Brixton Tile Cleaning Archives - South London Tile Doctor

Bathroom Floor Grout Cleaning Colouring Gipsy Hill

Bathroom Floor Tile Grout Renovated in Gipsy Hill SE19

The Grout on this tiled floor in the bathroom of a property near Gipsy Hill SE19 was as you can see from the photo below in a bit of state. Originally White the colour of the grout had darkened to black in numerous areas and was bringing down the appearance of what was a lovely bathroom.

The floor tiles were Travertine effect Ceramic or Porcelain and as you would expect with tiles of this nature in very good condition. Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are not porous and so very easy to maintain, however what tends to happen is the dirt is washed off the tiles straight into the adjacent grout line where due to the rough nature of the grout it gets stuck.

Bathroom Floor Grout Before Cleaning Gipsy Hill

My renovation plan for tackling dirty grout is to start with a strong grout cleaner like Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and if the staining is still evident apply a Grout Colourant. I discussed this plan with owner of the property who were happy that one way or another the problem was about to be resolved.

Cleaning a Natural Black Ceramic Tiled Bathroom Floor

The first step in renovating this floor was to tackle the grout which was clearly the biggest issue with this floor. This work started by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean along the grout lines and then waiting for about ten minutes before scrubbing it in with a wire brush. I also used a 6-inch Black scrubbing pad fitted to a hand-held polisher to clean the tiles which as mentioned earlier only needed a light clean. The floor was then rinsed with water and then dried with a wet vacuum to remove the excess water and slurry from the cleaning.

The grout responded well to the treatment but unfortunately the staining was simply too deeply seated to make it look new again so I decided to adopt plan B and apply a White Grout Colourant. These colourants have the added advantage of sealing in the grout and are very easy to clean.

The grout was force dried and then once I was happy it was dry enough, I started the process of applying the grout colourant to the grout lines. Grout Colouring is a straightforward and involves using a small brush to paint the colourant onto the grout and then wiping the excess off the tile as you go. We find a wet wipe works well for this. Two coats of Grout Colourant were applied.

Bathroom Floor Grout After Cleaning Colouring Gipsy Hill

Whilst that was drying, I stripped out the silicone sealant around the edges of the bathroom and replaced with new. This last step really finished off the transformation and it would have been obvious if I had missed it.

Once finished the floor looked like a new installation and the Grout Colourant should keep it looking that way for many years to come.

Professional Bathroom Floor Grout Cleaning and Colouring in South London

Bathroom Floor Tile Grout Renovated in Gipsy Hill SE19 Read More »

Natural Black Slate Bathroom Floor Tile Renovation Brixton

Black Slate Tiled Bathroom Floor Transformed in Brixton

1 Comment / Brixton Tile Cleaning, Grout Cleaning, Slate Tile Cleaning / Daniel

This bathroom floor at a property in Brixton was laid with natural Black Slate tiles around five years ago and then badly restored/cleaned three years ago. Some of the more noticeable problems included a build-up of limescale on top of old patchy grout paint and the sealant on the slate was failing allowing the tiles to absorb dirt. The result was a a very unappealing and grubby looking floor.

Natural Black Slate Bathroom Floor Tiles Before Cleaning Brixton

Unhappy with what could be a stunning Black Slate floor the owner contacted Tile Doctor and I was asked to visit the property, survey the tiles, and provide a quote for its renovation.

Cleaning a Natural Black Slate Tiled Bathroom Floor

To get the grout clean of dirt it was scrubbed with a stiff brush and a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. The grout was then spot treated with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up to help remove the old grout paint and a ready mixed grout used to fill gaps where the grout had become dislodged.

Next, I addressed the slate tiles and applied Tile Doctor Remove and Go to remove what was left of the old sealer, the solution was left on the tiles for ten minutes and then agitated with a brush to dislodge the old sealer and dirt. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soil extracted with a wet vacuum.

Once done I could see more work was needed so a 200 grit 6-inch pad was fitted to a hand-held buffer and run over the tiles to further clean up the tiles along with a carbide brush to help reduce the lippage between the tiles. Once done the floor was rinsed and extracted again with water multiple times to ensure no trace of products was left on the Slate.

Sealing a Natural Black Slate Tiled Bathroom Floor

The floor was left for a few hours so it could dry and when dry sealed with two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow applied with a paint pad and cloth to add protection and to make the dark shades in the stone stand out.

To complete the look a Tile Doctor Black Grout Colourant was then applied to the grout lines so it would match the dark Slate better. The colourant has the added advantage of sealing in the grout and making it much easier to keep clean.

Natural Black Slate Bathroom Floor Tiles After Renovation Brixton

My client was very pleased with the transformation and left the following feedback for me which is always appreciated:

“Really excellent job from Daniel & team. My natural slate bathroom floor looks better than when it was first laid. Superb communication and finished job. I can’t recommend them enough. 5*”

The client has since asked us to come back to complete more works on the Limestone bathroom walls which of course we are happy to oblige!

For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for the regular cleaning of tiles. This pH neutral product will keep the limescale at bay and eliminates the build-up of soap, it is mild enough to use every day and has a nice fresh smell.

Professional Renovation of Black Slate Tiled Bathroom Floor in South London

Black Slate Tiled Bathroom Floor Transformed in Brixton Read More »

Victorian Hallway Renovation Brixton Hotel

Restoring a Victorian Hallway Floor in a Brixton Hotel

1 Comment / Brixton Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning / Daniel

This Victorian floor was found during the refurbishment of a hotel in Brixton, South London. The manager wanted a practical surface that could cope with day-to-day traffic and given this was a period feature of the property why not bring it back into use. Working in a narrow corridor in a busy hotel would normally be very difficult but as the property was being renovated there were only a few people around so it wouldn’t be an issue.

Victorian Hallway Renovation Brixton Hotel Before Restoration

The tiles were stained black with dirt and grease and badly damaged around the perimeter which was probably the reason it was covered up in the first place. Not a problem though, in fact these old Victorian tiled floors are very resilient and I have renovated floors in worse condition than this.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

To tackle the dirt and grease the floor was sprayed with a combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean mixed with Tile Doctor Remove and Go which was left to soak in for ten minutes and then scrubbed in with a black pad fitted to a rotary machine. This process was repeated several times rinsing off the soiling with water and extracting with a wet vacuum after each clean.

Once most of the dirt and grease had been removed repairs were carried out starting with the removal of the broken tiles and rubble. The subfloor was then built up with a self-levelling compound and then once set re-tiled with matching replacements. Luckily, there are a few places that we can source either original reclamation Victorian tiles or reproduction tiles that are usually a very good match.

Victorian Hallway Renovation Brixton Hotel During Restoration

The next stage was to further clean up the tiles by giving the whole floor an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up which has several benefits which include the removal of mineral deposits such as grout smears and alkaline salts. Salts in particular can be a problem with old floors like this as they were laid before the invention of damp proof membranes. Additionally using an acidic product at this stage neutralises the pH level of the floor after the use of strong alkaline cleaners earlier in the restoration. The floor was then left to dry out overnight.

Victorian Hallway Renovation Brixton Hotel After Restoration

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

We returned the following day to seal the tiles. First checking the moisture level of the tiles with a damp meter to confirm the floor was dry, which it was. Tile Doctor Colour Grow was chosen as the sealer, it’s an impregnator that soaks into the pores of the tile protecting it from within. It is also a breathable sealer so will cope with any moisture rising through the floor

As you can see from the pictures the hallway was transformed, the previously dark dingy space was now bright and clean, and the tiles looked stunning. Our client was very happy with the result and once all the renovations are completed, he will be ready to re-open the hotel.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in a South London Hotel

Restoring a Victorian Hallway Floor in a Brixton Hotel Read More »

Victorian Tiled Hallway Before and After Restoration Streatham

Dirty and Stained Victorian Hallway Tiles Rejuvenated in Streatham

1 Comment / Brixton Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Daniel

If you like in an older property in the UK and never looked under the carpets you might want to take a minute and have a look. I still find it surprising how many of my customers had no idea they lived in a house with a classic tiled hallway.

We were recently asked to restore a fantastic geometric-patterned Victorian tiled floor which had been found underneath carpet during decoration work in the hallway of a property in Streatham.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Before Restoration Streatham

The once black and white tiles were now absolutely caked in dirt, glue deposits, cement, paint stains and plaster. It would be no small feat to get the tiles back to looking their best again. Fortunately, Victorian tiles are very resilient and we have a lot of experience in their restoration so I was confident that with the right products and techniques we could get the job done to a high standard.

Cleaning Dirty and Stained Victorian Hallway Tiles

The tiled hallway was quite long, yet only around a metre wide, so I felt the best approach would be to work in small sections at a time. Our method was to soak the tiles with Tile Doctor Remove and Go and leave the product to work its magic for roughly ten minutes, before scrubbing the surface to remove the muck. Some of the more viscous and stubborn stains were scrapped away carefully by hand within the assistance of a steam cleaning machine. The resulting residue was extracted using a wet vacuum. Remove and Go is a particularly effective cleaner in scenarios like this, as it is specially formulated to strip away old sealers, adhesives and even paint without harming the tile itself.

The next step was to run a rotary machine fitted with a Coarse 200 grit burnishing pad lubricated with water over the floor to achieve a consistent finish. The floor was then rinsed to remove the soil generated in the process.

Old floors like these laid before the invention of damp proof membranes can be a concern as damp rising up through the tile as it dries can leads to efflorescence salt deposits appearing on the tile surface. So, to avoid potential issues Tile Doctor Acid Gel was applied to the floor to neutralise any salt deposits and the floor given a final rinse to remove any trace of cleaning products.

Sealing Victorian Hallway Tiles

After finishing the clean, we left the floor to dry out over the weekend. With old floors like this one, we tend to recommend allowing a drying period of at least 48 hours to ensure the floor is completely dry before applying a sealer.

Upon arriving back at the property, we ran a few quick damp tests and once satisfied the floor was dry proceeded to seal the tiles using Tile Doctor Colour Grow. Colour Grow is a colour-intensifying, impregnating sealant that leaves a natural-look matte finish. It works by occupying the pores in the clay and it’s also a fully breathable sealer which is important for these old floors where damp may be any issue.

Victorian Tiled Hallway After Restoration Streatham

The customer was absolutely thrilled with the results. She even went as far as to leave a review expressing how pleased she was during the weekend before we had chance to seal the tiles.

Bill and Wayne were brilliant! On time, got to work straight away, lovely and friendly and very professional. They have done a lovely job and I’m looking forward to them coming to seal the tiles to finish it o f tomorrow afternoon. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. Thanks guys!

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in South London

Dirty and Stained Victorian Hallway Tiles Rejuvenated in Streatham Read More »

Old Victorian Tiled Hallway Fully Restored in Brixton

1 Comment / Brixton Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Daniel

I was asked to look at an old Victorian Tiled Hallway floor at a house in Brixton, South London. This classic floor had been discovered underneath an old hallway carpet while refurbishment works were being carried out. I went over initially in mid December to survey the floor and talked the owner through a number of similar restorations we had completed in the past. I could see this floor would need a deep clean to remove the years of dirt and also some tiling would needed to be done to tile a section of concrete near the stairs that had been dug out to lay pipe work when central heating had been installed many years prior. She didn’t want to make a commitment at that point so I left her with our quotation so she could think it over. I suspect she had other quotes to review however I’m pleased to say that she decided to give the work to us.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Before Restoration Brixton

Once we had agreed a date to do the work I started looking around for replacement tiles that would be needed to restore the floor. Unfortunately the octagonal ones are not made any more and I couldn’t hold of any salvaged ones either. Having been involved in Tile Restoration work for some time now, I have a list of companies and reclamation yards that are usually a good source for these materials. To resolve the problem I sourced square tiles with a similar look and would cut them to the same shape when on site.

Cleaning and Repairing a Heavily Soiled Victorian Tiled Floor

I returned after Christmas to start the restoration process which was due to take two to three days. To start the restoration process we applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to the floor, allowed it to soak in for ten minutes and then worked it into the tiles using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. Remove and Go is a product that removes coatings from tiles including in this case old paint splashes and carpet adhesive. The floor was then rinsed and the now dirty solution extracted using a wet vacuum.

Victorian Tiled Hallway During Restoration

Once this was finished the floor was looking cleaner and the next step was to tackle the concrete area near the stairs where the heating pipes had been buried. The cement had to be carefully chipped away and then refilled with fresh cement but to the level of the original surface so we could lay new tile on top. We use a quick setting compound for this and were able to start relaying and grouting the section with new specially cut tiles later that afternoon.

Victorian Tiled Hallway During Restoration Brixton

Naturally the strip of new tiles were quite noticeable against the old and although the customer was happy I knew I could get a better result by running a very coarse burnishing pad fitted to a heavy buffing machine over the surface. I used a diamond resin hybrid 50 grit pad to take off the top layer of the tiles and then refinished the surface with a 100 and then 200 grit pad. This did the trick and it was impossible to tell the old and new apart.

After this I carried out an acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up diluted with four parts water. The purpose of this was to remove any old grout smears and mineral deposits from the floor as well as counteract any possibility of unsightly efflorescence salts rising up through the tile at a later stage. This is quite a common problem with these old floors which don’t have a damp proof coarse and certainly I could see no trace of a DPC when I dug out the cement around the pipe work earlier.

The last step in the cleaning process was to steam the entire floor and then leave it to dry off fully over the New Year break.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Floor

I returned on the 2nd of January and after inspecting the floor to ensure it was clean and free of damp I began to seal it using Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the tile protecting it from within and enhancing its appearance in the process. Four coats of sealer were needed and as you can see by the final pictures the final results were outstanding.

Victorian Tiled Hallway After Restoration Brixton

Period features such as old Victorian floors add a lot of value to and the customer was over the moon with the transformation and is so happy she chose to have the floor restored rather than covering it back up with carpet.

Professional Victorian Tiled Hallway Restoration in South London

Old Victorian Tiled Hallway Fully Restored in Brixton Read More »

Victorian Tiled Floor Balham After Cleaning

Victorian Tiled Hallway Restoration in Balham

1 Comment / Brixton Tile Cleaning, Victorian Tile Cleaning, Work History / Daniel

Set of photographs here from a Victorian Tiled floor for a customer in Balham, South London. They had found the floor under an old carpet, and wanted to restore it. Unfortunately their builders did not listen and didn’t bother to put down any protection when they painted, as a result there was paint everywhere, I’ve include a detailed photograph below so you can see for yourself what a state the floor was in.

Victorian Tiled Floor Balham Before Cleaning

Cleaning the Victorian Floor Tiles

Initially the floor was cleaned using a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean mixed 50:50 with NanoTech UltraClean which had been left to dwell for 20 minutes before being agitated using a rotary machine fitted with a buffing pad. I used a wet vacuum to remove the dirty cleaning solution and then realising something more powerful would be required to shift the stubborn stains and paint marks. To rectify this I applied a Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a coatings remover and left it to dwell on the Victorian tile for forty minutes before applying plenty of elbow grease. This did the trick to remove the paint and glue etc. so I worked across the floor in sections applying the same treatment until the floor was completely clean.

Once it had all been removed I gave the whole floor a scrub with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up and this brightened up the colours and finally I gave the floor a very thorough rinse with clean water to remove any remaining cleaning product that might have an adverse effect on the sealer. I left the floor to dry over the weekend and returned on the following Monday to seal it, but first I carried out a couple of repairs because some of the tiles were loose so I reset them in cement.

Sealing Victorian Tiled Floor tiles

On my return I sealed the floor using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a penetrating sealer that provides maximum stain protection whilst bringing out the colour in the stone.

All the customer could say was AMAZING I didn’t think it was possible to get like this.

Victorian Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Balham, South London

Victorian Tiled Hallway Restoration in Balham Read More »

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