X-Tra Seal Archives - Somerset Tile Doctor

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Repaired and Fully Restored in Taunton

A homeowner from Taunton contacted us after finding an old Victorian tiled floor underneath the carpet in the hallway. The tiles were in poor condition, with many loose and cracked tiles as well as staining from substances like cement and paint.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Before Restoration Taunton

Having discussed the floor over the phone I agreed to pop over to the property and survey the floor in detail and create a quote for its restoration. Whilst at the property I made detailed notes of the problems and worked out the quantities of products I would need to restore the floor.

The damaged tiles were discussed including obtaining matching replacements and it was agreed that we would keep all the original tiles and repair and re-secure them instead; we wouldn’t be able to make the floor look perfect using this method, but a few scars are to be expected in a floor of this age. A quote was worked out which included stripping the floor of the staining, relaying the areas of loose tile, regrouting where needed and then adding a protective sealer. This was duly accepted and dates scheduled.

Cleaning and repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

Upon my arrival, I first set about lifting loose tiles and cleaning out the exposed foundation. After this was complete, I mixed up the tile adhesive and began refitting all the loose tiles repairing broken tiles with more adhesive as well as possible. The whole middle section of the floor was loose and so I had to ensure this was done bit by bit, to keep the spacing tight. Removing too many at a time, can create problems when refitting.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor During Restoration Taunton

I returned the next day and began cleaning the floor using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel which being a gel doesn’t require much water. This was allowed to dwell and then scrubbed into the floor using a 200-grit soft milling pad. This was extracted and rinsed off. Any stubborn areas were removed by hand. Tile Doctor Acid Gel was then used to further clean the floor and worked into the floor using a black pad, this was then extracted and rinsed off with water. The floor was then left to dry overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

I returned the next day and sealed using Tile Doctor X-tra Seal which is a fully breathable hard wearing sealer that’s ideal for old floors like this one that don’t have a damp proof membrane. The excess was clothed off thoroughly and then buffed using a white pad to give the floor a subtle sheen. The sealer will ensure dirt remains on the surface where it can easily be cleaned away.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor After Restoration Taunton

Once complete the floor looked transformed and my client was delighted with the result. For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, this is a pH neutral cleaner which is effective yet mild enough not to impact the newly applied sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Somerset

Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor Renovation Clifton Bristol

Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor Renovated in Clifton

The photos below are of a Black Slate floor that was installed in the Conservatory and Kitchen of a property in Clifton Bristol. Overall, the floor was not in a bad condition, however the grout had become loose, and was missing in areas. It had been several years since the floor had been sealed, and therefore our customer felt it would be best to tackle the grout, clean the floor and reseal it all together.

Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor Before Cleaning Clifton Bristol

I attended the property to conduct a survey and chose a small inconspicuous area to perform a test clean. I like to do a test clean as it determines which products have the most impact and shows the customer the result that can be achieved. I took measurements and worked out a detailed breakdown of the costs including grout replacement and grout colouring where required. This was gladly accepted, and we scheduled the dates.

Deep Cleaning a Natural Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor

Upon my arrival, all the furniture had been removed and the floor was clear so I was able to make a start on the loose grouting. This must be done carefully to avoid damaging the Slate tiles. With the grouting removed and cleared away I prepared the new grout which and applied it to the areas where it was required.

Once the grout has set attention moved to cleaning the floor with a strong solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This was applied to the surface and left to soak in so it could get to work breaking down the dirt and old sealer. After about ten minutes the solution was scrubbed into the floor using a black pad fitted to a rotary buffer. The grout was then scrubbed using more Pro-Clean and a grout brush, then once done the soiling was extracted using a wet vac.

Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor During Cleaning Clifton Bristol

The customer wanted some shine to her floor, so I had suggested honing the stone with burnishing pads to add a deep polish. To do this three burnishing pads were run over the floor starting with a coarse 400-grit, then 800-grit and finishing with a 1500-grit. The pads are applied using the buffing machine using only water for lubrication. After each pad the floor is rinsed and the soiling extracted with the wet vacuum as before.

Once done the floor was inspected and after reviewing the grout lines it was decided that grout colouring would be needed to achieve a consistent appearance.

The floor was allowed to dry off overnight and word resumed the next day starting with sealing the Slate. To achieve the best result for the Slate two Tile Doctor sealers namely X-Tra Seal and Colour Grow were mixed together and applied to the floor. This combination wors well on Black Slate and really enhances the deep dark colouring in the stone. Two coats were applied left to soak into the stone and then the excess polished off by hand.

Once the sealer had dried, I set about applying the Grout Colourant using a Tile Doctor colourant in light grey. The colourant is basically painted onto the grout with a small brush and any excess wiped off the tile. This grout colourant gives the grout a uniform appearance and adds an impenetrable barrier over the grout sealing it in and keeping it safe from further staining.

Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor After Renovation Clifton Bristol

The customer was delighted with the results and said we had transformed their kitchen.

For aftercare cleaning I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle but effective cleaner that won’t harm the sealer. Many of the floor cleaning products you find in supermarkets etc are not for use on sealed stone, they contain strong chemicals such as bleach etc which will strip off the sealer prematurely so best avoided.

Professional Renovation of Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor in Bristol

Black Slate Tiled Conservatory Floor Renovated in Clifton Read More »