration in Mount Nod Coventry

The photographs below are of an Edwardian tiled hallway floor in a large double bay 1920’s house in the Mount Nod area of Coventry. These beautiful geometric tiled floors are very typical for the housing stock in the area however over the years some have fared better than others.

Geometric Edwardian Floor Before Restoration Mount Nod Coventry

This particular floor was discovered by the homeowner after removing an old carpet and underlay for replacement. Rather than covering it up again they thought it would be a good idea to have it restored and therefore I was asked to call in and quote for the work.

The tiles leading into the kitchen and other doorways were heavily damaged, and some areas had been back filled with concrete, all of which would need replacing with matching tiles. After researching the cost of replacement tiles with Craven Dunhill I worked out a quote which was accepted, and a date set for the restoration to start.

Cleaning and repairing an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

Work started with the repairing of the damaged areas which included removing damaged tiles and chipping out concrete. You have to be really careful when doing this as the last thing you want is to disturb the surrounding tiles and making more work for yourself. The exposed areas were cleaned up and prepped for the replacement tiles which were cut to shape so they would match the existing geometric pattern. Only once the pattern was replicated, the replacement were tiles secured in place with a rapid setting adhesive.

Once the tiles had set, I moved onto cleaning the whole floor for which I used a low moisture gel-based cleaning products. I tend to avoid the use of liquids on old floors like this as they were laid before the invention of damp proof membranes so there’s nothing to prevent moisture rising from the ground. Excess moisture can result in unwanted efflorescence deposits so using too much water is best avoided, it’s a common issue with these floors especially when they have been covered in carpet and underlay as this prevents the floor from being able to breathe.

With that in mind I applied Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel to the tile surface and left it to dwell for ten minutes before scrubbing it in with a black pad fitted to a rotary buffer. This is a strong alkaline tile cleaning agent that breaks down dirt and old sealers etc, I was then able to extract the soiling using a wet vacuum and a little water.

Next up was to give the floor an acid rinse using another gel-based product, Tile Doctor Acid Gel. Being acidic this product neutralises the floor following the use of the alkaline cleaning products and neutralises any efflorescent salts that may have built up in the tiles. After working in the Tile Doctor Acid Gel, it was then removed with the wet vacuum and the floor given a light rinse with water. The wet vacuum was then used to remove as much moisture as possible from the floor before leaving it to dry off fully overnight.

Sealing an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

The next day I returned and began by checking the moisture levels in the floor using a damp meter. Applying a sealer to damp tiles can produce inconsistent results so best avoided.

The results confirmed the floor was dry so I was able to proceed and seal the floor using Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. I chose this product because it’s a fully breathable and therefore will cope well with any moisture rising through the tile allowing it to evaporate at the surface and not become trapped underneath where it could cause problems. The sealer soaks into the pores of the tile protecting them from within and ensuring any dirt will remain on the surface where its easily removed.

Geometric Edwardian Floor After Restoration Mount Nod Coventry

For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is an effective tile cleaning product that is pH neutral and won’t impact the sealer. Sealers can be removed with stronger cleaning products that are only designed for use on glazed tiles or Vinyl so always take care to read the label when choosing a product.

Professional Restoration of an Edwardian Tiled Hallway in Warwickshire

Edwardian Tile Hallway Restoration in Mount Nod Coventry Read More »

Edwardian Period Tiled Hallway Floor Renovation Coundon Coventry

Edwardian Tiled Hallway renovation in Coundon

These photos are from a 1930’s double bay house in Coundon Coventry, a property which is quite common in the area, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are hundreds of other houses with a hidden Edwardian tiled floor in the hallway just like this one.

Edwardian Period Tiled Hallway Floor Before Renovation Coundon Coventry

The tiled floor had been under carpet for years and was very damp after removing the carpet and underlay, these floors were laid before the invention of a damp proof membrane and so need to be allowed to breathe so the moisture in the ground can rise through the tile and evaporate at the surface. The rubber backing of the carpet underlay prevents this and hence the build-up of moisture in the floor.

If the damp issue wasn’t enough the tiles had at some point in their long history been painted red and some sort of adhesive had been used to secure the carpet. After a thorough inspection I formulated a plan for the renovation and discussed the costs with the client. They were happy to go ahead and pleased to know that restoration was possible.

Cleaning an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

To break down the paint I applied Tile Doctor Remove and Go and left it to soak in for about thirty minutes before scrubbing with a rotary floor buffer fitted with a Black pad. This was followed by an application of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel waiting again for 30 minutes this time using a very coarse 50-grit pad then a 100-grit pad. The soiled gel was then removed with a wet vacuum. These coarse pads are made with industrial diamonds and are very good at removing the pattern left by the carpet and underlay which over the years becomes imprinted on the surface of the tile.

Edwardian Period Tiled Hallway Floor During Renovation Coundon Coventry

Next, to tackle the efflorescence from the lack of damp proof membrane I applied Tile Doctor Acid Gel and cleaned the floor with a 400-grit burnishing pad, the soiled gel was removed and the corners and edges treated by hand using small burnishing blocks.

The floor was then wiped over to remove further soiling. Doing it this way and using gel cleaning products instead of using lots of water to rinse off the soiling keeps the moisture in the floor to a minimum which is important on a floor like this one with inherent damp problems. The floor was then speed dried with an air mover and a heat gun. I then re-grouted the floor.

Sealing an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning the following morning, I tested the floor with a damp meter to check the floor was ready for sealing. The readings were within acceptable levels which gave me the green light to proceed. It’s not a good idea to apply a sealer to a damp floor as the results can be inconsistent.

I selected to use Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is a breathable sealer that will allow for moisture to rise through the tiles. The sealer really revived the colour of the tiles and really brought out their warmth.

Three coats of X-Tra seal were applied in total allowing each one to dry before applying the next. This is a very hardwearing sealer so should ensure this high traffic area is well protected for some years to come and three coats gives the floor a nice appealing shine.

Edwardian Period Tiled Hallway Floor After Renovation Coundon Coventry

My client was delighted with the outcome and said they would recommend us to friends and neighbours so who knows how many similar floors we will uncover! For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Clean which is a gentle tile cleaning product designed for use on sealed tiles.

Professional Renovation of an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor in Warwickshire

Edwardian Tiled Hallway renovation in Coundon Read More »

Tar-Covered Victorian Floor Restored in Nuneaton

Tar Stained Victorian Tiled Hallway Restored in Nuneaton

1 Comment / Nuneaton Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning / Mick Gayton

The photos below are of a Victorian Tiled Hallway at a property in Nuneaton, the owner of the property had decided the carpet was past its best and having removed it was pleased to find an original Victorian tiled floor underneath.

Tar-Covered Victorian Floor Before Restoration Nuneaton

However, the tiles were thoroughly stained with Tar of all things and so we were called in to do restore it. Tar and Bitumen are waterproof and were traditionally used to prevent damp from coming up through the floor. Old floors like this one were laid before Damp Proof Courses were invented. The trouble with this approach however is it pushes the damp problem elsewhere such as the walls which can lead to rising damp. The best solution is to let the floor breath so the moisture can evaporate at the surface of the tile.

Another problem with this floor were several loose and broken tiles which would need replacing however the tar staining made it difficult to order replacements as I couldn’t be sure about the colours and how many to order.

Cleaning and Repairing a Dirty and Damaged Victorian Tiled Floor

Deep cleaning the Victorian tiles was very hard work and had to try different combinations of solvents to remove the tar and deep clean the floor. I started with Tile Doctor Remove and Go combined with Nanotech HBU and leaving it to soak in for fifteen minutes before working it in with a coarse diamond encrusted burnishing pad. I had to use several burnishing pads of different grits to get the Tar off the tiles and they were clogged with Tar once completed. I had to work in stages and all the soil generated was extracted with a wet vacuum.

To keep the moisture levels of the floor low I followed up with an application of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel which being a Gel cleaner its very east to manage and only needs a small amount of water to rinse it off with afterwards. The gel was worked into the floor with another burnishing pad and the soiling extracted afterwards with a wet vacuum as before.

The next consideration was a build-up of efflorescence in the pores of the tile, this happens where alkaline salts held in moisture under the floor get left on the surface as unsightly white deposits when it evaporates at the surface. Basic chemistry will tell you that you can counter an alkaline with an acid and to do this I gave the whole floor an acid wash using another Tile Doctor product called Acid Gel which again being a Gel keeps the use of water to a minimum.

By the end of the first day the old tiles were clean and I was able to work out how many tiles I would need and of course what colour I would need. The restoration project was therefore put on hold until I can source the replacement tiles and install them.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Floor

With the cracked and broken tiles replaced I was able to return and apply a fresh sealer that would protect the floor from staining and merge the appearance of the old and new tiles together and make it easier for the property owner to keep the tiles clean going forward.

I knew from the history of this floor I would need a fully breathable sealer that could cope with potential damp that could still be trapped under the floor. The carpet has only been removed a few ago so I applied Tile Doctor X-Tra seal which can be used internally and externally. It leaves a matt finish but was the ideal product for a floor like this one.

Tar-Covered Victorian Floor After Restoration Nuneaton

For aftercare I advised the owner to use Tile Doctor Neutral Clean, it’s an effective day to day tile cleaning product which is gentle enough that it can be used regularly on a sealed tile floor. You do have to be careful with supermarket cleaners as many contain bleach which can strip the sealer off a tiled floor leaving it vulnerable.

Professional Restoration of a Stained Victorian Tiled Floor in Warwickshire

Tar Stained Victorian Tiled Hallway Restored in Nuneaton Read More »