Renovation Archives - Cambridge Tile Doctor

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before After Restoration Godmanchester

Removing Screed and Adhesive from Kitchen Quarry Tiles in Godmanchester

We received a call from a repeat client in the historic town of Godmanchester who needed help with a Quarry tiled Kitchen floor. The property had several period features that were to be kept as part of the restoration project. In fact, we had been out to the property before having restored the brick hallway floor, Victorian tiled dining room floor and fireplace quarry tiles. It’s always nice to return to previous clients and is testament to how satisfied they are with our previous work. The project was progressing and this time it was the kitchen floor that needed restoration.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor Before Screed Removal Godmanchester

The kitchen Quarry tiles were in quote a state, with adhesive and screed poured over the surface from a previous occupant who had put down vinyl over the tiles. The current owner had managed to remove the vinyl but was unsure how to tackle the screed and adhesive, so we were asked to do the work. I ran some tests to work out the best way to approach the job and once I was satisfied, I was able to give them a price for the work. They were happy to go ahead so we arranged a mutually convenient time.

Cleaning Cement Screed and Glue off Kitchen Quarry Tiles

This was one of the hardest removals I can remember doing and, in the end, it took two and a half days of hard work to complete. I used an air powered needle gun and scrappers to remove the majority of screed and glue from the affected area but still had to resort to hammer and chisel in places.

To further clean up the tiles I then scrubbed the tile and grout with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and Tile Doctor Acid Gel which was worked in together and then rinsed with water. The resultant soiling was then extracted using a wet vacuum. This process was repeated until I was satisfied the floor was as clean as it could be.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor

With no one living at the property the heating was not turned on and so I left the floor for a week to give it time to dry out. Also, on my return I tested the tiles with a damp meter to be 100% sure it was ready to take a sealer.

Given the age of the property we selected to seal the floor using Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. The client didn’t want a high sheen finish, so this was the perfect solution. It’s a breathable impregnating sealer which is hardwearing and ideal for busy areas such as the kitchen. The first coat revived the colour and the second coat, added a nice subtle sheen finish.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Screed Removal Godmanchester

My client was very pleased with the floor transformation and I was able to complete the restoration in time for the installation of new kitchen units the following month.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, which is a gentle but effective pH neutral tile and grout cleaning product. This will keep the floor looking in great condition and ensure the newly applied seal retains its integrity.

Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor After Restoration Godmanchester

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Kitchen in Cambridgeshire

Removing Screed and Adhesive from Kitchen Quarry Tiles in Godmanchester Read More »

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before and After Cleaning in Chippenham

Renovating an Original Edwardian Tiled Hallway to Peak Condition in Chippenham

1 Comment / Soham Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Tom Conlon

Edwardian-style tiled floors are very much of a likeness with Victorian-style tiled floors, both typically being made of encaustic cement and styled in painted in geometric patterns. The main difference, of course, is that Edwardian tiles are a main feature of Edwardian-era houses (1901-1910), while Victorian tiles are found in slightly older properties.

As with many Victorian tiled floors, we’ve found that Edwardian tiled floors have commonly been hidden away for many years under carpet or some other form of covering. These hallway Edwardian tiles, at a property in Chippenham, had been covered by carpet for 30 years. Upon removing the carpet, we could see why – the hallway was covered in paint splashes, decades’ worth of dirt and, of course, adhesive stains from the underlay.

Edwardian Tiled Hallway Covered in Carpet and Before Restoration in Chippenham

My task was to restore the hallway floor back to its peak condition, when it was first installed over a century ago.

Edwardian Tiled Hallway UnCovered Before Restoration in Chippenham

Cleaning an Original Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

The first step of the restoration was to ensure the walls surrounding the hallway were protected. I did this by applying a protective film around the edges of the room. Next, I removed all the old carpet grippers and adhesive deposits manually using a handheld scraper.

Edwardian Tiled Hallway Prepared for Restoration in Chippenham

Tile Doctor Remove and Go was then applied to the floor to strip away any old sealant, which certainly by now was no longer effectual. This product also helped to break down the paint stains on the surface of the floor, though I also used a handheld scraper, as well as a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad, to speed up the process of removing both the sealant and the paint.

Edwardian Tiled Hallway During Restoration in Chippenham

To complete the cleaning process, I applied Tile Doctor Acid Gel, which is a blend of phosphoric and hydrochloric acids in a gel form, formulated to remove grout haze (grout smears) and treat efflorescence which is the formation of white salts on the surface of the tile.

Sealing an Original Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

I left the floor to dry completely overnight after installing air movers to assist with the process. These older properties do not typically have damp-proof membrane installed, which makes damp issues a real possibility. Upon returning to the property the following day, I ran some damp tests, and thankfully the tiles proved dry and ready to be resealed.

To do this, I used one coat of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal, which is a penetrating sealer designed for maximum stain protection. I then also added four coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go to provide the customer with the low-sheen, highly quality finish he desired.

He was so impressed with the outcome that he left the following glowing review on the Tile Doctor feedback system:

“Tile Doctor did an excellent job, starting from a very dirty and paint covered surface. The hallway floor now looks fantastic, just like it was a century ago. I’m pleased to recommend Cambridge Tile Doctor.”

Edwardian Tiled Hallway After Sealing in Chippenham

Professional Restoration of a Carpet Covered Original Edwardian Tiled Hallway in Cambridgeshire

Renovating an Original Edwardian Tiled Hallway to Peak Condition in Chippenham Read More »