Remove and Go Archives - Worcestershire Tile Doctor

Encaustic Tiled Hallway Floor Restoration Worcester

Encaustic Cement Tiled Hallway Floor Restored in Worcester

I received an enquiry regarding the restoration of an Encaustic Tiled floor in the hallway of an Edwardian property in Worcester. I arranged a visit to assess the floor and come up with a plan for its restoration.

Edwardian Tiled Floor Before Restoration Worcester

The client wanted the whole floor restoring to its original condition including retiling a section just behind the front door that had been dug up to install pipe work back in the 1980’s and then backfilled with screed.

I work on these sorts of projects all the time so happily agreed to the work on condition I could find matching replacement tiles. There are several suppliers in the UK and fortunately I managed to track down the necessary replacements from a reclaimed tile supplier I know. They confirmed I could get the required tiles, so I sent a quote to the client, which was accepted, and a date was arranged to start the restoration.

Cleaning and restoring an Edwardian Tiled Hallway

Day one was spent carefully removing the old screed as I would need to install one at the right level to allow for the replacement tiles to be in installed. This has to be done very carefully so as not to disturb the rest of the tiled floor. The rubble was then removed and a new cement base laid to the correct level in order to take the new tiles.

Edwardian Tiled Floor During Restoration Worcester

The next stage was to cut and dry lay the replacement tiles to match the original pattern and check everything fitted, making adjustments where necessary. Once I was happy with the lay out, I started fixing the tiles starting with the border and then the main patterned inset. This was meticulous work that required the new tiles to fit the existing geometric pattern exactly. This was completed over 2 days including grouting.

Once the floor had set overnight, I moved onto the restorative cleaning. This started with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which was worked into the floor using a coarse 100-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary buffer machine to remove what was left of the old sealer. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soiling extracted using a wet vacuum.

The next step was to give the floor an acid wash using using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which was pasted onto the floor and then worked in with a finer 200-grit diamond pad. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with the wet vacuum as before.

Sealing an Edwardian Tiled Hallway

The floor was left to fully dry overnight, and I returned on day four to apply a protective sealer. Sealer options were discussed earlier and for this floor we had chosen Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a durable impregnating sealer that contains a colour enhancer.

Impregnating sealers work by soaking into the tile, occupying the pores and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This ensures dirt remains on the floor where it can be easily cleaned away.

Edwardian Tiled Floor After Restoration Worcester

As you can see from the photos the floor was returned to how it should look, and the client was absolutely delighted.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended they use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is mild but effective tile cleaning product that won’t damage the sealer.

Professional Restoration of an Edwardian Tiled Hallway in Worcestershire

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Victorian Conservatory Floor Extended in Malvern

Extending a Victorian Tiled Conservatory floor in Malvern

1 Comment / Malvern Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning / Mark Conway

I was contacted by a homeowner in Malvern who had a conservatory floor that was tiled in Quarry and Victorian tiles. They wanted a quote for removing the Red Quarry tiles and replacing with matching Victorian tiles. The Victorian floor tiles looked so much more interesting and beautiful than the Quarry so it was definitely the right thing to do.

Victorian Conservatory Floor Before Extending Malvern 064734

My background is tiling so undertaking this sort of work is not a problem, my only concern was tracking down Victorian tiles that would match the original. With this in mind I popped over to the house and took all the necessary measurements and tile colour samples. I was then able to use this to research suitable matching replacements and put together a quote for the work. Happy with my price my quote was accepted and agreed a date for the work to commence.

Extending a Victorian Tiled Conservatory Floor

The first step was to remove the Quarry tiles and prepare the base to accept the new tiles making sure to get the level just right. This can be a messy and dusty job but fortunately being in a conservatory there was plenty of ventilation through the patio doors. The floor was then cleaned up ready to take the replacement tiles which as it turned out wasn’t that difficult to source as they are still very popular.

Victorian Conservatory Floor During Extension Malvern 064734

I then set out spirit and laser levels and tiled the inset of the main floor, this is meticulous work as many of the tiles had to be cut to just the right size to match the original pattern. The tiles are then laid dry onto the floor so ensure they pattern is exactly right before being fixed permanently in place with adhesive.

Once this central section was dry, I moved onto the borders making sure to replicate the existing border pattern along the walls, again this was meticulous work and it took 3 days before all the tiling work was complete and I was able to grout the floor.

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Conservatory Floor

On the fourth day the tiling work was complete, and I set about giving the original Victorian floor a thorough clean starting with the application of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to remove any remnants of sealer, paint splashes from decorating and other marks. The solution was left to soak into the tile and grout for ten minutes before being worked in with a 100-grit diamond pad to really get the dirt off.

After a rinse with water the soiling was then removed with a wet vacuum. This was followed up with a 200-grit diamond pad applied only with water for lubrication and again the soiling generated was rinsed off and extracted with a wet vacuum.

The whole floor was then treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel. This final step in the cleaning process removes any grout smears left over from tiling and further cleans up the tiles. After a final rinse and extraction, the floor was left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Conservatory Floor

I returned the next day to seal the tiles checking first that the floor was dry by taking a few moisture readings with a damp tester. This confirmed the floor was dry and ready for sealing for which I used Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is an oil-based sealer that adds character and a subtle shine to Victorian tiles. It’s also fully breathable sealer with built in UV protect that is rated for internal and external use and so ideal for a conservatory floor.

Victorian Conservatory Floor After Extension Malvern 064734

Over the course of the five days the floor was transformed, and my customer was very happy with result and confirmed it was the right decision. For aftercare of Victorian floor tiles, I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is an effective yet gentle floor cleaning product that won’t degrade the sealer.

Professional Extension of a Victorian Tiled Conservatory Floor in Worcestershire

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Black Slate Kitchen Floor Restoration St Johns Worcester

Black Slate Kitchen Floor Renovated in St Johns Worcester

1 Comment / Grout Cleaning and Sealing, Slate Tile Cleaning, Worcester Tile Cleaning / Mark Conway

I’m not sure what was previously used to seal these Black Slate floor tiles in the kitchen of a property in the St Johns suburb of Worcester but something had not gone well. The sealer had completely failed and was starting to peel off resulting in a very unsightly appearance.

Slate Kitchen Floor Before Restoration St Johns Worcester

The owner was not happy, as well as the peeling the floor had lost its colour and now looked terrible. I was called in to strip the old sealer off the Slate and replace with something more hard wearing.

I visited the property to survey the floor and investigate the full extent of the problems. After running a few tests, I discussed the process for restoring the Slate. They were happy to go ahead with my quote and we booked in a mutually convenient date for the work to commence.

Removing Sealer from a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

To strip off the failed sealer the floor was sprayed with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go with Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel applied on top. Both these products are powerful strippers and Oxy-Gel is also a cleaner. Using a Black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary floor machine the products were worked into the floor.

This process did a good job of removing the old sealer and cleaning up the tiles and after the pad had been across the whole floor it was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum. The process was then repeated until I was satisfied that all the sealer had been removed and the ingrained dirt had been released from the pores of the stone.

Once the floor was clean, I moved my attention to the grout lines, these were flushed and scrubbed with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean worked in by hand with a scrubbing brush. After another rinse and extract the floor was left to dry off overnight.

Slate Kitchen Floor During Restoration St Johns Worcester

Sealing a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor

The next day I returned to seal the tiles first checking they were dry using a damp meter. All was well so I moved onto applying the sealer which for this Slate floor I had chosen Tile Doctors newest sealing product called X-Tra Seal. This is an oil-based impregnator that works from withing by soaking into the pores of the stone, occupying the pores and thus preventing dirt from residing there.
Several coats of sealer were applied and by the time I had finished the floor was completely transformed. The new sealer had worked wonders on the Slate bringing out the dark colours and character whilst adding durable protection. The floor was now restored and looking how it should.

Slate Kitchen Floor After Restoration St Johns Worcester

For aftercare cleaning I recommended they use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which will help keep the floor in tip top condition. This is a pH neutral product which is mild enough to be used daily, it will ensure that the newly applied sealer is not compromised unlike some household cleaners which are simply too strong and can break it down.

The floor looked great as you can see from the pictures and the client was very happy with the completed work, another happy Tile Doctor client.

Professional Restoration of a Slate Tiled Kitchen Floor in Worcestershire

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Slate Tiled Floor Before After Renovation Bromsgrove

Slate Floor Tile and Grout Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Bromsgrove

1 Comment / Elmbridge Tile Cleaning, Grout Colouring, Slate Tile Cleaning / Mark Conway

Earlier this year I visited a customer in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove who was considering replacing their Slate tiled floor due to the fact it was looking grey and unappealing. Realising this would be an expensive option I was asked to pop round and quote for renovating it instead.

Slate Tiled Floor Before Cleaning Bromsgrove

After visiting to survey the floor and quote for the renovation I explained that my renovation plan was to use diamond pads to resurface and clean the slate and flush and clean the grout lines. I could then seal the Slate to restore the colour and protect the stone from ingrained dirt and staining. A quote was sent, excepted and a date agreed to start the work.

Removing Old Sealer and Deep Cleaning Slate Tile and Grout

There was still evidence of the original sealer on the floor and this would need to be removed before applying a fresh sealer. So, to bring the Slate tiles back to life my first step was to spray the Tile and Grout with a strong cleaning and coatings remover called Tile Doctor Remove and Go which was worked into the floor using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The floor was then rinsed with water and the slurry extracted with a wet vacuum.

With the old sealer removed I then moved onto to deep cleaning the tile and grout using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel which being a gel is extremely easy to control and is great for treating stubborn areas. This was worked into the tile and grout with diamond encrusted burnishing pads of different grits until I was satisfied the Slate was as clean as it could be.

After another rinse and extraction, I turned my attention to the Grout, pads can struggle to get into the recesses of the grout line so I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean onto the grout and worked it by hand with stiff grout brushes.

After a final rinse and extraction with the wet vacuum the floor was left to dry out overnight.

Sealing Slate Floor Tiles

The sealer stripping and cleaning took up most of the first day so day two I returned on day two to seal the floor, first checking the stone was dry enough to accept a sealer. I use a damp meter to check the moisture levels on various parts of the stone and all the readings were within tolerance. We do not recommend applying a sealer to a damp floor as the results can be patchy.

To seal the Slate and get the appearance my client was looking for I applied Tile Doctor X-Tra seal which is a very modern oil-based sealer that works well on dark Slate enhancing the black colours and giving a deep but subtle shine to the stone.

Slate Tiled Floor During Sealing Bromsgrove

Once done the floor looked transformed and before leaving, I left a bottle of Tile Doctor Stone Soap with the client and gave them information about how best to maintain the floor. This product is pH neutral and cleans whilst maintaining the patina on the stone helping to keep the Slate in good condition.

Slate Tiled Floor After Cleaning Sealing Bromsgrove

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Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before After Builders Clean Worcester

Renovating a Paint-Stained Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor in Worcester

1 Comment / Victorian Tile Cleaning, Worcester Tile Cleaning / Mark Conway

This Edwardian property in Worcester laid in a herringbone tile pattern had been subjected to substantial renovations resulting in a crew of builders treading dirt and building materials through the Victorian tiled hallway. The tiles were now looking very dark and grubby with straining from what cement or plaster. Someone had tried to wash the floor but having realised it wasn’t as easy as it looked reached out to us to have it done professionally.

Victorian Tiled Floor Before Builders Clean Worcester

I decided the best thing to do was to give the tiles a deep clean to remove the old sealers and dirt and then to apply a fresh sealer that would put some life back into the tiles. My quote was accepted and a date agreed for my return and more importantly once all the builders had gone.

Renovating an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

To clean up the tiles, remove the staining and strip off the old sealer I sprayed Tile Doctor’s Remove and Go onto the tile, this product is a multi-purpose stripper formulated with a long dwell-time to remove most sealers, epoxy grout haze, adhesives and even paint.

After leaving it to soak in for ten minutes the Remove and Go had broken down the soiling and was ready to be scrubbed in. I use a Black scrubbing pad to do this fitted to a rotary buffing machine and adding water along the way to help lubricate the process. Once done the soil generated was extracted using a wet vacuum. This process was then repeated until I was satisfied.

Old Victorian floors don’t have a damp proof membrane installed under the floor so the next step was to treat any dormant alkaline salts in the floor using Tile Doctor Acid Gel. These can materialise as white spots on the tiles as the moisture rises through the tile and evaporates on the surface leaving the salt behind. The process is known as efflorescence and you can neutralise the salts by giving the floor an acid wash. The Acid Gel is scrubbed into the tiles as before and then rinsed off with water and then extracted with a wet vacuum.

Once I was done the floor was looking so much better and after more drying with the wet vacuum, I was able to leave it overnight to dry off fully.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning three days later, I took some moisture readings with a damp meter first. The readings were fine so satisfied that the tiles were sufficiently dry, I began applying what Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This product was chosen for its ability to improve the colours in the tile and because its fully breathable which is an important consideration when sealing floors that don’t have a damp proof membrane.

Victorian Tiled Floor After Builders Clean Worcester

As you can see from the photos, the floor looks so much fresher and 100% cleaner, not bad for a hundred-year-old floor.

Before leaving I took time to discuss how to look after the floor including the importance of avoiding harsh tile cleaning products on the floor as they can reduce the life of the sealer. For the regular cleaning of sealed Victorian tiles, I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner.

Professional Cleaning of an Edwardian Tiled Hallway and in Worcestershire

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