This beautiful traditional Red and Black checkerboard Quarry tiled floor at a property in Brixton had been completely covered by layers of cement, old adhesive, paint and general building residue, leaving very little of the original floor visible. Beneath all that contamination was a classic tiled floor with plenty of character and the owner was keen to see what could be done to restore it.
It’s difficult to quote for restoring a floor in this condition so I went over to survey its condition and run a few tests. The tests indicated which products and methods would have the best impact and from that I was able to create a detailed quote.
Happy with the quote and keen to restore an original feature to the property we were given the go ahead and a date scheduled to fit in with other trades who were working on the restoration of the property.
Removing Screed from Quarry Tiles
Work started by applying Tile Doctor Remove & Go, a multi-purpose stripper capable of tackling coatings, synthetic finishes, adhesives, paint and grout residues. It is also suitable for clay-based tiles such as these, including Victorian and Terracotta.
The product was applied to the floor and given time to soak into the various layers of contamination. Some areas were particularly stubborn, so we used a Silicon Carbide Brush to agitate the surface and work the product into the tiles. The soiling was then rinsed away with water and extracted with a wet vacuum.
In places where the cement and adhesive had formed a particularly thick layer it was carefully scraped away by hand first, gradually removing the residue without damaging the original tiles.
It was a slow and painstaking process which had to be repeated several times, carefully working through the layers one by one; as each layer was removed, more of the original red and black checkerboard pattern began to appear.
Once the heavier deposits had been dealt with using the Carbide Brush and careful scraping, the floor was worked with a black stripping pad to remove the remaining residue and ingrained dirt. This helped bring the surface back to a clean, even condition.
In some areas, a melamine pad was also used to deal with remaining marks and fine surface residue, helping to achieve a consistently clean finish before the floor was thoroughly rinsed.
The porous nature of these traditional Quarry tiles meant that dirt had become deeply ingrained in the tile over the years, so the floor needed careful cleaning and agitation to bring it back as far as possible while retaining the natural character of the original tiles.
After three days of cleaning, brushing, scraping and mechanical cleaning, the floor was allowed to dry out completely so it would be ready for the final step of sealing.
Sealing Quarry Tiles
To seal and protect the restored quarry tiles several coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go were applied leaving at least thirty minutes of drying time between each coat. This sealer is suitable for porous surfaces such as Quarry, Terracotta and Victorian and results in a low-sheen finish, helping to enhance the colour while protecting the floor from future staining, dirt and everyday wear.
Once finished the floor was completely transformed. What had initially appeared to be a floor covered beyond recognition was revealed as a beautiful traditional red and black checkerboard quarry tile floor. Sometimes the most rewarding floors to restore are the ones that have been hidden for years.
Most importantly, the customer was absolutely delighted with the result. From the outset, their intention had been to retain as much of the property’s original features and character as possible, rather than replacing them with new materials.
For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a ph neutral floor cleaner that’s safe to use on sealed surfaces. Unlike the stronger products you find in supermarkets it won’t degrade the sealer prematurely.
Having issues with your tile, stone, or grout? Don’t let the problem get worse, contact Tile Doctor today on 0345 512 0122. With nationwide coverage across the UK, your local Tile Doctor specialist can quickly arrange a professional survey of your installation and provide a free, no-obligation quotation to restore it to its best.