This enquiry was from a property owner in the picturesque Malvern hills who needed some help with a Victorian tiled hallway. The floor had an unsightly concrete door threshold that the client wanted tiling, several tiles throughout the floor were loose and needed restoration and the floor needed a deep clean and seal. All of this was possible so after my site visit, I produced a quote which I sent by email and the work was scheduled.
Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Malvern is a spa-town that lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills in in Worcestershire. The centre of Malvern, known as Great Malvern, is an historic conservation area and the town dramatically during Victorian times. So, it’s no surprise when I get called to maintain the many Victorian properties here.
Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor
The first day was spent removing the concrete from the door threshold. I didn’t want to cause damage the surrounding area, so I had to proceed carefully and so this part was quite labour intensive.
I then used cement boards which were cut to size to build the floor level, allowed to dry, and then tiled following the pattern from the opposite door. Fortunately, we had managed to source some reclaimed tiles which were very close in colour and size to match the existing floor. Once this was completed, I moved onto resetting the loose tiles. The floor was then left to dry overnight so the adhesive and grout would set.
The following day I rotary cleaned the floor with a 200-grit milling pad and a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, this gave the floor a really deep clean. The floor was rinsed, and the soil removed using a wet vacuum. The floor then needed to dry overnight before we could apply the sealer.
There didn’t seem to be any signs of Efflorescence on this floor, which is where salt deposits appear on the surface due to moisture. It can be particularly common in floors of this age which are too old to be fitted with a damp proof membrane. However, this floor appeared to be ok.
Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor
We retuned the following day and tool a couple of moisture readings with a damp meter before concluding the floor was dry and ready to be sealed. First, I applied a coat of Tile Doctor Stone Oil which is an impregnating sealer that improves character and then followed this up with three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow allowing plenty of drying time between each coat.
Colour Grow is also an impregnating sealer however this product is designed to improve colour as well as provides long lasting durable protection to the floor. This product is also breathable so any future moisture can rise through the tile and not become trapped underneath where it could cause problems.
By the time I had finished the Victorian floor looked transformed, the colours were richer and most importantly my client was very pleased with the result and even left the following feedback.
Before leaving I recommended, they use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to help keep the floor in the best condition, especially in a high traffic area such as the hallway. Using this product will ensure the sealant lasts longer.
The Tile Doctor Feedback system prompts customers to leave comments on the work completed by Tile Doctors around the country. This information is used to ensure the quality of the service and also decides the winner of the coveted Annual Tile Doctor of the Year Award.