tile restoration

The client from Carlisle had been putting off cleaning and sealing their Victorian tiled hallway floor for some time. Having finally decided it was overdue a clean and seal I was asked to pop round and provide a quote for its renovation.

Happy to oblige I popped over at an agreed time to inspect the floor and work out a detailed quote. I could see there were a few minor repairs to the tiling that would be needed so I included those in the work and worked out a detailed quote to bring the floor back to its original condition.

The quote was accepted and date agreed for the work to start which typically takes two days for a floor like this.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The first job was to add protection to the stair carpet, new oak doors, skirtings, and surrounding surfaces. The rotary machine I used for scrubbing the floor can cause a little mess, so I like to ensure all the adjacent areas were sealed and safeguarded from moisture and chemical exposure.

Once done I set about completing a few minor repairs which are quite common with a floor of this age where a couple of tiles had come loose and needed refixing with rapid set adhesive.

With that complete I set about on the initial deep clean which started with the application of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel across the entire floor. This was chosen for its thicker consistency and reduced use of water due to the cellar immediately below the hallway. The product was allowed to dwell on the tiles for a good ten minutes before being agitated using a deck brush and rotary scrubber fitted with a black pad.

The machine was run over each tile five or six times to lift deep-set grime and reveal the original colours of the tiles. Once done, the soiling was extracted with a wet vacuum, and the floor was neutralised with clean water which was also removed with the wet vacuum.

Next step was to treat the tiles to an acid rinse using diluted Tile Doctor Acid Gel. This is applied to the tiles as before and is used to remove cement-based residues, mineral deposits, and remaining contaminants. The gel was allowed to dwell briefly and then removed using a wet vacuum.

Multiple floor fans were deployed after the cleaning process to accelerate drying and ensure the tiles would be dry enough to seal the following day.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The next day moisture readings were taken in several spots to confirm the floor was dry and that the fans had done their job. Using Gel cleaners reduces the amount of water needed in the cleaning process which also helps reduce drying times.

To seal the tiles multiple coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow impregnating sealer were applied to enhance the natural colour, improve depth, and protect the surface. Overall, this achieved a clean, uniform, revitalised finish while maintaining the floor’s original Victorian character.

The transformation was clear and the client was extremely pleased with the result and left great feedback. For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is an effective product that won’t impact the sealer.

 

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in North Cumbria