Low Moisture Tile Doctor Gel Cleaning Products used for the Considerate Restoration of an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor in Rugby Warwickshire

The original floor tiles in the hallway of this 1930’s Edwardian house in Rugby had come loose and walking on them was making the problem worse. Many of the loose tiles had become damaged and the whole floor was becoming a real headache for the owner.

Keen to find a solution I was asked to pop round and quote for repairing the floor and then deep cleaning and sealing afterwards. I’m a real champion of the restoration of original tiles floors it’s a decision that offers numerous benefits and blends historical appreciation with practical advantages. Not only does it preserve a piece of history that has tangible link to the past of the house these old floors tell a story of meticulously craftsmanship laid with unique geometric patterns created by skilled artisans.

Fortunately, the owner was like minded and after researching replacement tiles I worked out a detailed quote for the work which was accepted.

Repairing and Cleaning an Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor

Work started with the repairing of the damaged areas which included removing all the loose tiles and cleaning up the foundation ready to accept replacements. You have to be careful when doing this as the last thing you want is to disturb the surrounding tiles and make more work for yourself. I was able to re-lay some of the original tiles which were still in acceptable condition and had sourced matching replacements for the broken ones.

Once the tiles had set, I moved onto cleaning the whole floor for which I use Tile Doctors a low moisture gel cleaning products. I 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 old floors.

For the initial clean Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel was applied to the tile surface and left it to dwell for ten minutes before being scrubbing in with a black pad fitted to a rotary buffer. This is a strong alkaline tile cleaning agent that breaks down dirt and old coatings etc. Once done the soiling was extracted with a wet vacuum and a little water.

Next up the floor was given 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 Colour Grow. 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, it also contains a colour enhancing formula that helps the colours in the tiles stand out. The sealer works by soaking into the tile, occupying the pores and thereby adding protections from within. The sealer ensures dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily removed with regular cleaning.

As you can see from the photos on this page the restoration went well and I challenge you to spot the replacements which with the deep cleaning and sealing blended in very well. My customer was extremely happy with the result and pleased with their decision to have the floor restored. A good decision I think, after all these original floors are very desirable and can significantly increase a property’s value.

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

Source: Victorian Floor Sealing Products and Services in Rugby near Warwickshire