Restoring Tiled Hall Floorway - Photo Attached

[dap]

I would like to restore the tiled hallway in my house but am unsure what process to follow or what products I should be using. I am unsure of the type of tiles I have so rather than trying to describe them I have attached a photo of the tiled hallway in my house at the time I purchased the property. Since this photo was taken I have tried the normal elbow grease approach, scrubbing with sugar soap and water but didn’t really get anywhere. The tiles are still engrained with many years of dirt and if possible I would like to remove this. Any advice on restoring these tiles would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks.

 

[Olz]

Kev, member 'tilinglogistics' is your man, im sure he'll be along later to give you the advice you seek.

 

[TilingLogistics]

I would like to restore the tiled hallway in my house but am unsure what process to follow or what products I should be using. I am unsure of the type of tiles I have so rather than trying to describe them I have attached a photo of the tiled hallway in my house at the time I purchased the property. Since this photo was taken I have tried the normal elbow grease approach, scrubbing with sugar soap and water but didn’t really get anywhere. The tiles are still engrained with many years of dirt and if possible I would like to remove this. Any advice on restoring these tiles would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks.

Hi Dap

Welcome to the Forums! I can give you a process to follow to try and restore that floor yourself! However, forewarned is forarmed, it is extremely hard painstaking work without the right equipment. If however, you are prepared to have a go try and post again identifying as much of the staining and contaminants as possible such as paint, dirt,grime, cement residue self levelling compound etc and I will provide you with a list of what you need together with a step by step process on the way I would proceed. I would also like you to tell me if there are any loose, damaged or missing tiles? Where are you in the Country?

Kev

 

[dap]

How I proceed all depends on cost really and what kind of results I can expect from doing it myself or having it done professionally?

When I brought the house the tiles were mainly covered just in dirt from over the years. I had a couple of the downstairs floors concreted but some of the cement (annoyingly) spilled onto the tiled floor when the builders were wheeling it in and although it was washed off there is now a thin cement residue left on there also. There is also a small patch which looks a little like oil has been spilled? There are a couple of slightly loose tiles but nothing really that serious.

I am based in Stoke-on-Trent. How much would I be looking at to pay for products to do it myself? And how much would I be looking at to pay to have the work done professionally?

Additionally, since the photo posted on the forum was taken the walls have been re-plastered and painted but the new skirting still remains unpainted. The reason I mention this is I am unsure of how much mess the tools to do the work professionally would make although this could be taken care of?

Thankyou for your advice

 

[brian c]

good luck with the restoration DAP and welcome to the forums.

 

[TilingLogistics]

How I proceed all depends on cost really and what kind of results I can expect from doing it myself or having it done professionally?

When I brought the house the tiles were mainly covered just in dirt from over the years. I had a couple of the downstairs floors concreted but some of the cement (annoyingly) spilled onto the tiled floor when the builders were wheeling it in and although it was washed off there is now a thin cement residue left on there also. There is also a small patch which looks a little like oil has been spilled? There are a couple of slightly loose tiles but nothing really that serious.

I am based in Stoke-on-Trent. How much would I be looking at to pay for products to do it myself? And how much would I be looking at to pay to have the work done professionally?

Doing it yourself is without doubt the cheapest method provided you have the time, patience and the products. However when you take into account that you probably dont have the necessary tools there are only three avenues really, buy or rent the tools or do it all by hand and thats back to time. Because you have loose tiles and heavy contaminants I would get a Pro in to do it. However, I am bound to say that because its what I do. I could not give you a price without coming to see it and doing some tests. If you go down the DIY route ideally you will need a Rotary Floor Scrubber with Drive Board, Rotary Brush and a selection of emulsifying pads, A Wet Vac, A Hand Machine, then the products I would advise would be Sealing & Coating remover, Phosphoric Acid, Heavy Duty Tile & Grout cleaner, Extreme, and Nanoscrub all products made by Aqua Mix. Adhesive to refix the tiles and grout. Then finally a Sealer. Floors like this are a lot of work but the results are usually fantastic and well worth it.

If you e mail me or pm me with your details I will e mail you some before and after pics

 

[Branty]

Some friends did this one. I think it was on telly. They used aquamix products.

 

[TilingLogistics]

Some friends did this one. I think it was on telly. They used aquamix products.

Thank you Danny thats saved me e mailing. This is one I helped Steve on. My first ever venture into restoring Geometrics and Encaustics. It is a church in Tipton. West Midlands and was featured on Grand Designs Channel 4. The result you are seeing there is after a lot of work with Aqua Mix products. The final result on the right was achieved with Nano Scrub a cleaner designed to penetrate and lift the dirt. In fact I think that was the first bottle of Nano Scrub to be tried in the UK

Kev

 

[frankenfurter]

How long did that take Kev?

 

[TilingLogistics]

How long did that take Kev?

That floor was only a part of a huge project. There was a lot of other work done that I had nothing to do with but the floor in the photo was the central aisle between what was the old pews and took around 3/4 days in total. I only did a full day on it towards the end. I never use the photo as part of my portfolio because I was not responsible I was only working under a guy. The main work was done by a guy called Steven Allinson. I have a lot more in between photos of it that I took as the work progressed. The results at the time were brilliant IMO. I've done about 20 of them now so still got lots to learn! Practice makes perfect as they say.

Kev

 

[bigandy]

thank you danny thats saved me e mailing. This is one i helped steve on. My first ever venture into restoring geometrics and encaustics. It is a church in tipton. West midlands and was featured on grand designs channel 4. The result you are seeing there is after a lot of work with aqua mix products. The final result on the right was achieved with nano scrub a cleaner designed to penetrate and lift the dirt. In fact i think that was the first bottle of nano scrub to be tried in the uk

Kev

when i see results like that it reminds me why i love this job(sad i know)

 

[Branty]

when i see results like that it reminds me why i love this job(sad i know)

Nothing wrong with loving your work Andy. I wish more guys did, would make my life easier.

 

[TilingLogistics]

when i see results like that it reminds me why i love this job(sad i know)

Andy,

Know what you mean! I get a huge kick out of nearly every floor restoration I do

Kev

 

[frankenfurter]

I get a huge kick out of nearly every floor restoration I do

It's like discovering lost treasure - our lot are all a little sad, we still get excited when we see the finished product even after 100's of restoration projects. Sadder when you sit talking to mrs on a night out about it, only for her to join in

 

[TilingLogistics]

It's like discovering lost treasure - our lot are all a little sad, we still get excited when we see the finished product even after 100's of restoration projects. Sadder when you sit talking to mrs on a night out about it, only for her to join in

The feeling is the same with the Natural Stone stuff as well though! The only difference with the encaustics and geometrics is you never quite know whats under the SLC or the cement till you get through it. I wouldn't mind seeing a few you've done and happy to e mail you a few of mine old and modern but I can't seem to post them on here every time I try it says they are too big!:huh2:

Kev