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Scratched Limestone Tiled Bathroom Refinished in New Town Edinburgh

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:08:13 +0000

I recently visited a property in the New Town area of Edinburgh recently to look at a Limestone bathroom floor that had been badly scratched when the client moved some furniture.

A sideboard unit had been dragged across the bathroom floor, and it had scratched almost the full length of the tiled floor. At first, they tried to use a company to repair it, but the scratch was still very visible. All they managed to do was fill and then paint over it. This looked poor and you could still see that the floor had a major scratch, drawing your eye to it immediately.

Luckily at Tile Doctor we regularly receive enquiries about damage like this on many different types of floor and wall tiles (marble, limestone, travertine and flagstones). With the correct equipment and trained specialists’ scratches like this one can be repaired to the point of it being invisible.

In this case I recommended milling the floor with very coarse diamond pads to remove the scratch and then polishing with finer pads to restore the finish and bring up the polish. It’s a lot of work but it will give the desired result. Happy with quote a date was set for the work to start.

Repairing a Limestone Tiled Bathroom Floor

To carry out the work I first prepped the room to protect the furniture and glass shower doors from being sprayed with residue from the milling that was about to start. Milling is a process of removing a fine layer of the limestone tiles using varying levels of coarse diamond milling pads with different levels of grit. It is an important part of the process and one that required a great deal of patience and skill to ensure the tiles are kept flat and no indents are left by working on the area in an uneven way. The milling pads generate residue which is rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum, it also allows you to see the scratch starting to disappear after each pad.

The next step was to bring up the polished appearance of the Limestone by applying a series of Burnishing pads from Coarse to Very Fine. This process hones the stone adding a lovely deep shine.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Bathroom Floor

Once the floor had been left to dry out for a couple of days, I returned to seal the floor with Tile Doctor Colour Grow, an impregnating, colour enhancing and tough sealer. This was applied using a white cotton cloth and was left on for ten minutes. The residue was then buffed off with a White Pad and left for thirty minutes. A second coat was applied and the same procedure followed. After two hours I performed a water test to confirm the floor was fully sealed.

My client was delighted with the result. They were so happy that we had managed to remove the scratch as they had thought the damage would be irreparable. For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is a ph neutral cleaner that helps maintain the patina.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Bathroom in Edinburgh

The post Scratched Limestone Tiled Bathroom Refinished in New Town Edinburgh appeared first on Edinburgh Tile Doctor.

Encaustic Tiled Victorian Hallway Floor Restored in York

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:25:30 +0000

Detailed below is the renovation of an original encaustic tiled floor at a Victorian tiled property in York which was 160 years old. The floor had been cleaned regularly but unfortunately using the wrong cleaning products which were too strong and had prematurely stripped off the sealer. This had left the tiles vulnerable to ingrained dirt and were now proving difficult to keep clean.

I went over to survey the floor and create a quote for its renovation and discovered areas where the tiles were loose and missing. One area in particular was quite bad and would need more attention to the foundation to make the floor completely level and easier to maintain.

From the survey I was able to create a plan for the restoration and work out a detailed quote that included replacement tiles and products. The quote was accepted and a date agreed for the work to start.

Cleaning an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Hallway

Before cleaning the floor, it was necessary to address all the problems with loose and damaged areas. So, work started with the removal of cracked and broken tiles. This needed to be done carefully so as not to lose any neighbouring tiles and therefore making the job larger than necessary. To solve the badly damaged area I had to remove the tiles and take away the lime mortar foundation underneath. This area then had to be re-levelled and made good before re-tiling with replacement reproduction tiles, I had sourced earlier.

Once the repairs had set properly, I returned to clean the whole floor using a rotary floor machine fitted with a black pad to scrub in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. This is an effective tile cleaner that lifts the dirt out of the tiles and removes what was left of the original sealer. This floor was then rinsed with water and the soiled solution extracted with a wet vacuum.

Next step was to give the floor and acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which neutralises the floor after the use of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is alkaline. It also dissolves any salts which may be present in the floor and could appear as white efflorescence as the floor dries.

Next, I addressed some slight lippage issues that were inherent in the floor. To do this a very coarse 50-Grit milling pad was run over the raised areas to reduce them. I used a heavy polishing machine for this which has an automatic water feed for lubrication. After cleaning away the soiling that was generated, the process was repeated with a 200-grit milling pad to improve the appearance of the tiles.

Sealing an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Hallway

The floor was left to dry overnight and then on my next visit sealed with a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a fully breathable colour enhancing impregnator. It’s worth mentioning that using a breathable sealer is very important when choosing a sealer for old floors that don’t have a damp proof membrane.

Once done, the repaired and restored floor looked much cleaner and made the whole hallway look more inviting. My client was happy with our work and left the following 5-star feedback:

“We had our Victorian hallway tiles refurbished, cleaned and sealed with amazing results. The hallway looks ready for another 150 years. Chris was professional and a real expert”

For aftercare I had arranged for the client to receive a bottle of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is an appropriate cleaning product for the regular cleaning of sealed floors.

Professional Restoration of an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Hallway in North Yorkshire

The post Encaustic Tiled Victorian Hallway Floor Restored in York appeared first on North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor.

Restoring the Appearance of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor in Newbury

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:18:21 +0000

This project is a great example of how to restore the appearance of high-quality stone flooring — in this case, a Travertine tiled kitchen floor in Newbury. Tile Doctor has developed a specialist burnishing system that uses diamond floor pads to achieve outstanding results. We have found that liquid cleaning products alone are not as effective, and in fact, some household cleaners can cause damage if used incorrectly.

The client in Newbury was struggling to keep their pitted Travertine floor clean. The tiles had become exceptionally dull and dirty, with soil ingrained in the pores and pits of the stone. I was asked to restore the floor’s appearance, so I visited the property to survey the condition and carry out a test clean. This involved burnishing a small area of the stone and cleaning the grout to demonstrate the achievable results.

The Travertine tiles and grout responded very well to the test, clearly showing how much dirt had built up since the floor was last restored. Pleased with the improvement, the client approved my detailed quotation, and we scheduled a date for the full renovation.

Burnishing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

As mentioned, burnishing is the most effective method for restoring Travertine. It not only cleans the surface but also tightens the pores in the stone, producing a natural sheen even before sealing. The process involves using diamond-encrusted pads of varying grits in sequence with a rotary floor buffer. Coarser pads remove ingrained dirt and surface buildup, while finer pads gradually refine the stone to create a smooth, polished finish.

The burnishing process begins with a coarse 400-grit pad, applied with water for lubrication and worked over each tile several times. The slurry is then rinsed away and extracted with an industrial wet vacuum. This is followed by the 800- and 1500-grit pads, each applied in the same way, with rinsing and vacuuming after every stage.

Once the burnishing was complete, I turned my attention to the grout. A strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied along the grout lines and scrubbed in with a stiff brush to remove embedded soil. The residue was again rinsed and extracted using the wet vacuum.

The final stage of polishing involved a very fine 3500-grit pad, applied dry with just a little water misted onto the surface. This step produces a deep, durable polish on the Travertine, enhancing its natural beauty.

Sealing a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor

After allowing the floor to dry overnight, I returned the next day to complete the sealing. Moisture readings confirmed that the stone was suitably dry and ready for treatment. I applied Tile Doctor Colour Grow, a premium impregnating sealer that also enhances the warm brown tones of the Travertine. This type of sealer penetrates the pores of the stone, providing maximum protection by preventing dirt from becoming trapped within. Instead, contaminants remain on the surface, where they can be easily wiped away.

Once complete, the Travertine floor looked dramatically cleaner, brighter, and more refined—much to the client’s delight. Before leaving, I provided aftercare advice and recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap as a maintenance cleaner to help preserve the finish and keep the floor looking its best.

Professional Renovation of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen in Berkshire

The post Restoring the Appearance of a Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor in Newbury appeared first on Berkshire Tile Doctor.

Heavily Soiled Ceramic Tile and Grout Deep Cleaned in Ewell Kitchen

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:33:16 +0000

I thought I would share with you this tile cleaning example from Ewell that shows what can be achieved when cleaning grubby Textured Ceramic Tiles. Textured Ceramic Tiles are often used in kitchens and wet areas due to the non-slip properties of the tile, however over time the rough surface will trap dirt that becomes increasingly difficult to shift.

In this case the customer had two dogs that often ran in from the garden and so the tile and grout had accumulated a lot of soiling. Unlike stone or clay tiles however ceramic tiles don’t need to be sealed so it’s mainly a question of scrubbing away stubborn surface dirt. The grout was also dirty however this is slightly porous and to clean this is always best to use a strong alkaline cleaning agent.

Cleaning a Ceramic Tiled Kitchen

To get the floor clean the tiler and grout was initially brushed with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and this was left to soak in. This alkaline cleaner gradually breaks down the ingrained dirt, then after ten minutes it was worked in with a 17-inch carbide brush. This removes the surface dirt and most of the dirt in the grout lines. The stubborn grout was then cleaned further the old-fashioned way using a wire brush and lots of elbow grease.

The now soiled cleaning solution was removed with a wet vacuum cleaner and the floor inspected to make sure it was as clean as possible. With the cleaning solution removed it became clear a few areas needed a bit more work so they were hand-scrubbed with more Pro-Clean. Once complete the floor dried with the wet vacuum again and then wiped down with warm water.

Once complete the floor looked fresh and clean and was ready for the customer later that afternoon.

Professional Restoration of Textured Ceramic Tile and Grout in West Surrey

The post Heavily Soiled Ceramic Tile and Grout Deep Cleaned in Ewell Kitchen appeared first on West Surrey Tile Doctor.

Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Hyndland Road Glasgow

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:24:10 +0000

The photographs below are of a Victorian tiled floor in the hallway of a property on the Hyndland Road area of Glasgow. You can see from the photographs that the tiles were in good physical condition but generally very dirty. Tiles of this type need to be sealed to ensure dirt doesn’t become ingrained into the tile, however over time the sealer wears down and dirt starts collecting in its pores making it very difficult to keep clean.

I paid a visit to the property to survey the floor and concluded it simply needed a deep clean and then re-seal to restore its appearance. Having worked out a quote for the work which was accepted a date was set for the work to start.

Deep Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor in Glasgow

Older floors like this one don’t have the benefit of a damp proof membrane and so damp can be an issue, to avoid exacerbating this it’s important to keep the use of water to a minimum. Because of this I like to use gel cleaning products and in this case the floor was cleaned using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel worked in with a 200-grit diamond pad to get deep into the pores of the tile.

The pads I use are typically 17” and fit to a weighted rotary bonnet machine, the extra weight helps increase traction with the floors. As well as dirt the cleaning process also removes old sealers/coatings that may be present. Once done the gel darkens with the dirt released from the tiles and then this slurry extracted using a wet vacuum.

Work then progressed onto acid washing the floor using another Tile Doctor gel cleaner called Acid Gel. This further cleans the tiles, neutralises the ph level and counters any efflorescent salts that may have formed in the floor and can appear as white salts deposited on the surface of the tile as the floor dries. The Acid Gel was worked in with a finer 400-grit diamond pad on the rotary machine again with the slurry extracted using wet vacuum and tiles wiped with cloths afterwards.

The tiles were then finished off with 1500-grit diamond pad and a diluted solution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to help resurface and close the pores in the tiles further before being wiped with cloths.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor in Glasgow

Sealers work best when applied to dry tiles so the floor was left to dry for a week before returning to seal. The sealer chosen was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which ticks a lot of boxes for an old floor like this one. First, it’s a matt finish sealer which matches the requirements of the owner; second it contains a colour enhancer that improves colour and third it’s fully breathable so moisture can rise though the tiles and evaporate at the surface. Allowing a floor to breath as otherwise the moisture can build up under the floor and eventually reach out to the walls where it can result in rising damp.

Two coats of Colour Grow were applied, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. This sealer works by soaking into the pores of the tile, occupying the space, and thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. This makes the floor much easier to clean going forward and adds durable protection which will last for years to come.

As you can see from the photos the Victorian tiled hallway as restored back to its original condition and my client was over the moon. Finally, I like to recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to keep the floor looking in great condition, its pH neutral so will not damage the newly applied seal.

Professional Cleaning of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Glasgow

The post Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Hyndland Road Glasgow appeared first on Glasgow Tile Doctor.

Damp Quarry Tiled Church Floor Restored in Cowbridge

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:55:32 +0000

Tile Doctor was approached by an architect, overseeing restoration work at a church in the rural town of Cowbridge just outside Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan. The project included the restoration of a 25mm thick Quarry tiled floor that was worse for wear. The original church which dated back to the 11th century, and a small extension had been added in the early 19th century.

I contacted the architect who was overseeing the work to arrange a date to visit the church and survey the floor. Older floors installed before the invention of the damp proof membranes and can suffer from damp issues and will be problematic due to age and wear of the tiles especially in public areas such as churches. As a result, it’s very difficult to provide a quote over the phone from photographs so I do need to see the floor in person and run a few tests.

The floor had three layers of carpet covering the tiled area and after lifting the carpet at the four corners I could see damp issues seeping through to the surface of the floor which had created hard crystallisation. The coverings were clearly preventing moisture for evaporating at the surface and if left unchecked would cause damage to the tile. Once the floor was fully exposed, I was able to get a good idea of what the level of work would involve.

Having worked on similar churches floors in the past in other I was able to speak from experience and explained to the architect what could be achieved due to the state of the floor. This was based on the age of the floor and the extent of the staining and so I set the expectation that the final finish would be good but not perfect. He accepted that it would be unrealistic to expect a perfect result and was happy for me to do my best.

I provided a detailed quote for the restoration of the floor which was accepted and a date set for the work to start.

Restorative Cleaning of a Quarry Tiled Church Floor

The restoration work began by carefully scraping off as much of the crystallisation as possible with a sharp bladed hand tool. Then neat Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was applied to the tiles working in one square meter sections at a time scrubbing it in with a coarse handheld brush. The section was then rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum as the work progressed. In total two litres of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean were used in the cleaning.

Once the whole floor had been scrubbed and rinsed it was treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up. This process will help to dissolve the crystallisation and latent salts in the tile to stop the appearance of efflorescence as the floor dries. This process was applied at least three times as the crystallisation was difficult to remove, in total three litres of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up was used to do this.

The floor was finally rinsed with Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to remove any cleaning products and then given a vacuum to remove as much moisture as possible.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Church Floor

I returned three days later to check for moisture in the floor using a damp meter which proved to be border line. I decided to go ahead and seal the floor after drying the tiles further with a heat gun.

The chosen sealer was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a durable breathable colour enhancing impregnator which will cope well with future damp issues once cured. Two coats were applied and a one litre tin proved to be sufficient. Colour Grow is a hard-wearing impregnator that soaks into the pores of the Quarry tiles preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there and ensuring it remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

Once complete the floor was looking in a much better condition after all the hard work involved and the congregation were delighted with the results.

For the aftercare of sealed tiles floors I recommend they use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle but effective tile cleaner that won’t impact the sealer which can be the problem with the stronger products.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Church Floor in Southeast Wales

The post Damp Quarry Tiled Church Floor Restored in Cowbridge appeared first on South East Wales Tile Doctor.

Restoring a Heavily Soiled Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor in Trinity Edinburgh

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:55:58 +0000

I was recently contacted by a homeowner in the Trinity district of Edinburgh, who owns a charming Victorian property. They had discovered a stunning original Victorian tiled floor in the vestibule that had been covered up for some time and was now in need of some TLC. The tiles were largely intact however they were very badly soiled, covered in adhesive residues, and dulled by decades of grime and neglect.

Victorian tiles are a classic feature of period homes, often made from encaustic or geometric clay tiles. They’re very robust but can suffer damage or lose their vibrancy if not properly maintained. With the right cleaning products and equipment, they do come rather well and having seen some of the examples on my website of similar floors they were keen for me to work the same magic on their floor.

It wasn’t a large area so after running a few tests and measuring up I provided them with a quote that included deep cleaning the tiles including removing the adhesive and deep-seated dirt and then add a sealer for protection. Happy with the quote I got the go ahead to do the work and a date was agreed for my return.

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor

The first stage was to prep the area for work. I then applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go, a powerful stripper designed to break down old sealers, adhesives, and heavy soils. The product was left to dwell for fifteen to twenty minutes before being agitated with a rotary floor machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. This started to lift away years of embedded dirt and residue.

In areas with particularly stubborn adhesive patches, I used a handheld scraper and neat Tile Doctor Remove & Go where needed. The grout and edges were detailed using stiff brushes and handheld rotary pads. After the initial clean, the floor was thoroughly rinsed with clean water and all the fluids extracted with a wet vacuum.

The tiles were then treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel, an acid-based gel cleaner that further cleans the tiles and removes mineral deposits. The extra level of cleaning really helped to bring out the original colour in Victorian tiles, it also neutralises the floor after the use of alkaline cleaners.

Victorian tiles are clay-based and quite porous, so it’s essential the floor is completely dry before sealing. I left the floor to dry for several days, using air movers to assist the process.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Vestibule

Upon return, I tested the moisture levels to ensure it was ready to seal. The readings were fine so the first of two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow was applied to the floor. This is a breathable, matt, colour-enhancing impregnating sealer that works really well on Victorian tiles and is also externally rates so ideal for a hallway of vestibule. This product not only protects the tiles from staining but also lifts and intensifies the natural tones in the red, black, and ochre patterned floor.

The transformation was dramatic. What was once a dull, neglected floor is now a vibrant and character-rich entranceway, showcasing the home’s original period features. The intricate patterns of the Victorian tiles are fully visible again, and the sealer gave them a lovely satin appearance. The homeowner was delighted and how well the tiles responded.

Before leaving I took time to discuss aftercare which for a sealed tiled floor, I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle yet effective product that won’t erode the sealer.

If you have a period floor in need of restoration, I cover the Edinburgh area and would be happy to provide a free site visit and quotation. Victorian tiles can last generations with the right care—get in touch to bring yours back to life.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Vestibule in Edinburgh

The post Restoring a Heavily Soiled Victorian Tiled Vestibule Floor in Trinity Edinburgh appeared first on Edinburgh Tile Doctor.

Textured Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Wakefield

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:46:17 +0000

I was called out to a home in Wakefield where the owner wasn’t happy with the state of their Porcelain tiled kitchen floor. It had been down about five years, and while porcelain’s a tough, non-slip tile that’s spot on for kitchens, the textured surface had started to trap muck. The grout lines were just the same – once they get dirty, they don’t half take some shifting.

The customer had been grafting away with regular cleaning but couldn’t get rid of the ingrained dirt. Having a couple of dogs running about didn’t help matters either. They were after a proper deep clean and a seal to make life easier.

After conducting a test clean first, it showed the porcelain was of the microporous type which meant that a sealer would definitely help to keep it clean. The customer liked what they saw, so we cracked on and booked in a date to renovate the whole floor.

Cleaning a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen

First job was to get the muck shifted; to do this the Porcelain tile and grout was covered in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. It was then left it to dwell and soak in for ten minutes so it could get to work on the floor digesting the dirt. Then we got stuck in with a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad to work the solution deep into the floor.

Now, machines are grand for open areas, but they don’t half struggle to get into grout lines, so the only thing to do was to get down on my knees and give it a good scrub with stiff brush. You could see the improvement during the scrubbing turning the cleaning solution black as the dirt was lifted out.

After scrubbing the floor was rinsed with clean water and then a wet vacuum used to remove the soiling. Stubborn areas were gone over again by hand until they shifted. After another rinse and a thorough vacuum dry, the floor was ready for sealing.

Sealing a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen

Once dry, the Porcelain tile and grout was sealed using Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal. This sealer doesn’t contain a colour enhancer so is invisible to the naked eye. Its also an impregnator that soaks into the pores adding protection from within and ensuring dirt remains on the surface making it much easier to clean going forward.

After the work was wrapped up, I’m pleased to say the customer was chuffed with the result and left the following feedback on-line:

“Chris and Zak came on time, prepped the area which was a large kitchen and utility with porcelain tiles. They quickly got on with the job in a professional manner. They worked hard to ensure that they could get the floor cleaned and sealed within a day. The results are brilliant. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend “

To keep the floor looking grand, we recommended using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. It’s gentle but does the job, and unlike supermarket cleaners, it won’t erode the sealer or leave a residue behind. Used regularly, it’ll make sure the floor stays clean with no messing.

Professional Restoration of a Porcelain Tiled Kitchen in Yorkshire

The post Textured Porcelain Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Wakefield appeared first on North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor.

Deep Clean and Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor in Kensington

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:40:35 +0000

The photographs below are of a Victorian tiled floor at a property across the Thames in Kensington which as you can see was in quite a poor state, especially along the edges. The property was being renovated and the walls recently plastered following a rewire resulting in all sorts of building materials being trod into the tiles leaving them looking very neglected.

The biggest problem were the border tiles where many had become damaged and cracked over the years. It would be a straight-forward task to replace them however, and I was confident of finding matching replacements.

I worked out a quote for the work which would include replacing the damaged tiles, deep cleaning the floor and then sealing to protect it. The quote included sourcing replacement reproduction tiles for which there are several suppliers, and I was confident that after a clean and seal the new tiles would blend in well with the original.

Cleaning and Restoring a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The room was completely empty due to the house being renovated so I was able to crack straight on starting by giving the floor an initial clean using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel. Normally I would do the repairs first but with the floor being so dirty I wanted to be sure I could see all the tiles that needed replacing.

Old Victorian floors don’t have the benefit of a damp proof membrane so it’s important to keep the use of water to a minimum and avoid the appearance of white efflorescent salts which can rise through the tile as it dries. The gel was applied neat to the Victorian tiles and allowed to soak in for about ten minutes before being worked in using a 200-Grit pad fitted to a rotary buffer. The combination of the coarse pad and the cleaning gel does a good job of bringing the dirt to the surface where it was then removed with a wet vacuum.

With the floor clean I set about removing the broken tiles which was done carefully to avoid disturbing more tiles than necessary. The rubble was removed, and the foundation was rebuilt with self-levelling compound to the correct level. Once that had set, the replacement tiles were shaped and secured in place with fresh adhesive and grout. When complete I left for the day to allow the repairs to set overnight.

The following day I completed the cleaning process using another gel product called Tile Doctor Acid Gel. The acidic nature of the product also neutralises any salts that may be present and then leaves a microscopic etch on the clay tiles which helps to achieve a better bond with the sealer. The gel was then rinsed off and extracted as before and the floor left to dry off overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The next day we started sealing the floor with Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is a fully breathable sealer which is an important feature when sealing old floors like this, it also contains a colour enhancer. The sealer protects the tiles from ingrained dirt ensuring it remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

Once complete the floor was completely transformed and unrecognisable from before, hopefully the decorators who will be working on the property next will ensure it stays that way. For aftercare cleaning I recommended using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective tile cleaner that’s designed for use on sealed floors.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in London

The post Deep Clean and Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor in Kensington appeared first on South London Tile Doctor.

Cracked Terrazzo Tiled Communal Hallway Floor Restored in Penarth

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:10:19 +0000

Earlier this year we were contacted by a property management company regarding the restoration of a terrazzo floor in the communal entrance hallway of a block of flats they managed in Penarth. The floor had several cracks and after reviewing some similar work published on my website, they were confident we could achieve a good result.

Happy to oblige I scheduled a time with the managing agent to survey the floor and create a quote for its restoration. Dirt was badly ingrained into the stone, and it was clear it had been some time since it was last professionally cleaned and sealed. Terrazzo needs to be sealed to prevent dirt from becoming ingrained in the floor and in this case the sealer had worn down and was no longer providing any protection. The other issue were the cracks which is not uncommon in an old floor like this that has seen some settlement.

Later that day I worked out a quote and emailed it over to the agent who gave me the go-ahead to restore the floor.

Cleaning and Repairing a Terrazzo Tiled Communal Entrance Hallway

I had to work in sections so as not to impede access for the residents and started by addressing the cracks. After clearing out the crack it is filled with a specialist product which is coloured to match. It is then touched up carefully with paint to blend in the repair.

Once dry, work progressed onto burnishing the floor using a set of Tile Doctor Burnishing Pads. The process starts with a coarse 400-grit pad which removes any remaining old sealer and light scratch marks. The pad is run over the floor three or four times and then the soiling generated by the process is rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum. This is then repeated with a medium 800-grit pad which smooths the surface after the coarse 400-grit pad and is the first stage in polishing the floor. After another rinse and extraction, the pad was changed for a finer 1500-grit pad which further polishes the floor.

The last pad is a very fine 3500-grit which is run over the floor dry with only a little water sprayed onto the surface. This last pad adds the final polish to the floor and really brings up the surface and produces a lovely satin shine finish.

Sealing a Terrazzo Tiled Communal Entrance Hallway

The floor was left to dry overnight ready to be sealed the following day. The hallway would see a lot of foot traffic, so I chose a hard-wearing impregnator to seal the floor. The product being Tile Doctor Colour Grow which soaks into the surface adding protection from within, it also contains a colour enhancer that improves the natural colours in the Terrazzo.

The result was a much cleaner and easier to service floor, the sealer also helped the crack repairs to blend in and overall the hallway looked much healthier.

For the regular cleaning for a sealed floor like this I recommend using a Tile Doctor’s Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective product that won’t impact the sealer. Using stronger bleach-based products will shorten the life of the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Terrazzo Tiled Communal Entrance Hallway in Southeast Wales

The post Cracked Terrazzo Tiled Communal Hallway Floor Restored in Penarth appeared first on South East Wales Tile Doctor.

Badly Ingrained Indian Sandstone Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Melrose

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:05:54 +0000

This Indian Sandstone tiled floor had been installed in the Kitchen and Dining room a property in Melrose fifty years prior. Although it was cleaned weekly the sealer had long since failed and dirt had penetrated the pores of the stone leaving it permanently dark.

The years of ingrained soiling were especially bad around the cooker and sink areas, making it impossible for standard cleaning products to make any difference. The wonderful colours and markings of each stone tile were completely hidden due to the soiling. Interestingly you could still see the original colour of the clean sandstone behind the kickboards under the kitchen units so the owner had a good idea of the floor’s potential.

I explained the floor would need an intensive clean to flush the years of dirt out of the pores and then a fresh sealer added to protect it going forward. Keen to have the floor restored to its original condition they accepted my quote, and a date was set for the work to start which would take two days.

Cleaning an Indian Sandstone Kitchen

On day one I removed the kick boards and started deep cleaning the Sandstone to remove the ingrained soiling. To do this the tiles were soaked with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go and this was left to soak in for fifteen minutes. This gives the solution time to digest the dirt and any remaining sealer so it can be lifted to the surface and cleaned away.

The floor was then scrubbed with a special silicon carbide brush fitted to a rotary floor machine. This brush really gets into the recesses of the grout lines and helps to scrub the dirt out of the stone especially if it has a riven surface.

After going over each of the stone tiles three to four times with the brush the floor was rinsed with water and all the residue removed with a wet vacuum. The floor was then given a second clean and thorough rinse to ensure all the residue had been removed.

A third clean was then completed using Tile Doctors Grout Clean-Up, which further cleans the stone and also treats efflorescence. This time the product was scrubbed in with a black pad. Once completed the floor was again rinsed with water and the residues removed with a wet vacuum as before.

Sealing an Indian Sandstone Kitchen

The floor was then left over night to dry, and I returned the next day where work started by ensuring the floor was dry by testing the moisture levels on various parts of the floor. It’s important that the floor is dry before sealing as otherwise it can look patchy.

All was well and so I started with the first coat of Tile Doctors Ultra-Seal, a natural look impregnating sealer, chosen by the client. This was This Indian Sandstone tiled floor had been installed in the Kitchen and Dining room a property in Melrose fifty years prior. Although it was cleaned weekly the sealer had long since failed and dirt had penetrated the pores of the stone leaving it permanently dark.

Cleaning an Indian Sandstone Kitchen

Sealing an Indian Sandstone Kitchen

All was well and so I started with the first coat of Tile Doctors Ultra-Seal, a natural look impregnating sealer, chosen by the client. This was allowed to dry for thirty minutes before starting on the second coat. This sealer is a tough durable sealer with a matt finish.

Once complete the Sandstone tiles and grout looked very clean indeed and all the features of the stone were clearly visible returning the character to the floor. To maintain the fresh look and sealer going forward I recommended the tiles were cleaned using a Tile Doctors Neutral pH cleaner which lifts soiling but won’t erode the sealer.

Professional Restoration of an Indian Sandstone Kitchen in Edinburgh

allowed to dry for thirty minutes before starting on the second coat. This sealer is a tough durable sealer with a matt finish.

Professional Restoration of an Indian Sandstone Kitchen in Edinburgh

The post Badly Ingrained Indian Sandstone Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Melrose appeared first on Edinburgh Tile Doctor.

Quarry Tiled Floor Restoration in Kendal

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:10:42 +0000

A homeowner from Kendal asked me to inspect an old Quarry tiled floor laid in the classic Red and Black Dorchester pattern. Several tiles were damaged or back filled with concrete and so needed replacing, but overall, the floor just required a deep clean and seal. I suspect something had been dropped on the damaged tiles at some point, causing them to deteriorate over time. With old floors like this, their history is often lost.

I provided a quote for the work, which included replacing the damaged tiles, deep cleaning the floor, and sealing it for protection. Red and Black Quarry tiles are still popular, so I was confident I could find replacement or salvaged tiles that would match the floor. The homeowner accepted the quote, and a date was set for the work to begin.

Cleaning and Repairing a Quarry Tiled Floor

Upon arrival, we protected the areas near our work site and carefully removed the damaged tiles, ensuring not to dislodge adjacent tiles and expand the project unnecessarily. The foundation was cleaned to remove rubble and old adhesive, and the replacement tiles were shaped and dry-fitted. They were then secured with fresh adhesive and grouted. I was confident the repair would be invisible once completed.

The tiles were left to set overnight. The next day, we deep cleaned the entire floor using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel. Old floors like this lack a damp-proof membrane, so I prefer gel cleaners that minimise water usage. The gel was applied neat to the quarry tiles and allowed to soak for about ten minutes before being worked in with a 200-grit pad fitted to a rotary buffer. This combination is excellent for cleaning old tiles, as there was a significant amount of carpet glue around the room’s edges that needed removal.

The slurry was extracted with a wet vacuum, and the process was repeated with another gel product called Tile Doctor Acid Gel scrubbed in with a deck brush. This product further cleans the tiles and being acidic dissolves any salts present in the tile, it also etches the tiles microscopically which helps to achieve a better bond with the sealer. The gel was then rinsed off and extracted with the wet vacuum, and the floor was left to dry overnight.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Floor

The moisture level readings were satisfactory the next day, and we proceeded to seal the floor with a coat of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. This oil-based breathable sealer is ideal for old floors like this, as it leaves a light sheen and enhances the colour of the black and red clay.

The result was transformative; the repair was indeed invisible, and the Quarry tiles looked much cleaner and brighter. Needless to say, my client was very pleased with the work.

X-Tra Seal works by soaking into the clay tile, occupying the pores, and preventing dirt from becoming ingrained in the tile, where it can be difficult to remove. This effectively keeps dirt on the surface, where it can be easily cleaned away.

For aftercare cleaning, I recommended using a sealer-compatible tile cleaner such as Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This pH-neutral cleaner won’t erode the sealer, which can be a significant problem with many stronger products found in supermarkets.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Floor in South Cumbria

The post Quarry Tiled Floor Restoration in Kendal appeared first on South Cumbria Tile Doctor.

Dull Marble Tiled Kitchen Floor Polished and Transformed in Bourne

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:52:55 +0000

We recently undertook a truly remarkable transformation of a tired and weathered Marble floor at a home in Bourne in South Lincolnshire. Once the pride of the property, the surface had dulled over the years—its natural sheen muted by time, foot traffic, and improper maintenance products.

There were no physical issues with the Marble tiles, it was simply a case of the polished appearance being worn down with use, the grout had also darkened with dirt. The solution would be to hone the polish back onto the Marble using a set of burnishing pads, cleaning the grout and then re-sealing to protect the stone from ingrained dirt. I quoted for completing the work which was accepted and a date set.

Cleaning and Polishing a Marble Tiled Kitchen Floor

The renovation began by adding protection to the adjacent carpeting and plinths with silicone; water ingress can cause damage especially to MDF so this step is always worth doing. Once done the floor was given a meticulous deep clean using a rotary buffer to remove surface dirt.

Next, to restore the deep polish and natural beauty to the stone a series of Tile Doctor Diamond Burnishing Pads were run over the tiles in sequence from coarse to extra fine. The coarse pad removes layers of ingrained dirt, residues and fine scratches that mask the floor’s character. Water is used to lubricate the process, and this turns into a dark slurry as the work progresses. Once each tile has been burnished several times with the pad, the floor is rinsed to remove the slurry.

The pads can struggle to reach into the recesses of the grout line so at this point I ran a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean along the grout lines and scrubbed it in with a wire brush to get the dirt out.

After another rinse and extraction, the coarse pad was then changed on the buffer for the first of the three finer pads. These finer pads gradually hone the stone and restore the deep polished appearance. With each pass, the marble reveals more of its hidden depth and clarity. Again, these are applied with water and the floor rinsed and extracted afterwards to remove the slurry.

The last pad is a very fine grade and is applied dry with only a little water using a process we call a spray burnish and leaves the marble smooth with a deep light-reflecting finish.

Sealing a Marble Tiled Kitchen

On day two, the Marble was finished with the application of the sealer which for this floor we had decided upon Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal. This is Tile Doctor’s premium impregnating natural look sealer that penetrates deep into the stone protecting it from within.

The sealer occupies the pores in the stone ensuring dirt cannot reside there, keeping it on the surface and thereby providing long-lasting protection from spills, stains, and moisture. With Tile Doctor Ultra Seal, the Marble’s surface was not only radiant but now ready to resist the rigours of daily life.

The result? A floor that shimmered with elegance—its rich shine and warm tones brought back to life, glowing under the natural light like a polished sculpture. The homeowners were overjoyed, and we were proud to have revived a floor that now looks as luxurious as the day it was laid.

For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is a gentle yet effective cleaning product that contains a patina enhancer and won’t impact the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Marble Tiled Kitchen Floor in Lincolnshire

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Dilapidated Edwardian Tiled Porch Restored to New in West Bridgford

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:20:44 +0000

I was asked by a client in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham to renovate the Edwardian era tiling in the porch at the front of their property. The tiles were laid in a classic black and white Chequered pattern and were now in a bad state having been exposed to the elements, they had also suffered extensive damage to the tile and screed foundation.

It’s very difficult to quote for restoration work like this from photographs to I arrange to visit the house survey the floor and take some detailed notes. From this I was able to create a detailed quote which they were happy to go ahead with.

Repairing and Cleaning an Edwardian Tiled Porch

Work started by removing the damaged tiles so the damaged sections screed could be removed and replaced. Once the base was ready replacement vintage tiles were cut to shape and the correct size where needed and then reinstated.

Once the replacement tiles had been laid the tiles were grouted in to make the floor solid, and ready for the next step of restorative cleaning.

With the tile and grout set a low-moisture gel clean process was applied using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel to break down the old floor coatings and soiling. After allowing this product to soak into the tile for ten minutes it was worked in using Tile Doctors abrasive Silicon Carbide Brushes.

The resulting slurry was removed, and work progressed onto the next stage which was to apply Tile Doctor Acid Gel to further clean the tile. This product also treats inherent efflorescence staining and neutralises the alkaline Tile Doctor Oxy Gel used earlier. Again, this was worked in using Silicon Carbide Brushes.

The slurry was removed as before and the floor wiped down with microfibre cloths, that had been sitting in water with diluted Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up.

Sealing an Edwardian Tiled Porch

The floor was allowed to dry overnight and then sealed the following day with Tile Doctors X-Tra Seal which is a colour enhancing impregnating sealer. This sealer allows for vapour transmission which is ideal for period floors that do not have a DPM (damp proof membrane) to prevent moisture rising through the tile. Air movers were used to speed up drying times.

The sealer occupies the pores in the tile thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained in the tile and keeping it on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away. Once completed I recommended Tile Doctors Neutral Cleaner for regular cleaning and left a bottle with the client along with the instructions on how to use it.

My client was very happy with the newly restored porchway which now created a much more inviting entrance that I’m use has added value to the property.

Professional Restoration of an Edwardian Tiled Porch in Nottinghamshire

The post Dilapidated Edwardian Tiled Porch Restored to New in West Bridgford appeared first on Nottinghamshire Tile Doctor.

Restoring the Appearance of Black Slate Tiled Courtyard in Roehampton

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:56:18 +0000

Here we have a Slate tiled courtyard at a property in Roehampton SW15 that had been installed 20 years prior and clearly not received much love since. The main issue was the grouting which was cracked in places and water had been leaking into the basement below. I suspect the Slate had been previously cleaned with a strong acidic patio cleaner as the stone had lost all its colour and looked bleached.

The owner contacted me to see what could be done and once it was clear these were originally black slate tiles, I knew exactly what to do to restore the colour and put the life back into the floor. I discussed the restoration process with the owner and worked out a quote for the work. Happy to have finally found a solution I was given the go ahead and a date set for the work to start.

Cleaning and Repairing a Slate Tiled Courtyard

I started by removing the cracked and failing grouting and replaced it with a modern epoxy jointing compound normally sold for paving. There were a lot of grout lines to cover so it took some time to complete. The floor was then left to set before moving onto the next stage of cleaning.

To clean the Slate tiling I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and left it to soak in for ten minutes before scrubbing it in with a carbide brush fitted to a rotary machine. The dirt released from the tiles was then rinsed away and extracted with a wet vacuum. The floor was then inspected and the process repeated where needed until I was happy the Slate was as clean as it could be.

Sealing a Slate Tiled Courtyard

The floor was then left to dry off again and I returned later to seal the tiles when the weather was dry. I used Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal for this, in fact it was a perfect choice as its suitable for external use and is an oil-based sealer which is exactly what the slate needed to restore the black colour to the stone.

For aftercare I advised the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild but effective tile and grout cleaner that won’t impact the sealer. The floor looked great, and my client was very happy with the completed project.

Professional Restoration of a Slate Tiled Courtyard in South London

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Grout Haze Removed from Modern Encaustic Floor Tiles in Ampthill

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:48:43 +0000

Last year I was asked to look at cleaning a modern Encaustic tiled floor at a property in Ampthill with a striking design. Many people are drawn to the luxury look of encaustic tiling which are often featured in high end magazines so I thought it would be worth sharing.

It’s absolutely a beautiful type of flooring, however, as our client from Ampthill realised, the tiles must be installed by a professional who understands their makeup. Unlike ceramics they are made from cement and are porous and need to be sealed. In this case the floor had only recently been laid and the tiler had not managed remove all the grout haze before sealing. Consequently, the rough haze attracted dirt making the floor look less than desirable.

Cleaning and Renovating an Encaustic Tiled Hallway

To remove the Grout Haze, it was first necessary to remove the sealer which was done using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go. This is a powerful stripper that is safe to use on tile and stone. The solution was sprayed onto the tiles and and then left to dwell for about ten minutes before being scrubbed into the floor with a coarse 200-grit diamond pad. This effectively cleaned the floor removing the sealer and the grout haze.

The next step was to rinse away the soiling from the cleaning and give the tiles a deep clean for which I used a high-pressure truck mounted spinner tool. The tool applies water at high pressure to the floor whilst simultaneously extracting the waste back to a tank on the vehicle leaving it clean and almost dry.

Sealing an Encaustic Tiled Hallway

Once the tiles were completely dry, they were then sealed with Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is a fully breathable impregnating sealer, it provides water and stain repellence and adds robust protection and enhances the overall beauty.

For aftercare cleaning of any sealed floor, I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective tile and grout cleaner. This is a pH neutral product which ensures the newly applied sealer isn’t stripped off which can be the problem with the stronger floor cleaning products you often find in supermarkets.

Professional Cleaning of a Modern Encaustic Tiled Hallway in Bedfordshire

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Octagonal Encaustic Tiled Victorian Hallway Floor Renovated in Milngavie

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 01:07:32 +0000

The pictures below are of Red and Cream Octagonal Encaustic tiled hallway floor at a Victorian property in Milngavie North of Glasgow. The tiles were in good condition but being made of encaustic cement they are porous and need to be sealed to prevent dirt from becoming ingrained in the pores. Once dirt becomes ingrained it makes it very difficult to keep it clean and in this case the sealer had worn off after years of use and the floor needed cleaning and re-sealing.

After visiting the property to take a closer look and measure up I was able to work out a plan for its renovation and craft a detailed quote for the work which would take two days, one to clean and one to seal. The quote was accepted and a date set for the work to start.

Cleaning an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Hallway

On the first day we set about removing years of ingrained dirt from the tiles using a specialist low moisture product called Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel. Old floors like this don’t have the benefit of a damp-proof membrane under the floor so we have learned from experience its best to keep the use of water down to a minimum. Using a lot of water to clean a floor like this can lead to long drying times and increases the chances of efflorescence appearing which results in white salt deposits.

The gel was brushed onto the tiles using a deck brush and then left for around 10-15 minutes before being scrubbed into the tiles using a 200-grit diamond pad. This proved very effective at bringing the ingrained dirt to the surface where the gel turned into a slurry that could be extracted using wet vacuum.

This process was carried out a couple of times before replacing the coarse 200-grit pad with a finer 400-grit. This pad is run across the floor using water for lubrication and further cleans the tile. After another extraction with the wet vacuum the process was repeated with an 800 then 1500-grit pad to further clean the tiles and bring up the surface.

The tiles were then given a couple of wipes over using microfibre cloths and then given an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to neutralise the floor and counter any salts in left before being left to fully dry out for a week with a fan.

Sealing an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Hallway

On the second day we returned to seal the tiles. This was carried out using a single coat of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is a modern oil-based sealer which helps restore structure and colour to the tiles. The sealer was applied with a paint pad and left to soak in for twenty minutes before being buffed in using microfibre cloths.

The X-Tra Seal added colour and tone to the tiles, it’s also very hard wearing, fully breathable and externally rated so ideal for a hallway. Once complete the floor looked so much brighter and inviting.

For aftercare I recommended cleaning the floor with Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is mild yet effective and won’t impact the sealer

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Encaustic Tiled Hallway Floor in Glasgow

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Edwardian Red and Black Quarry Tiled Hallway Floor Renovated in Hitchin

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:12:49 +0000

The Red and Black Quarry tiles in the hallway of this Edwardian house in Hitchin had been altered and enlarged over the years but now appeared dull, flat and in need of a serious deep clean and re-seal. I was told that sections of the hallway tiles had been lifted and relayed in the past as part of building improvements and now the owner wanted to give the hallway a lift to improve its appearance. The brief was to clean, restore and enhance the appearance of the tiles across the hallway to give a consistent look.

After surveying the floor and measuring up I tested several cleaning products on the Edwardian Quarry tiles to work out the best method to remove old coatings and general dirt. Doing this first ensures we use the most efficient way to clean the floor and we settled on a strong combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean mixed with Tile Doctor Remove and Go.

I worked out a quote for the renovation which would remove old waxes and treatments along with ingrained dirt, make minor repairs and then apply a sealer across the whole floor. After discussing the quote in detail and answering all the questions a date was set for the work to start.

Cleaning an Edwardian Quarry Tiled Hallway

The mixture of Pro-Clean and Remove and Go was applied to the floor in sections and worked into the tiles using a floor buffer fitted with a black scrubbing pad. Once the section was cleaned in this way the tiles were rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum. The section was then inspected for stubborn marks and stains and then spot treated until satisfied it was as clean as could be.

During the survey several loose tiles were identified so once the cleaning had been completed, these were lifted out and re-fitted using fresh adhesive. Once all the sections of tiles had been fully cleaned and repaired where required, the floor was left to dry off overnight.

Sealing an Edwardian Quarry Tiled Hallway

Before starting work the next day the floor was checked for dampness using a moisture meter, this is important as applying sealer to a damp tile can result in a patchy finish.

Once happy the floor was dry, the first of two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow were applied to the quarry tiles to not only protect the tile from ingrained dirt but also to enrich the colours. This sealer is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the tile occupying the pores and adding long lasting protection from within.

Tile Doctor Colour Grow is a matt sealer which wasn’t the overall effect the customer wanted so it was left to dry off overnight and the following day four light coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go were applied which gave the desired rich satin finish.

The work put the life back in the floor and brought a consistent finish to the different sections. For aftercare I recommended using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild pH neutral friendly cleaner.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Hallway in Hertfordshire

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Water Damaged Victorian Tiled Village Hall Floor Fully Restored in Hebburn

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:48:54 +0000

I was asked to quote for restoring a heavily marked and dirty Encaustic tiled Victorian floor at a village hall outside Hebburn. I was told there had been water damage and the tiles were in a very sorry state however these old floors can take a lot of punishment, and it never fails to surprise me just how well they can be recovered.

I arranged a site visit to inspect the floor and discussed with the client the process I would use to restore it to its former glory. Having taken detailed notes and measurements, I was able to work out a plan for its restoration and from this provide a detailed quotation. The management team of the hall were keen to have the work done and I was given the go-ahead.

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway

Having agreed a date for the work to start I began by giving the floor a good vacuum to clear any loose debris on the floor. I then applied a gel-based product called Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel to the tiles to keep moisture levels to a minimum. Old floors like these don’t have a damp proof membrane so you must take care not to exacerbate any damp issues. These tiles would be very porous after years of neglect and lack of sealer.

With the gel applied I used carbide brushes of increasing grits to start the cleaning and scrub away the worst of the stubborn dirt stuck to the tiles. This was then rinsed off and the slurry removed with a wet vacuum.

This improved the condition of the tiles, but more work was needed so another coat of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel was applied and the scrubbing repeated but this time using a coarse 200-grit diamond pad. This did the job, and you could really see the tiles coming back to life. Again, this was rinsed off and extracted as before.

The floor was then given an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which further cleans the tiles and neutralises the pH level of the floor which would have been high due to the use of Oxy-Gel which is alkaline. The gel was scrubbed in with a brush and then rinsed off and extracted as before. The acidic nature of this product also dissolves any efflorescent salts which can be a common issue with old floors like this one, especially if they have been damp in the past.

The floor was then left to dry over a two-week period; they needed that long as this work was completed in the middle of winter. As mentioned before there was no damp-proof course and the tiles had experienced previous flood damage, so they took quite a while before they were fully dry ready for sealing.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

I went back after two weeks, and after confirming the tiles were dry with a moisture meter proceeded to apply the first of what would be two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This was chosen as it contains a colour enhancer that did a lovely job of improving the colours in the tile, it’s also fully breathable which will help with any damp issues going forward.

As you can see this old Victorian tiled floor was vastly improved by the process and should keep that way for many more years to come. For aftercare I advised the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which won’t harm the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Floor in Tyneside

The post Water Damaged Victorian Tiled Village Hall Floor Fully Restored in Hebburn appeared first on Tyneside Tile Doctor.

Restoring a Carpet Glue Stained from a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor in Bordon

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:08:27 +0000

This report comes from the small town of Bordon when we were contacted by a homeowner with a Quarry tiled kitchen floor that was in quite a state. The Quarry tiles had previously been covered with square carpet tiles which had been stuck to the quarry tiles with adhesive. The carpet tiles were starting to look worse for wear, so they decided to remove them.

The newly revealed quarry tiles were very dirty and badly stained, especially along the edges where the carpet tiles had been glued to the floor. Realising they had bitten off a little too much they contacted Tile Doctor to see what could be done to remove the glue and restore their appearance.

Happy to assist I popped over to Bordon to take a look and came up with a plan and quotation for the floor’s restoration. It was clear a lot of scrubbing would be needed to remove the glue, and I worked out a quote accordingly. Happy with the quote and the prospect of having the old quarry tiled floor restored as an original feature I was given the go ahead.

Cleaning a Quarry Tiled Kitchen

The first job was to cover the tiles in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and then leave it to soak in for ten minutes. The tiles were then power scrubbed with a black pad fitted to a rotary machine running on slow speed. Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was also scrubbed into the grout lines to get them as clean as possible. Once the whole floor had been treated in this manner it was rinsed off with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

This first step got the tiles cleaner but struggled to remove all the glue staining, so for step 2 the process was repeated this time using Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a powerful coatings remover that can shift most issues. Again, this was scrubbed in with a black pad and then rinsed and extracted afterwards.

After another inspection, stubborn stains were spot treated with more product and hand scrubbing until we were satisfied the floor was clear of all dirt and contaminates.

After rinsing and extracting thoroughly the floor was allowed to dry for several days.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Kitchen

We returned later to seal the floor, testing first for damp to ensure the tiles were dry. All was well and we were able to move on to sealing the Quarry tiles with three coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go. This is a water-based sealer (so no smell as it dries) that adds a lovely satin sheen to the Quarry tile.

The client was very pleased and so glad that he had managed to save the original quarry tiled floor and put it back into use. For aftercare cleaning and maintenance, Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner was recommended, this is an effective but mild tile cleaner that won’t impact the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor in Hampshire

The post Restoring a Carpet Glue Stained from a Quarry Tiled Kitchen Floor in Bordon appeared first on Tile Doctor Hampshire.

Green Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Grappenhall

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:23:33 +0000

Recently I visited a farmhouse in Grappenhall to look at a kitchen floor that was laid with beautiful Green Limestone tiles. Grappenhall is a lovely Cheshire village which is better known as a period TV and film location.

The owner of the property had sent in a request to have the floor cleaned and sealed. This is quite normal for natural stone floors as the protective sealer will wear off with use and once this happens dirt become ingrained in the stone and grout making it difficult to clean.

Whilst at the property I ran a quick test clean with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is our go to Tile and Grout cleaner. The Limestone and Grout responded well to the cleaning and later that day I sent over a detailed quote for deep cleaning the whole floor and then sealing.

Pleased with the test clean and happy with the quote we were given the go-ahead to clean and seal the whole floor.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Kitchen in Grappenhall

On the agreed date work started with clearing the room of furniture and adding protective film to the Kitchen units. Fortunately, the weather was favourable so the furniture was moved outside.

A strong dilution of Pro-Clean was sprayed onto Limestone tile and Grout and then left to soak in for ten minutes. This gives the Pro-Clean time to digest the dirt and breakdown what was left of the original sealer. All the grout lines and edges were then hand scrubbed before moving onto the main floor area. For this a buffing machine fitted with a Black scrubbing pad was run over the tiles with more water applied as required to improve lubrication. This process effectively lifted the ingrained stains and dirt from the tile and grout which was then removed using a wet vacuum.

Once done the floor was inspected and the process repeated were required to ensure the floor was as clean as possible. Finally, the floor was rinsed with more water to remove any traces of cleaning solution and then dried with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Kitchen

The floor was left to dry overnight and the following morning several moisture readings were taken with a damp meter to verify the floor had dried sufficiently for sealing. Once the readings were correct, the floor was sealed using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow, an impregnating colour-enhancing sealer. Floor fans were used to help dry the floor between coats.

Impregnators work by soaking into the pores of the Limestone preventing dirt from residing there and ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away. The colour enhancing formula of the sealer always did a nice job of bringing out the natural green colour in the stone. The floor was then buffed with a white pad to remove any excess sealer and buff up the appearance of the stone.

The cleaning and sealing process successfully restored the appearance of the Limestone floor and the Grout looked much whiter and cleaner. We do take pride in our work and I’m please to say the customer was very happy with the result.

Before leaving I took time to provide some advice on how to maintain the tiles going forward and the importance of using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for day-to-day cleaning.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Kitchen in Cheshire

The post Green Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Grappenhall appeared first on West Cheshire Tile Doctor.

Dirty Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Balham SW12

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:39:55 +0000

The photographs below show the condition of a heavily soiled Terracotta tiled kitchen floor at a residential property in Balham, SW12, which I was recently commissioned to renovate. The client had several outstanding tasks related to the renovation of the property, but the kitchen floor was the most urgent due to its significant level of soiling. The client described the condition of the floor as “VERY dirty” and in immediate need of professional attention.

During an initial site visit, I conducted a thorough inspection of the floor. It became clear that the contamination was largely the result of recent renovation work carried out by other tradespeople. A cleaning test confirmed that the floor would respond positively to deep cleaning. I also identified that a sealer had previously been applied, but to restore the floor to a satisfactory standard, a deep and intensive cleaning process would be necessary, followed by resealing.

Following this assessment, I prepared a detailed quotation for the renovation work, which was approved by the client. A suitable date was then agreed for the commencement of the job.

Deep Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

Upon returning to the property, I began the renovation by carrying out a deep cleaning of the Terracotta tiles and grout lines. For this, I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go, combined with Nanotech HBU to maximise effectiveness. The solution was agitated into the surface using a rotary floor machine fitted with a coarse carbide brush.

The floor was then rinsed thoroughly, and the resulting slurry extracted using a wet vacuum. I carefully inspected the tiles and grout after the first pass, and any areas with persistent staining were retreated using the same method. To ensure a thorough clean of the grout lines, I applied a strong solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, which I worked in manually using a hand-held scrubbing brush until the grout reached an acceptable standard.

The floor was rinsed multiple times throughout the cleaning process, with each rinse followed by slurry extraction using the wet vacuum. After the final rinse, I used the vacuum once more to remove as much residual moisture as possible.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

Before sealing, I tested the floor with a damp meter to ensure it was completely dry. Once confirmed, I applied several coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This sealer contains a colour-enhancing formula that accentuates the natural orange and red tones typical of Terracotta.

Tile Doctor Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that penetrates the surface of the tile, filling the pores to prevent the ingress of dirt and moisture. This ensures easier maintenance and provides long-term protection, while preserving the natural matte appearance of the tiles — an important requirement expressed by the client.

The transformation was remarkable. The client was extremely satisfied with the result, stating that the floor now “looks like new.”

For ongoing maintenance, I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This pH-neutral product is specially formulated to clean sealed tiles without degrading the protective sealer. I advised against using standard household cleaning agents, as many are too aggressive and can compromise the integrity of the sealer over time.

Professional Restoration of a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor in South London

The post Dirty Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor Renovated in Balham SW12 appeared first on South London Tile Doctor.

Victorian Tiled Kitchen Floor Repair and Restored in Penarth

Fri, 30 May 2025 14:08:48 +0000

Following a recommendation, this client from Penarth contacted Tile Doctor to carry out a survey on their Victorian tiled kitchen floor and come up with a plan for its restoration. Always happy to provide advice and guidance I arranged a date to pop over and take a look.

As you can see from the photographs on this page the floor was in very poor condition with many tiles needing replacing and a section missing adjacent to the wooden floor. Many stains were visible due to years of neglect as previous builders used it to mix cement and plaster.

Undeterred I advised that the floor could be restored using replacement tiles to match the existing and then with deep cleaning and sealing it should be transformed. I worked out a quote for the restoration which they were happy with.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Kitchen

After sourcing suitable replacement tiles the first job was to remove the broken and damaged areas of tiling and clean up the base ready for tiling. This is slow and careful work as the replacements had to be cut to match the existing pattern. Once the tiles were ready, they were dry fitted into place to ensure the pattern was correct before being fixed in place with a flexible adhesive and fresh grouting.

The floor was left to set overnight, and I came back the next day to start the cleaning.
As this floor was heavily soiled with a variety of different substances, I mixed a variety of Tile Doctor products to achieve the most effective way to lift the stains. The mixture contained a litre of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, Tile Doctor Remove and Go together with Tile Doctor HBU Nanotech, all of which provide different capabilities and were combined in a container which was then shaken to mix the contents.

The cleaning progressed at 1m2 at a time scrubbing the surface with a handheld pad cut from a 17″ Tile Doctor Burnishing Pad, scrubbing the pitted areas with a scrubbing brush, rinsing with clean water and vacuuming up as I worked.

Once the floor was clean it was then given an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to help neutralise efflorescent salts and remove cement smears. Being acidic it also neutralises the floor after cleaning with the alkaline products used earlier.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Kitchen

The floor was left to dry for 2 days as it had a considerable amount of liquids applied during the cleaning process.

The chosen sealer was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a durable tile impregnator. It also acts as a base coat for the next sealer applied which was Tile Doctor Seal & Go which provides a satin shine finish and enhances the rich colours. Both sealers allow for vapour transmission (aka breathable) which is important feature for floors laid without a damp proof membrane.

The floor looked stunning once complete and my clients was delighted with the service and finish of the floor. They have also passed on Tile Doctors contact details to family and friends.

For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective tile cleaning product that safe to use on sealed surfaces.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Kitchen in Southeast Wales

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Maintaining Red Marble Patio Tiles Six Years After First Visit in Newbury

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:37:38 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of revisiting a property in Newbury that I first worked on around six years ago. The job stood out in my memory—not just because of the work involved, but because the property itself is truly unique. Styled like a Mediterranean villa, the home features a stunning Spanish Red Marble patio that gives it a real wow factor. In fact, we did write about at the time and if you want to visit that post please click here: Red Marble Patio Newbury

The client had spent the past few years living abroad and had rented the house out in the meantime. Unfortunately, during that period, the patio had been exposed to the elements and was showing signs of neglect. The once vibrant marble was now dull and in need of some serious TLC.

Cleaning a Red Marble Tiled Patio in Newbury

Given the size of the patio, I worked in sections to manage the restoration efficiently. I started by thoroughly brushing and vacuuming the surface to remove loose dirt and debris—essential prep before burnishing the stone. With water as a lubricant, I began the refinishing process using a 200-grit diamond pad on a weighted rotary machine. This coarser pad did a great job cutting through the built-up grime. I then followed up with a series of diamond burnishing pads starting with 400, 800, and finally 1500-grit to gradually refine the surface and close the pores of the marble for a smooth, polished finish.

In some areas—particularly around the edges—I came across thicker grime that needed to be broken down first. For those spots, I used Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which helped loosen the residue so the diamond pads could do their job more effectively.

Sealing a Red Marble Tiled Patio

I returned the next morning to check that the marble had dried completely and was ready for sealing. Luckily, the weather had stayed warm, which helped speed up the drying process. This time, instead of the Colour Grow sealer I used on my first visit, I opted for a newer product—Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. It’s especially well-suited for exterior stone and performed brilliantly.

Not only did X-Tra Seal enhance the natural beauty of the stone—bringing out the deep reds and striking white veining—it also penetrates deeply into the surface, offering long-lasting protection from within. It’s a great option for coping with the often-unpredictable UK weather.

It was a real pleasure returning to this property and seeing the transformation all over again. The Marble looks as good as new—and the patio is once again a standout feature of this beautiful Mediterranean-style home.

For aftercare I continued to recommended Tile Doctor’s Stone Soap Cleaner which will clean and help maintain the patina on the stone, also it won’t prematurely erode the sealer like more aggressive cleaning products you find in supermarkets.

Professional Restoration of a Red Marble Tiled Patio in Berkshire

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Impressive Grey Limestone Hallway Renovated in Edinburgh New Town

Fri, 23 May 2025 06:08:01 +0000

Our client located in Edinburgh’s New Town area had a large, impressive entrance hallway with a well-used Grey Limestone floor. The tiles had seen many years of traffic and were dull and marked with events of family life. The request was to restore the floor back to how it looked when it was originally laid.

I visited the property to survey the floor and understand the issues in detail. I could see that the original sealer had worn off with use and dirt was now becoming ingrained in the pores of the Limestone making it difficult to clean effectively. The wanted a slight sheen, but not too glossy, and to have it re-sealed but with a tough sealer that could take the punishment from a young family.

Having measured up the area I was able to provide a firm price, which was accepted and a date agreed for the work to start.

Cleaning a Ceramic Limestone Tiled Hallway

To start the area was cleared of all furniture. The coir matting at the front door was covered and the doorways leading off the hall had their floor entrances protected from any potential water ingress during cleaning.

Work then started with the application of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was diluted and spread across the floor. The Pro-Clean was then left to soak into the pores of the Limestone for ten minutes in order for it to break down the ingrained dirt. The floor was then scrubbed with a coarse 200-grit pad fitted to a rotary floor machine. After this clean, the resultant residue was removed using a wet vacuum.

The pad does clean into the recessed of the grout line but I always find more hand-scrubbing with Pro-Clean helps so after the initial clean I started on the grout. The floor was then rinsed with clean water and removed with a wet vacuum as before.

The next stage was to start the 4-step burnishing process where the floor is burnished and honed using increasing grits of pads from 400 grit up to 3500 grits. The pads are applied using the rotary cleaner with water for lubrication and after each pad the floor is rinsed and the residue removed with the wet vacuum. Once this process has been completed, the floor is left to dry overnight. The last pad is a super fine 3500-grit that really brings up the polish and this is applied dry with only a little water sprayed onto the tile.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Hallway

On my return the next day the sealer we chose for the limestone was Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. It penetrates into the pores adding protection it from within and enhanced the natural colours in the Limestone in the process. This sealer is oil based which helps to improve the structure of the stone giving it a rich finish with a slight sheen. Additionally, Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal allows for vapour transmission so any moisture building under the floor can pass through and evaporate at the surface.

After the work has been completed the client was advised about the care and upkeep of the floor. The floor needs cleaning with a neutral pH cleaner such as Tile Doctors Neutral Tile Cleaner. This lifts the soiling from the tiles without eroding the sealer and therefore extends the life of the sealer.

My client was very happy with the end result and felt confident it would stand up to the heavy family use and keep its appearance.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Hallway in Edinburgh

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Grubby Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Whitley Bay

Tue, 13 May 2025 14:47:14 +0000

I was called by a lady from Whitley Bay who had a Limestone floor installed in her kitchen a few years back, since then it had become very dirty very quickly and looked very dirty. It was now proving very hard to keep clean and looked permanently grubby.

I went over to survey the floor and quickly diagnosed that the sealer which protects the pores of the stone from dirt had worn away leaving it vulnerable. Once dirt becomes ingrained into the stone it becomes very difficult to clean. To give her an idea of how well the tiles could look I deep cleaned a tile in the middle of the floor along with the adjacent grout. The difference was remarkable, especially the grout which really came up and it demonstrated just how dirty the floor was.

Impressed with the difference, I was asked to work out a quote to deep clean the Limestone tiles and grout and then to seal it with a durable impregnator. Happy with the plan, the quote and start date was agreed.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Kitchen in Whitley Bay

Work started with taping up the kicker boards and skirting, as I didn’t want any of the water I’d be using to clean to seep into the underneath and damage them. Kicker boards are usually made of MDF and this is easily damaged by water ingress.

The floor was then given a good vacuum before running over the tiles with a Silicone Carbide Brush fitted to a rotary scrubber. The process was lubricated using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which on order to break down any remaining sealer and deep clean the stone of grease and ingrained dirt. This generates a lot of soiling which is rinsed off with more water and then extracted with a wet vacuum.

The grout lines were then scrubbed using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean worked in by hand with a stiff brush. The brush does clean the grout but can struggle to get into the recesses of the grout lines so I like to follow up by hand.

After another rinse and extraction with the wet vacuum the floor was left to dry overnight.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Kitchen

Before applying the sealer, I checked the tiles were dry using a moisture meter in several areas. Applying sealer to a damp floor can result in a patchy appearance so I always check. In this case the floor had dried nicely overnight, and I was able to proceed.

The sealer chosen for this floor was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnator that soaks into the pores of the limestone preventing dirt from residing there and ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away. A couple of coats later and the floor looked great with a subtle satin sheen. The colour enhancing formula of the sealer always did a nice job of bringing out the natural colours and tones in the stone.

The floor was transformed by the process and my client was over the moon with the finish. Before leaving I took time to provide some advice on how to maintain the tiles going forward and the importance of using Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for day-to-day cleaning.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Kitchen in Tyneside

The post Grubby Limestone Kitchen Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Whitley Bay appeared first on Tyneside Tile Doctor.

Soot-Stained Limestone Fireplace Renovated in Guiseley

Thu, 08 May 2025 04:43:51 +0000

Detailed below is the cleaning of a Limestone Fireplace surround and hearth at a property in Guiseley near Yeadon on the outskirts of Leeds. Soot

The fireplace had been installed approximately five years prior and was now badly stained with soot and smoke from the wood burner and this readily stood out against the pale Limestone. Having decided to do something about it the owner tried cleaning it but was unhappy with the result and decided to call in some professional help.

Happy to oblige I was able to provide a quote based on photographs which was accepted and a date scheduled for the renovation which would only take a few hours.

Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Fireplace

Work started by adding protection to the surrounding carpets and the metal work of the log burner. Then to get the Limestone clean I decanted a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean into a spray bottle and sprayed it on to the stone. The spray mixes the solution with air making it lighter and more able to stick to the vertical surface. You can also use Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel for this which is a similar gel-based product. After leaving it to soak in for ten minutes the solution was worked in, using handheld diamond blocks of increasing grits.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Fireplace

Once dry, the fire surround and hearth were sealed with Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal sealer to help protect from more soot. This is an invisible sealer that works by soaking into the pores of the Limestone protecting it from within. This keeps dirt and contaminants on the surface where they can be easily cleaned away with a product such as Tile Doctor Stone Soap. It’s important to use a pH neutral product for the regular maintenance cleaning
of sealed stone as stronger products will erode the sealer prematurely.

Once complete the Fireplace looked like new again much to the delight of the homeowner who left the following 5 Star feedback for me:

“Limestone Fireplace in the lounge is very badly stained with soot and smoke. Got in touch with Chris Allen and he did a splendid job bringing it back to its original state. Excellent craftsmanship and kept us informed of what was going on and how to care for the Fireplace in future. Very knowledgeable and lovely gent to have done the work.”

Professional Renovation of a Limestone Fireplace in Northwest Yorkshire

The post Soot-Stained Limestone Fireplace Renovated in Guiseley appeared first on North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor.

Neglected Flagstone Kitchen Floor Restored in Fareham

Sat, 03 May 2025 13:17:43 +0000

This client was restoring a period property in Fareham which had an original Flagstone floor in the Kitchen. They hoped to restore the stone and then install a lovely kitchen that would really do the house justice. Always happy to help I went over to the property to discuss the floor and quote for its restoration.

I could see the flagstones were heavily stained and almost unrecognisable, however believe it or not I have worked on worse and didn’t see any reason why the floor couldn’t be restored to a reasonable condition. It was clear the floor had previously been covered at some point by what I suspect was Linoleum, this had probably been glued down as you could see an imprint of some pattern or other.

I recommended that the best course of action would be to use a set of very coarse diamond pads to resurface the stone and remove the staining and contaminates in the process. The pads would also make the rough Sandstone smoother and easier to clean.

Keen to go ahead with my recommendation I measured up and put together a quotation that included all the products and labour needed to restore the floor. With the quotation accepted we agreed a date to start the work.

Resurfacing a Flagstone Tiled Kitchen Floor in Fareham

The work started with the application of very coarse 50-grit Diamond Flexi-Pad fitted to a heavy-duty floor buffer with added weight to ensure maximum traction with the stone. Using only water for lubrication these pads do the bulk of the work and remove a fine and often contaminated layer from the surface of the stone to reveal new stone underneath.

A lot of water was used in this process which mixes with the dirt and cut stone to form a slurry which is then vacuumed away. This process was then repeated with a 100-grit flexi pad, followed by 200-grit flexi pad rinsing and extracted afterwards as before.

With the contaminates removed the next step was to further refine the flagstone using a 400-grit and then finally an 800-grit burnishing pads. Less and less slurry was produced as I worked through each of the finer grit pads. Again, using water for lubrication and removing the slurry with a wet vacuum as work progressed.

The floor was then rinsed and allowed to dry thoroughly.

Sealing a Flagstone Tiled Kitchen Floor in Fareham

We came back the following day to seal the stone and started by testing different parts of the floor for moisture using a damp meter. This is important as applying a sealer to damp stone car result in a patchy appearance.

The Flagstone’s were dry so work continued to seal the floor with a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that occupies the pores in the stone preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. This product contains a colour enhancer which brings out the colour in the stone and it certainly worked well on this floor and brought out the brown shades of the flagstone and added a nice subtle sheen.

Happy with the transformation I spent some time before leaving to discuss the maintenance of the floor using a sealer friendly product such as Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. There was also more work to do in the kitchen by various trades so I recommended coving up the floor whilst further work was going on.

Professional Renovation of a Flagstone Kitchen Floor in Hampshire

The post Neglected Flagstone Kitchen Floor Restored in Fareham appeared first on Tile Doctor Hampshire.

Damaged Art Deco Encaustic Cement Tiled Floor Fully Restored in Cardiff

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:14:53 +0000

Tile Doctor was contacted by a client who had recently purchased a 1920’s property in Cardiff with a Encaustic Tiled floor that was in a bad state. The property was having major building works carried out to bring it back to its original condition and this included the tiled floor.

The floor in general was in a very bad condition with builders’ plaster and cement staining in many areas, and to make things worse a lot of tiles were missing and damaged. Normally replacing tiles isn’t a problem but these particular tiles were very uncommon in colour shape and size and the pattern was very reminiscent of the Art Deco designs that were fashionable when the house was built.

Having surveyed the floor I came up with a restoration plan and explained that it should be possible cut the shape out of a larger tile and try to match the colour as best as possible. Once the clients and I decided on the closest colour I was then able to plan the restoration project in detail and provide an accurate quote.

Cleaning and Repairing an Art Deco Encaustic Tiled Floor

Before we could even contemplate cleaning the floor it had to be whole so the 1st job was to prepare the damaged areas for tile replacements. This involves carefully removing the damaged tile and cleaning up the foundation beneath ready to accept a replacement.

Next step was to cut all the replacement tiles to replicate the octagonal shape and size then dry fit them to check if any adjustments were needed. Once all the replacement tiles had been cut, they were fixed in place with flexible adhesive and then grouted. The floor then needed time to set before cleaning so that was it for the first day.

On day two work stated to deep clean the encaustic tiled floor of previous sealers and paint. To do this it was covered in a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean combined with Tile Doctor Nanotech HBU Remover for extra power. This was left to soak into the floor for a good fifteen minutes before scrubbing it by hand with a black scrubbing pad cut to size. Working it into the floor like this is less aggressive than with a machine and ensures 100% coverage with no gaps in the cleaning. Once done the floor was rinsed and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

The next stage was to clean the floor working at 1 m2 at a time, again with a coarse black pad cut from a 17″ Tile Doctor pad. This time the pad was used to work in Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up into the surface to remove the cement smears. As work progressed the floor was rinsed with fresh water and all the residues vacuumed away. Working this way allowed me to keep progressing until I was satisfied the whole floor was clear and as clean as it ever could be.

The floor was then left for two days so it would be completely dry for the next step of applying a protective sealer.

Sealing an Art Deco Encaustic Tiled Floor

The client wanted a natural matt finish to the floor, so I had recommended sealing it with Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a colour enhancing impregnating sealer that leaves a very durable matt finish.

Colour Glow allows for vapour transmission which is essential on old floors like this one that don’t have a damp proof membrane. The sealer soaks into the pores of the cement tile protecting it from within and ensure dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

The clients were delighted with the results and relieved I was able to restore the floor as an original feature. They were told by other contractors that the floor would have to be removed and replaced at a substantial cost.

For aftercare cleaning I advised the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective tile cleaner that won’t impact the sealer.

Professional Restoration of an Art Deco Encaustic Cement Tiled Floor in Southeast Wales

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Restoring a Cracked Terrazzo Porch Floor in Bournemouth

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:27:12 +0000

The pictures below are of a weathered Terrazzo floor laid in the open porch of a house in Bournemouth. Being exposed to the elements the Terrazzo was dull with ingrained dirt and unfortunately a few cracks had developed.

Unhappy with its appearance the owner felt it was time for a refresh and contacted Tile Doctor to see what could be done. We discussed the project over the phone and shared a few images over email. Restoring the appearance of the Terrazzo wouldn’t be an issue however I was concerned about the cracks so I arranged a time to visit the property so I could understand the extent of the issues in detail.

Whilst at the property I was able to confirm that the cracks were not that deep and came up with a restoration plan that would completely renovate the patio. I was able to use this to create an accurate quote for the work which was accepted and a date set on the proviso off good weather.

Cleaning a Terrazzo Tiled Porch Floor

Thankfully the weather was good and I was able to move straight onto burnishing the Terrazzo with a set of 17-inch diamond burnishing pads worked in with water. The first pad in the sequence is a coarse 400-grit which grinds off the dirt and is the first step in refining the appearance of the stone and aggregate. The process generates a fair amount of slurry in the process which is then rinsed away with more water and extracted with a wet vacuum.

The fine cracks in the Terrazzo were then filled using a flexible grout in a similar colour to the Terrazzo. Once that had dried the burnishing process was repeated using a medium 800-grit and then fine 1500-grit burnishing pad, rinsing and extracted after each pad. The last pad in the sequence is a super fine 3500-grit pad that is applied dry with only a little water sprayed onto the surface.

Sealing a Terrazzo Porch Floor

First, I checked the floor had dried out with a moisture meter, it was within the acceptable levels, so had the green light to processed and seal the Terrazzo. For this a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Ultra Seal were applied which is an impregnating natural look sealer that provides durable protection to the surface as well as allowing the floor to breath.

Once I had finished it looked like a new installation and my client was very pleased with the result. Before leaving I took time to discuss aftercare and the importance of protecting the sealer from strong cleaning products that could damage it. For sealed and polished stone, I recommend using Tile Doctor Stone Soap, it’s a mild yet effective cleaning product that will help maintain the patina.

Professional Restoration of a Terrazzo Tiled Porch in Dorset

The post Restoring a Cracked Terrazzo Porch Floor in Bournemouth appeared first on Dorset Tile Doctor.

Deep Cleaning 70 Years of Ingrained Dirt from Victorian Floor Tiles in Crosskeys

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 04:13:04 +0000

The Victorian tiled floor you can see below was discovered under a carpet at a property in Crosskeys on the outskirts of Newport. The owners understood it had been covered up for seventy years, yet remarkably it was still in good condition and they were keen to restore the floor as an original feature.

Having removed the carpet, they decided to have a go cleaning it themselves however soon realised there was more to this than they had bargained for including the need to seal the tiles. After doing more research on-line they decided to ask Tile Doctor to pop round and provide a quote.

I paid a visit to the property and conducted a test clean on a small part of the floor. Although it appeared to be clean it was evident from the test that there was a substantial amount of dirt that was still being held by the tiles. My client was gobsmacked by this as they had been cleaning it themselves.

I took time to explain how porous these encaustic cement tiles can be, and without an effective sealer in place dirt had become lodged deep within the pores of the tile and this needed to be flushed out before being re-sealed. Happy with my quote and keen to make the floor more manageable I was given the go-ahead to do the work.

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

On my return I started the cleaning with a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was wiped over the entire floor and left to soak in. After fifteen minutes I used a 17-inch black pad attached to my rotary machine to scrub the solution deep into the floor and lift the ingrained dirt. The resultant slurry was then extracted using a wet dry vacuum.

After the floor was clean, I went around on my hands and knees using a 120-grit diamond block and blade scraper to remove any other debris that the machine could not reach such as in the corners, followed by a clean rinse with water ensuring there was no residue left on the floor.

The floor was then dried with the wet vacuum and left to dry for 24 hours.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

I returned later the next day and after confirmed the tiles had dried set about applying a sealer. The sealer works be preventing dirt from becoming ingrained in the porous tiles, keeping in on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

Tile Doctor have numerous sealers available for Victorian floors however in this case the client wanted a satin/wet look finish so we went with Tile Doctor Seal and Go.

Several coats were needed to fully seal the tiles but it was well worth the effort as the sealer really brought the best out of the tiles and give the floor a very pleasing finish. The clients were extremely happy with the job and asked me to return later to work on renovating the bathroom tiling.

To maintain the sealer and to prevent accelerated break down I left the client with a bottle of Tile Doctor pH Neutral Tile Cleaner. Unlike the household cleaners on the market which tend to be acidic and break down the seal, this product will be gentle on the floor, it is mild enough to use daily and will ensure the floor stays looking great.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Monmouthshire

The post Deep Cleaning 70 Years of Ingrained Dirt from Victorian Floor Tiles in Crosskeys appeared first on Monmouthshire Tile Doctor.

Limestone bathroom tiles in The Angel Islington

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:35:34 +0000

Here we have a luxury bathroom tiled in Limestone at an apartment in The Angel in Islington. I was contacted by the letting agent who discovered the damage when the tenant moved out, although they were unsure of the cause I immediately recognised it as acid damage from the use of acidic limescale removers. These products are simply too strong for use on limestone which is acid sensitive and results in etching as shown in the photos.

The agent had new tenant’s looking to move in, but they wanted to sort the acid damage out beforehand. The etching can be difficult to remove so to make sure a good result could be achieved I did a test clean on one tile of the bath panels. The result was great, so I gave a quote which was accepted.

Given the fast nature of the London rental market there was very limited time between the old tenants moving out and the new in. However, I was able to collect the keys from the agent allowing me to squeeze the job in around my other projects.

Removing Acid Etching from Limestone Tiling

To remove the etching I had to burnish and literally resurface the limestone tiles using a set of diamond encrusted burnishing pads. Naturally I can’t use large floor pads on wall tiling however Tile Doctor also do these pads in 6-inch which fit a handheld polishing machine.

Work started with the application of a coarse 400-grit pad using water for lubrication, the soiling is then wiped away and the process repeated with an 800 and 1500 grit pads using the same process. These pads remove the etching and build up the polish on the Limestone.

Some of the staining was very deep and so to get a good result I had to use coarser 120 and 200 grit diamond blocks first. These are small hand-held blocks available in different grits that can get into awkward spaces. Once all of this was done, I rinsed the tiles down and dried them.

The last step in the burnishing process was to apply a final polish with an extra fine 3000-grit pad which adds a nice subtle polish to the stone.

Sealing Limestone Bathroom Tiling

To finish, the Limestone was sealed using Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is a modern oil-based impregnating sealer that enhances the colour of dark limestone and will make cleaning easier going forward.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended supplying any future tenant with Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro which is a day-to-day spray cleaner which can be used in the shower to prevent the build-up of limescale.

Professional Restoration of a Limestone Tiled Bathroom in North London

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Repair and Restoration of Victorian Tiled Hallway in Walsall

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:50:32 +0000

This customer from Walsall contacted Tile Doctor regarding their Victorian tiled hallway which was in a very poor state. I was sent some photographs which made it clear the floor was seriously neglected with loose tiles and all sorts of contaminates. To understand all the issues before quoting I made an appointment to pop over and survey the floor in detail.

Whilst at the property I took measurements and made notes of the tiling work that would be needed which centred around the door threshold. I’ve worked on floors as bad as this before so wasn’t overly concerned and worked out a detailed plan for the restoration which was explained to the customer. Later that day I priced up the work and products needed and emailed a quote for job across to the customer who gave the go ahead.

Repairing and Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Before starting the cleaning work, it made sense to address the tiling issues first so work started by removing the loose tiles along the doorway threshold. The exposed foundations were cleaned up along with the original tiles and then re-laid together with matching replacements where needed that had to be cut to size. Fortunately, the repairs were limited to this one area so I was able to move onto cleaning the rest of the floor.

I decided to start with an initial clean using Silicon Carbide pads applied to the tiles with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a coatings remover designed for use on tile and stone. There was a lot of stubborn staining to deal including what I suspect was carpet adhesive, screed, bitumen and paint.

I used the pads then rinsed the floor with water and extracted the soiling with a wet vacuum. The initial clean had made a difference but it was clear I would need to get a steamer on staining to soften it and scrape it away. Fortunately, it wasn’t a massive area but it still took a couple of hours to do. On completion of this I went over the floor again with a carbide pad and more Remove and Go.

Last step in the cleaning process was to treat the floor to an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Acid Gel worked in with a 400-grit diamond pad. This treatment removes old cement residues, counters efflorescent salts which are a common issue with these old floors and neutralises the pH level of the floor after the use of alkaline cleaning products. The floor was given another rinse with water and then dried as much as possible with the wet vacuum.

After rinsing I used air movers and a heater to help dry the floor off and before leaving for the night a coat of Tile Doctor Stone Oil was applied to boost the colours of the tiles.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Returning the next day work started by inspecting the floor and checking it had dried sufficiently. Then I went over the floor with a floor buffer fitted with a 1500 and then 3500-grit diamond pad. I did this to help tighten the pores in the tiles after the aggressive cleaning it had experienced the day before. This also adds a slight sheen polish to the clay tiles.

To seal the floor an initial coat of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal was applied followed by a coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. These sealers offer different advantages and being impregnators, they are very hard wearing, they also allow for vapour transmission so ideal for an old floor like this one that doesn’t have a damp proof membrane. After drying I buffed off with a White pad to remove an excess sealer and bring up the finish on the tiles.

The old Victorian floor tiles were unrecognisable after the work and completely transformed the hallway into an appealing and welcoming space. Needless to say, my customer was delighted with the result.

Before leaving I left the customer with a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to help maintain the floor going forward. Its important to use a pH neutral tile cleaner on a sealed floor as many of the product you find in supermarkets are simply too strong and will erode the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Birmingham

The post Repair and Restoration of Victorian Tiled Hallway in Walsall appeared first on Birmingham Tile Doctor.

Reclaimed Terracotta Tiled Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Currie

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:57:52 +0000

The Terracotta tiles in the kitchen, living area and entrance vestibule of this property in the village of Currie, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, were reclaimed and had been installed by the owners several years earlier. The intention was to give the property to give a country cottage feel which was achieved and looked great however years of traffic on the tiles by the owners and their dogs had taken their toll and their appearance had degraded.

The owners were keen to have the reclaimed tiles renovated bring back the look which they had in the beginning and loved so much; so, after contacting Tile Doctor I was asked to pay them a visit and see what could be achieved.

I paid a visit to the property and ran a few product tests on the tiles with cleaners and strippers to see what would work best to remove the years of dirt from the porous clay Terracotta. I found that the test clean with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which was scrubbed into a couple of tiles by hand easily cleaned the tiles and grout with excellent results. With this I was able to produce a renovation plan and quote that would deep clean all the floors and then apply a hard-wearing impregnating sealer.

Happy with my quote a date was agreed for the work to start and the products needed were ordered in time for my arrival.

Deep Cleaning Reclaimed Terracotta Floor Tiles

On my return I set about deep cleaning the Terracotta and Grout with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean working it into the tiles using a Black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. Unfortunately, the Terracotta tiles had been laid with a bit of lippage between the tiles, this did give the desired country cottage floor effect however it did make cleaning the grout more difficult. I managed to get around this using a special grout cleaning brush.

The Terracotta tiles and grout was then rinsed, and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum. Once done the tiles and grout were inspected and any stubborn areas re-treated using the same process until I was satisfied the Terracotta, and grout was as clean as possible.

The final step in the cleaning process was to give the floor an acid rinse using a 1:3 dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. This was scrubbed the floor with a deck brush to remove old grout smears and neutralise the pH level of the floor, after using Pro-Clean which is an alkaline cleaner. Again, after the clean the floor was rinsed with water, and the soiling removed with a wet vacuum.
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Once the clean had been completed on all the floors they were left over night to dry out ready for sealing the next day.

Sealing Reclaimed Terracotta Tiles

Our customer was very clear about finish and specified a matt finish which didn’t take away the natural and reclaimed look of the tiles. To match this, I recommended
Tile Doctor Colour Grow, it’s a matt sealer that contains a colour enhancing formula which really brings out the lovely orange and red colours in the reclaimed tiles. Also being an impregnator that soaks into the tile, protecting it from within, it’s very hard wearing and ideal for someone who has dogs in the house.

Terracotta tiles are made from clay and as a result are quite porous, because of this it took a few coats of sealer before they were fully sealed. Once done though the floor looked so much cleaner and brighter and the new sealer will provide long term protection moving forward.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, which is a mild but effective, neutral ph cleaner. We recommend this as many of the products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong and bleach based which will slowly strip off the sealer and allow dirt back into the floor.

Professional Restoration of Reclaimed Terracotta Tiled Floors in Edinburgh

The post Reclaimed Terracotta Tiled Floor Deep Cleaned and Sealed in Currie appeared first on Edinburgh Tile Doctor.

Stained Green Limestone Kitchen Floor Renovated in Pickmere

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 15:57:29 +0000

We were contacted by a resident of the west Cheshire village of Pickmere about their 90m2 Green Limestone tiled kitchen floor which has been stained by washing up liquid. Although washing up liquid appears to be a harmless the product clearly contains some ingredients that upset the sealer and polish.

Unfortunately patching up the floor up wasn’t really an option as the result would be equally patchy. The only option was to re-polish the tiles with a set of Tile Doctor burnishing pads and apply a fresh sealer. I worked out a quote which was agreed and a date set.

Burnishing and Cleaning a Limestone Tiled Floor

Before working on the Limestone, I set about cleaning the grout lines with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a strong Tile and Grout cleaner. The pads can struggle to reach into the grout lines so I find the best way to clean grout is by hand with stiff brush and extract the soiling with a wet vacuum.

Next step was to start cleaning the stone using the first of the burnishing pads. This first pad is a coarse 400-grit which cuts through and removes old sealers, scratches and dirt from the stone. The pad is attached to a weighted buffer machine and run over each tile using only water for lubrication. The water turns into a dark liquid which was rinsed with more water and removed using the wet vacuum.

This process was repeated with 800-grit pad and the floor was then inspected. Unfortunately, it showed several areas where the staining remained so I spot treated them using Tile Doctor Reduxa. This is a liquid that is sprayed on the stain and then warmed up with a heat gun which literally steams the stain out of the stone. This process has to be repeated several times for the stain to disappear

With the staining gone I finished off burnishing the Limestone with the remaining two pads which are a fine 1500-grit and then the extra fine 3500-grit which is applied using only a little water sprayed onto the stone. This last pad builds up a high-quality polish on the stone and really bring up the finish.

Sealing a Limestone Tiled Floor

The floor was left to dry off fully overnight and I returned the next day to seal the Limestone first checking with a damp meter that the stone was dry. To get the finish the customer wanted a coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow was applied with is an impregnating colour enhancing sealer. Impregnating sealers works under the surface by occupying the pores in the stone thus preventing dirt from becoming ingrained there. Any excess sealer was wiped off the tile before treating the stone to a gentle buff with a White pad to bring up the shine even further.

Once complete the staining was gone and the floor looked amazing much to the relief of the owner. For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is a pH neutral cleaner for the maintenance of polished floor that contains a patina enhancer.

Professional Renovation of a Stained Green Limestone Floor in Cheshire

The post Stained Green Limestone Kitchen Floor Renovated in Pickmere appeared first on West Cheshire Tile Doctor.

Chipped Marble Tabletop Repaired and Polished in Oxford

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:02:46 +0000

Earlier this year I worked on a neglected Marble table and a client from Oxford saw that and wondered if there was anything I could do to repair a similar table made from marble.

I popped over to look at the table and could see there were some light scratches but more significantly there was a chip in the surface where the client had dropped something heavy on the tabletop. Confident I could help I agreed to renovate the table which included filling the chip, polishing to remove the scratches and then applying a sealer to protect it going forward.

Cleaning and Repairing a Marble Tabletop

The first task was to tackle the chip which began by wiping the marble surface down with thinners to clean of any grease and dirt etc. Next, I mixed up some specialist paint to match the dark red colour of the table and applied it to the damaged area. The hole was then filled with a clear resin building up thin layers until the hole was slightly overfilled.

The next step was to rub down the repaired area with coarse hand-held diamond blocks of different grits to remove excess resin until it was flat. This was followed by polishing the whole Marble tabletop with a set of 6-inch diamond burnishing pads. This action brings up the natural polish on the marble removing the light scratches and helping the filled area blend in.

I usually use the larger 17-inch version of these pads to renovate stone floors, and the 6-inch pads are no different except you have to use them with a hand-held buffer. The process is the same, you start with the 400-grit using water for lubrication and apply the pad to the whole table. Then the slurry is rinsed off and the action repeated with the 800 and 1500-grit pads. The last pad is 3000-grit and is applied with a little water sprayed onto the surface. This last pad has the added advantage of leaving the marble dry so you can move quickly onto sealing.

Sealing a Polished Marble Tabletop

To seal the Marble table a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow were applied. This is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the stone, occupying the pores in the marble and ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily wiped away. Tile Doctor Colour Grow as its name suggests contains a colour enhancing formula which is ideal for improving the appearance of a colourful table like this one.

Once the sealer had dried, the stone was given a light buff with a 6-inch white buffing pad to bring up the finish.

For aftercare of stone countertops and tables I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Stone Patina Spray. This is a neutral PH spray cleaner that helps to maintain the shine on a polished stone.

Professional Restoration of a Marble Tabletop in Oxfordshire

The post Chipped Marble Tabletop Repaired and Polished in Oxford appeared first on Oxfordshire Tile Doctor.

Dull Marble Tiled Hallway Given New Lease of Life in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 11:16:42 +0000

This client from Newcastle contacted Tile Doctor about the condition of the Marble tiled floor in their hallway. Installed twenty years prior wear had taken its toll and it had lost its polished appearance and now looked dull and unflattering.

I paid an initial visit to survey the floor and discuss what could be done to remedy the consultation. It was clear to me the stone simply needed a deep clean, polish and fresh seal to get the floor looking back to its original appearance. After measuring up I worked out what materials would be required to restore the finish and created a detailed quote. The quote was accepted, and a date was agreed to commence the work.

Deep Cleaning a Marble Tiled Hallway

My first task was to protect the woodwork by applying a bead of clear waterproof mastic between the wood and the floor. This prevents water being soaked into the wood through capillary action which can cause water staining and worst-case blow MDF skirting and doors.

Once done work started on polishing the Marble tiles using a 400-grit burnishing pad fitted to a rotary floor machine. This is a coarse diamond pad that is applied with water and removes sealers, old polish and dirt. The water quickly turns into a slurry and once the whole floor had been burnished in this way the soiling was removed with more water and a wet vacuum.

This pad was the first in a set of four burnishing pads that hone the stone and bring up the polish. The next pad is a finer 800-grit which is the first step in re-polishing the Marble and slowly bring the stone back to life. The process was then repeated with a 1500-grit pad, then rinsing and extracting as before.

After this work, I started on the grout lines which were scrubbed by hand using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is an alkaline cleaner that will not upset the Marble. The floor was then given a final rinse with clean water and extracted again with the wet vacuum which was used to get the floor as dry as possible before leaving to dry off fully overnight.

Sealing a Marble Tiled Hallway

I called back the next day and started work by checking the stone and grout was dry and ready for a final polish using a 3000-grit diamond pad. This extra fine pad brings up the polish on the floor even further and is applied using a tiny amount of water from a spray bottle which aids in the final polish. Once the whole floor was polished including all the corners and edges it was time to start applying the sealer.

I used Tile Doctor Ultra Seal for this which is an impregnating sealer that adds protection to the stone without altering its natural appearance. The combination of polish and fresh sealer left the floor looking new and put the wow factor back into the hallway.

Once complete, the hallway floor was transformed with a deep shine, and my client was over the moon with the result. I also discussed future cleaning and recommended Tile Doctor Stone Soap. This is a mild but effective cleaner which helps maintain the patina on the marble.

Professional Restoration of a Marble Tiled Hallway in Tyneside

The post Dull Marble Tiled Hallway Given New Lease of Life in Newcastle Upon Tyne appeared first on Tyneside Tile Doctor.

Restoring the Appearance of Bleach Damaged Stone Tiling in Cowbridge

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:33:49 +0000

Last year we were approached by a customer in the market town of Cowbridge looking for a professional bathroom restorer to renovate their stone tiled bathroom. Apparently, their cleaner had etched the tiles using neat bleach unaware of the damage a strong product like that could have on natural stone.

I arranged to call in on the customer the next time I was in the area to discuss the work and take a close look at the tiling. Three different types of stone had been used in the bathroom with Limestone wall tiles in the shower, Black Marble mosaics formed the shower tray and bath panelling, and the floor had been laid with Black Slate.

Having discussed the bathroom at length with the customer it was clear that their main concerns were that the stone had lost its shine, the grout had discoloured, and a lot of the silicone was stained and needed replacing. I worked out a comprehensive plan to revive the bathroom and created a detailed quotation to do the work that listed all the necessary work. My customer was happy with the quote, and I got the go ahead to book the work in.

Renovating a Stone Bathroom Tiles

Before starting the cleaning, I spent some time protecting the fragile surfaces that didn’t need attention with protective sheeting.

Next the shower Tile and grout was scrubbed with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and a Black pad that I had cut down so it could be used by hand. The shower walls were then rinsed with water using the shower head which is one of the convenient advantages of working in a shower.

Focus then shifted to the Black Mosaic tiles on the floor of the shower using more Pro-Clean this time mixed with Nanotech HBU for extra cleaning power. This was scrubbed into the grout joints with a brush and a Black pad for the tile surface. I used the same process on the Marble mosaic bath panel. Once done the tiles were rinsed with water.

The next step was to cut out the silicone sealant around the permitter of the shower tiling and spray the area with Tile Doctor Duo Clean which kills mould. Once dry the silicone was replaced with a new anti-mould silicone.

The shower enclosure tiles were then sealed with Tile Doctor Pro-Seal a durable sealer that doesn’t alter the appearance of the stone. The customer liked the light appearance of the Limestone and wanted to keep it that way.

Refreshing Black Slate Bathroom Flooring

The last area to focus on were the Black Slate tiles on the bathroom floor which were also in a similar worn condition. The old sealer had clearly broken down on these and was now letting dirt become ingrained in the stone reducing the vibrant appearance of the Black Slate. I tread this by removing what was left of the original sealer with an application of Remove and Go mixed with Nanotech HBU and Pro-Clean. I left this cleaning cocktail to dwell for about half an hour before scrubbing with a coarse black pad and scrubbing brush.

The floor was then rinsed with water to remove the soiling and now looked much improved. Once dry it was sealed with Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that contains a colour enhancer and provides a durable finish especially in bathrooms. This worked out very well on the Slate helped to add depth to the stone as well as bringing out more of the features in the stone.

The customers were delighted with the result and I’m please to say the service, in fact they have since recommended Tile Doctor to their friends, colleagues and family.

Marble Tiled Shower Cubicle Professionally Refinished in South Wales

The post Restoring the Appearance of Bleach Damaged Stone Tiling in Cowbridge appeared first on South East Wales Tile Doctor.

Encaustic Cement Tiled Hallway Floor Restored in Worcester

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 16:36:32 +0000

I received an enquiry regarding the restoration of an Encaustic Tiled floor in the hallway of an Edwardian property in Worcester. I arranged a visit to assess the floor and come up with a plan for its restoration.

The client wanted the whole floor restoring to its original condition including retiling a section just behind the front door that had been dug up to install pipe work back in the 1980’s and then backfilled with screed.

I work on these sorts of projects all the time so happily agreed to the work on condition I could find matching replacement tiles. There are several suppliers in the UK and fortunately I managed to track down the necessary replacements from a reclaimed tile supplier I know. They confirmed I could get the required tiles, so I sent a quote to the client, which was accepted, and a date was arranged to start the restoration.

Cleaning and restoring an Edwardian Tiled Hallway

Day one was spent carefully removing the old screed as I would need to install one at the right level to allow for the replacement tiles to be in installed. This has to be done very carefully so as not to disturb the rest of the tiled floor. The rubble was then removed and a new cement base laid to the correct level in order to take the new tiles.

The next stage was to cut and dry lay the replacement tiles to match the original pattern and check everything fitted, making adjustments where necessary. Once I was happy with the lay out, I started fixing the tiles starting with the border and then the main patterned inset. This was meticulous work that required the new tiles to fit the existing geometric pattern exactly. This was completed over 2 days including grouting.

Once the floor had set overnight, I moved onto the restorative cleaning. This started with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which was worked into the floor using a coarse 100-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary buffer machine to remove what was left of the old sealer. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soiling extracted using a wet vacuum.

The next step was to give the floor an acid wash using using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which was pasted onto the floor and then worked in with a finer 200-grit diamond pad. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with the wet vacuum as before.

Sealing an Edwardian Tiled Hallway

The floor was left to fully dry overnight, and I returned on day four to apply a protective sealer. Sealer options were discussed earlier and for this floor we had chosen Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a durable impregnating sealer that contains a colour enhancer.

Impregnating sealers work by soaking into the tile, occupying the pores and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This ensures dirt remains on the floor where it can be easily cleaned away.

As you can see from the photos the floor was returned to how it should look, and the client was absolutely delighted.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended they use Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is mild but effective tile cleaning product that won’t damage the sealer.

Professional Restoration of an Edwardian Tiled Hallway in Worcestershire

The post Encaustic Cement Tiled Hallway Floor Restored in Worcester appeared first on Worcestershire Tile Doctor.

Badly Maintained Victorian Tiled Hallway Renovated in Chepstow

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:11:50 +0000

I received a request to quote for the restoration of this Victorian tiled floor in the hallway of a property in Chepstow. As you can see from the photograph below was in a very poor condition.

I visited the property to survey the floor and could see that although it had not been well maintained it was in good physical condition except for a few loose tiles. From experience I knew it would respond well to a deep clean and seal, so I carried out a test clean on a small area to demonstrate its potential. The tiles came up well and my client was satisfied it would be worthwhile to have it restored.

I worked out a quote which was accepted and a date set for the work to start which would take two days.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

To get all the dirt out of the pores of the tiles I started with a strong dilution of Tile Doctors Remove and Go. This was sprayed onto the floor and left to soak in for ten minutes before being scrubbed in with a 17” Black pad fitted to a rotary machine.

It’s always difficult to find out the history of a floor but from what I could tell the tiles had been exposed to a variety of contaminants including paint, plaster, cement, and worn in dirt. Luckily, Remove and Go can handle all of these. I had to repeat the process on the stubborn stains and then removed all the slurry and dirt using a wet vacuum.

I then moved onto the loose tiles which needed to have the old adhesive removed from the tile and the base. The original tiles were then cleaned up by hand before new rapid setting adhesive was applied to secure them back into the floor.

Once the loose tiles had set, I moved onto the next step of giving the floor an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Acid Gel. This product further cleans up the tiles by removing old grout smears and dissolving efflorescent salts in the floor. This is a common issue in properties of this age which do not have a damp proof membrane to stop moisture rising through the tile. This process also neutralises the pH level of the floor after the use of Remove and Go which is a strong alkaline cleaning product. The floor was rinsed again afterwards, and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum before leaving it to dry overnight.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Kitchen

The next day the moisture levels of the tiles were checked with a damp meter to ensure they were dry enough to be sealed. The readings were fine, so I was able to start applying the sealer. In this case two coats of Tile Doctors Colour Grow sealer where applied which is a colour enhancing impregnator that allows for moisture vapour transmission. This is a super durable product which will give great protection to the floor, especially when it is in a high traffic area such as a hallway.

Once complete the floor was transformed and my client was extremely happy with the result. To maintain the sealer and to prevent accelerated break down I left the client with a complimentary bottle of Tile Doctor Ph Neutral Tile Cleaner.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Bathroom in Monmouthshire

The post Badly Maintained Victorian Tiled Hallway Renovated in Chepstow appeared first on Monmouthshire Tile Doctor.

Stained Limestone Countertop Renovated in Salcombe Holiday Rental

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:05:28 +0000

I received an enquiry from a client with a property in Salcombe with an expensive Blue Lias limestone countertop in the bathroom. The property was let out to holiday makers and a previous guest had stained the work surface. From the pictures I could tell that the stone had been damaged by an acid-based product which had been left on the stone for too long and had etched the surface.

Limestone is an acid sensitive stone, so you must be careful what products are used to clean it. Strong cleaning products should be avoided as they will mark the surface, if in doubt check the label for compatibility or purchase a purpose made cleaner such as Tile Doctor Stone Patina Spray

Given the property was a holiday let, they wanted this work carried out during changeover before the next set of guests arrived. Fortunately, it was a small job and after a slight shuffle I was able to squeeze it in between other jobs.

I’ve worked on these issues before so after reviewing the pictures I was able to give them a price that included the necessary materials. Happy with that I was given instructions on how to access the property and the work was scheduled.

Polishing Marks out of a Limestone Countertop

Work began with polishing to remove the deep etching from the countertop. To do this, Tile Doctor Handheld Diamond burnishing blocks were applied to the stone with a little water for lubrication. This started with a coarse 200-grit and then followed up with a 400-grit until all the signs of the white etching had gone. The countertop was wiped clean after each block was applied to remove the small amount of slurry that the process generates.

I then started with a handheld polishing machine fitted with Tile Doctor 6-inch Burnishing Pads working right the way through the system of 400-grit, 800-grit, 1500-grit and 3000-grit. Again, water was used to lubricate, and the resultant slurry was removed after each pad.

Once I was happy, I had burnished out all scratches and brought up the polished appearance of the limestone the stone was dried with a heat gun.

Sealing a Limestone Wash Basin Countertop

Once dry the limestone countertop was sealed with two thin coats of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which enhanced the dark colours and fossils in this Blue Lias stone. This product is an impregnating sealer that is rated for external use and so an ideal choice for a countertop that might get wet. To finish the job off the stone was buffed using a 6-inch White buffing pad over the surface with the polishing machine to heighten the polished finish that little bit more.

The owner of the property was delighted with the results and happy that her guests who were due to arrive the following morning wouldn’t encounter the stained limestone in an otherwise 5-star setting.

Professional Renovation of a Stained Limestone Countertop in Devon

The post Stained Limestone Countertop Renovated in Salcombe Holiday Rental appeared first on Devon Tile Doctor.

Dull and Scratched Limestone Floor Polished in Horncastle

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:58:57 +0000

Here we have a beautiful Limestone tiled floor installed in the kitchen and adjacent dining area at a property in Horncastle. We were asked to polish the floor in order to bring up the finish and also remove the fine scratched and etching caused by furniture and pets.

Polished stone floors like this one do need regular polishing to keep them looking their best and, in this case, it had been a while since had last been done. After measuring up and investigating a few problem areas we discussed the plan to renovate the floor and worked out a quote for the work. Happy with the quote we set a date for my return.

Polishing Limestone Flooring

To remove the light scratches and bring up the polished appearance of the stone the best course of action is to hone the stone with a set of diamond burnishing pads of different grits. After adding protection to vulnerable areas, the burnishing work then started with a coarse 400-grit pad fitted to a rotary machine which had extra weight added to increase traction with the floor.

The 400-grit pad removes old sealers, light scratches and opens the pores in the stone so the dirt can be flushed out. Once the pad has been run over each tile several times the floor is rinsed with water and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum.

The pad is then swapped out for a medium 800-grit and the process repeated and then again with a fine 1500-grit pad. These pads close the pores and build-up the polished appearance of the Limestone.

The burnishing process is then finished off with the application of a very fine 3000-grit pad which is applied in the same way but with only a little water sprayed into the floor.

Once complete a floor fan was setup and left to run overnight to ensure the floor would be nice and dry and ready for sealing the next day.

Saling a Polished Limestone Floor in Horncastle

On our return the Limestone was checked for moisture using a damp meter. This confirmed the stone was dry and work could then start to apply the sealer to the floor.

I used a colour enhancing sealer called Tile Doctor Colour Grow for this which helps bring out the natural colours and shades in the stone. It’s also an impregnator which means it works by soaking into the stone, occupying the pores, and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This ensures dirt remains on the surface where it can easily be cleaned away.

Once complete the scratches were gone and the floor looked amazing with a lovely deep polish that reflected the light. The customer was delighted, and the new sealer will ensure the floor is easier to keep clean in future.

On the subject of maintenance cleaning, we recommend Tile Doctor Stone Soap for polished stone floors, it won’t impact the sealer, and contains a patina enhancer that will help maintain its appearance.

Limestone Tiled Floor Professionally Polished in Horncastle

The post Dull and Scratched Limestone Floor Polished in Horncastle appeared first on Lincolnshire Tile Doctor.

Polishing Scratches out of a Travertine Tabletop in Morley near Leeds

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:58:16 +0000

The photographs below are of a scratched Travertine table at a property in the Morley area of Leeds that I was asked to look at. The tabletop had been cleaned but not with the correct neutral cleaners and had some wear and scratches. The result was over time the tabletop lost its shine, and its owner now wondered if it could be cleaned and polished to restore its appearance.

I was confident that the burnishing pads that we use to polish Travertine floors would work equally well on a stone table and fortunately Tile Doctor provides six-inch version of the pads for this situation.

Cleaning a Travertine Table

Before starting I laid down a protective sheet on the floor and created a boundary around the tabletop with protective tape. Water is used in the burnishing process, and I wanted to prevent this from escaping onto the walls and floor.

I tackled the scratches first by applying a coarse 400-grit burnishing pad attached to a hand-held buffer. Water is used to help lubricate the process and once the pad had been applied to the whole table the soiling generated was sponged off the surface. I then inspected the scratches and where needed polished them out further using coarser hand-held burnishing blocks.

Next, I started the process of rebuilding the polish on the table by applying the finer six-inch burnishing pads in sequence starting with 800 then 1500-grit. Each pad was applied with water and then the soiling sponged off afterwards as before. To finish the polishing a very fine 3000-grit pad was applied using a little water to achieve a spray burnish.

Sealing a Travertine Table

This last pad leaves the Travertine dry so it wasn’t long before I could move onto the last step and applying a protective sealer to the table. Having walked through the different sealers and finishes with the client earlier we had chosen Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal to seal the table which is an impregnator that doesn’t alter the appearance of the stone and leaves a very natural finish.

Impregnating sealers work by soaking into the pores of the table preventing dirt from residing there and thereby protecting it from within. This ensures dirt remains on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

Once the sealer had dried the work was complete and the beautiful, polished appearance of the Travertine table had been restored. My client was very pleased with the result and left the following feedback:

Chris was very polite, attended punctually and was a clean worker, taking precautions to prevent dust and keep the surrounding area clean. The table looks like new. Thank you, Chris.

For the aftercare of sealed and polished stone table and countertops we recommend the use of Tile Doctor Stone Patina Spray. This is a specially designed spray and buff cleaner that helps maintains the patina on the stone without impacting the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Travertine Table in North West Yorkshire

The post Polishing Scratches out of a Travertine Tabletop in Morley near Leeds appeared first on North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor.

Original Minton Tiled Floor Damaged by Cable Installation Restored in Rugby

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:45:53 +0000

Recently I was called out to a property in Rugby which had a lovely Victorian period Encaustic Tiled Floor. The had only just moved into the property and had, like many of my customers seem to do, decided to replace the hallway carpet. Underneath they were pleased to discover a beautiful Black and White tiled floor laid in a classic diamond pattern.

Unfortunately, as they removed the carpet the discovered that it had been covered over to hide an ugly section of cement that went across the width of the hallway. Suspecting they had an Original Minton tiled floor they were keen to have it restored and so got in touch with Tile Doctor.

I do a lot of work repairing and restoring tiled floors in the area so I was more than happy to provide a quote for repairing the damaged section and then renovating the floor. I have also built up a collection of spare Minton tiles because of this so they had come to exactly the right place.

Repairing a Damaged Victorian Tiled Hallway in Rugby

The first step in the restoration was to carefully break out the cement backfill that had been run across the floor. We often see this sort of thing when heating is installed to hide a heating or gas pipe so I had to do this very carefully so as not to damage whatever had been covered over.

To my surprise the cement was hiding a couple of power cables encased in steel wire armour for protection. With the channel exposed it was then backfilled with cement screed to bring it level with the original base and then left to set overnight.

The next day work started with the cutting and shaping of the replacement tiles to exactly match the original pattern. Once I was happy with the pattern the tiles were stuck into place and grouted in. The next step would be to clean the floor with a buffer machine so once the replacement tiles were in place I left it to set overnight again.

Deep Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Rugby

On day three I started by inspecting the previous day’s repairs and confirming the floor was solid which it was. All was well so I set about cleaning the tiles using Tile Doctor Remove and Go starting with the corners and edges which were scrubbed by hand. This product is a strong tile cleaner which is also good for removing old sealers.

With the corners and edges done I then moved onto the main floor which was scrubbed using a coarse 200-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary machine. Carpets and underlay imprint a pattern onto the tiles when left for many years and these pads are great for removing this as well as further cleaning up the tiles. The cleaning solution darkens with the soiling and this is then extracted using a wet vacuum.

With the whole floor cleaned in this manner the process was repeated with Tile Doctor Acid Gel which further cleans up the tiles and has other advantages such as dissolving any efflorescent salts that may have built up in the tiles. Efflorescence is a common problem with these old floors which don’t have the benefit of a damp-proof membrane. To scrub the floor, I used a couple more diamond Burnishing pads of finer grits which helps refine the appearance of the tile following the application of the coarse 200-grit.

After this the floor was rinsed and wet vacuumed to remove as much moisture as possible.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The following day the floor was checked in several places to ensure it had dried sufficiently overnight. We know from experience it’s not a good idea to apply sealer to a damp floor as it can result in a patchy appearance.

The checks were fine and so the floor was sealed with an initial coat of Tile Doctor Stone Oil which adds structure to the tile and then when dry followed up with a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow to improve colour. Both these products are Impregnators and allow for vapour transmission which is ideal for old floors like this one.

Impregnators work by soaking into tile, occupying the pores and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This keeps dirt on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away. Once done the owners were very pleased and really happy that the original floor was now 100% intact and had been put back into daily use.

For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle yet effective tile cleaning product that won’t impact the sealer and reduce its life.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Warwickshire

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Carpet Covered Terrazzo Hallway Floor Restored in Morningside Edinburgh

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:40:21 +0000

The photographs below are of what was once a beautiful Terrazzo floor, it was recently uncovered in the hallway of a house in the Morningside area of Edinburgh. The floor had clearly taken a beating over the years, but the owners were eager to have it restored. Restoring period features like this Terrazzo floor is often a great idea, as they are highly sought after and can significantly increase a property’s value.

The Terrazzo floor had spent many years hidden under carpet, with nails hammered through to hold carpet gripper in place. There was also a substantial amount of glue and paint that needed to be removed. However, I was confident it could be successfully restored and I provided the customer with a quotation.

The quote was accepted and eager to have the work done as soon as possible a date was scheduled for my return.

Cleaning and Repairing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway

Work started by focusing on the removal of as much of the paint, glue, and other contaminants as possible. To do this a razor-sharp scraper was carefully run over the floor by hand to remove the bulk of the heavy paint and glue.

The remaining stubborn contaminants were then removed using an application of Tile Doctors Remove and Go solution, which is excellent for lifting paint and carpet glue. After leaving the solution to soak in for about ten minutes it was scrubbed into the Terrazzo using a coarse 200-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary machine. After this initial cleaning, the floor was rinsed with clean water, and the residue extracted with a wet vacuum.

The pad was then changed for the first of four diamond burnishing pads of progressively finer grits. Starting with the coarsest 400-grit pad and moving to increasingly fine pads the pads cut through the top layer of the Terrazzo to remove remaining grime and gradually re-polish the floor to its former glory., I added water at each stage and used a wet vacuum to remove the soiling generated by the burnishing process.

As the original Terrazzo floor began to shine through, the vibrant Silver, White and Black shades became more pronounced, revealing a lovely example of this classic material. After a final rinse to remove any remaining debris, I turned my attention to filling the numerous holes left by the previously removed nails.

Sealing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway in Morningside

The floor was left to dry overnight, and the following morning I returned to seal it with two coats of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal. This is a modern oil-based, breathable sealer and was chosen because it is fully breathable and will enhance the strong colours in the Terrazzo.

After leaving each coat on for five minutes the surplus sealer was then clothed off and the floor polished with a White buffing pad. It’s important to choose a breathable sealer for old floors like these as they don’t have a damp-proof membrane and it will allow for moisture rising from the foundation to evaporate at the surface. If the moisture were prevented from doing this it would build up under the floor where it would eventually reach out to the walls causing issues like rising damp.

The Terrazzo floor was transformed by the whole process and it was great to see a period feature that was original to the house put back into regular use. Before leaving I tool tile to discuss after care cleaning for which I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This is a mild yet effective maintenance cleaner that won’t degrade the sealer which can be an issue with many of the products you find in supermarkets which are simply too strong for cleaning a sealed floor.

Professional Restoration of a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway in Edinburgh

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Damaged Victorian Tiled Hallway Rescued in Muswell Hill

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 07:50:12 +0000

This client bought a house in Muswell Hill N10 with a neglected Victorian tiled floor in the hallway. They planned to completely refurbish the property including adding extensions.

Prior to starting work they called me to look at the floor and see if it was salvageable. At this time, it only had the damage where a pipe had been previously laid. However, over a year later they called me back as the building project was coming to an end and unfortunately during the process of changing the layout of the downstairs the entire final meter and a half of the hallway had been damaged and broken.

Luckily, I am used to restoration projects of this nature, so I was able to provide a quote to rescue the whole floor including rebuilding the now larger section at the end of the hallway.

The quote was revised in line with the extended work that was now required to get the floor back to its original condition and submitted for approval. It was accepted and we booked it for a few months’ later to allow all other trades to finish. However, for ease of tiling and to make a neat finish I advised them not to fit the skirting board until I had completed the work. Also, I needed time to source matching replacement tiles through various specialist suppliers before the work could start.

Repairing a Damaged Victorian Tiled Hallway in Muswell Hill

Due to the scale of the tiling work, we started with the repairs rather than the cleaning. As the hallway had been widened from its original layout, we had to cut away a little more of the original pattern so we could turn a corner in the border further back and re design. This made the pattern fit more sympathetically in the new space.

Once we were finished planning everything out, we filled new concrete to the damaged subfloor paying attention to the levels so that the tiling met at even height to the new flooring in adjoining rooms.

Once the subfloor had set tiling could start which involved cutting and shaping a lot of replacement tiles to match the original pattern and dry fitting them into place. Once I was happy with the pattern the tiles were stuck into place and grouted. It was meticulous work, and the repair took a week to complete.

Deep Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Muswell Hill

The floor was left to set over the weekend before returning to do a deep clean with Tile Doctor Remove and Go scrubbed into the tiles with a black pad fitted to a rotary machine. The floor was then rinsed with water and the slurry extracted with a wet vacuum. This product as its name suggests is a coatings remover and tile cleaner that does a good job of removing old sealers and dirt.

Next the floor was given an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which was pasted onto the tiles and then scrubbed in, this time with a coarse 200-grit diamond pad. The diamond pad does a nice job of cleaning up the old tiles and the Acid Gel helps to counter any salts that may be lying dormant in the floor; salts are a common problem with floors of this age that don’t have a damp-proof membrane.

After this the floor was rinsed and wet vacuumed to remove as much moisture as possible. Once done the floor was left to dry overnight with assistance from several fans.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The following day work began with vacuuming dust and generally checking the tiles had dried sufficiently overnight. We know from experience it’s not a good idea to apply sealer to a damp floor as it can result in a patchy appearance.

The checks were fine and so the floor was sealed with two coats of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is a fully breathable oil-based impregnator that’s ideal for old floors like this one. Impregnators work by soaking into tile, occupying the pores and thereby preventing dirt from residing there. This keeps dirt on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away.

Once done the work completely transformed the hallway and really give the house back its wow factor. Only thing left to do was to fit the skirting boards.

For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which un-like many of the stronger products you find in supermarkets won’t impact the sealer and reduce its life.

Professional Restoration of a Victorian Tiled Hallway in North London

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Encaustic Tiled Victorian Floor Renovated in West Bridgford

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:40:16 +0000

Here we have an encaustic tiled hallway floor from the Victorian era laid in a beautiful geometric pattern at a property in West Bridgford Nottingham. Given its age the floor had survived well however there were many loose tiles that needed attention and it was overdue a restorative clean and fresh seal.

Having visited the property, I was able to ascertain the extent of the repairs needed and created a detailed quotation for its restoration. My quotation was accepted and a date agreed for the work to start.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Encaustic Tiled Floor

Before cleaning the tiles and re-sealing, the floor needed to be structurally sound so the first day was spent pulling out the 150 or so loose and damaged tiles. This was followed by removing the old adhesive and cleaning and repairing the foundation screed ready for the next step. I was able to re-use some of the original tiles, but I had also sourced replacements which needed to be cut to fit the pattern.

The tiles were dry fitted into position to ensure the geometric pattern of the original floor was replicated. Only then were they fixed into place using rapid set adhesive and grouted.

The tiles were left to set overnight, and I returned the next day to deep clean the whole floor. Tiled floors of this age don’t have the benefit of a damp proof membrane and so they can suffer from damp rising through the foundation. Because of this I like to use low moisture gel cleaning products to clean old floors, this keeps water usage to a minimum, increases drying times and reduces the likelihood of efflorescent salts appearing later.

In this case I gave the floor a thorough deep clean using Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel and Acid Gel combined. These are applied to the tiles and then scrubbed in with a coarse 200-grit diamond pad to remove the years of ingrained dirt.

The resulting slurry was removed with a wet vacuum and wiped down with microfibre cloths dampened with a small amount of water. Again, this method minimises moisture penetration into the floor.

The low-moisture system has the added benefit of keeping the tiles reasonably dry, so I was able to apply the sealer later that afternoon.

Sealing an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Floor

To seal the tiles Tile Doctors X-Tra Seal was applied. It’s a modern oil-based sealer that improves colour and is rated for external as well as internal use making it ideal for a hallway. Another feature of this product is that it’s fully breathable which is very important for period floors and won’t restrict moisture transmission through the tile.

For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a pH neutral floor cleaner which won’t degrade the protective sealer.

Professional Restoration of an Encaustic Victorian Tiled Hallway in Nottinghamshire

The post Encaustic Tiled Victorian Floor Renovated in West Bridgford appeared first on Nottinghamshire Tile Doctor.

Classic Chequered Encaustic Tiled Victorian Hallway Floor Refurbished in Leek

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 10:49:11 +0000

At this Victorian property in Leek I was asked to renovate the encaustic tiles in the hallway which were laid in a classic Black and White chequer pattern. They had previously been covered in carpet for many years and the owner now wanted the floor brough back to life as a period feature in keeping with the age of the property.

The carpet had been glued down and you could see a lot of discolouration around the edges where the glue was still present on the tile. Also, I could see there were several sections of loose tiling that needed to be secured.

I worked out a restoration plan and quote which the owner was happy with and a date set of my return to do the work which would take three days.

Renovating Black and White Victorian Floor Tiles

The first day was spent repairing the loose tiles in the two doorways and a section next to the stairs. The tiles had become debonded with the floor, so the base needed to be cleaned out and the tiles fixed back into place with fresh adhesive. The next step would require the use of machinery so I waited until the next day to start that in order to give the tiles time to set firmly overnight.

On then second day cleaning started by wetting the floor with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. A strong dilution was needed to help breakdown the soiling and adhesive. This was left to soak in for fifteen minutes before starting the process of scrubbing the floor.

The bulk of the scrubbing was done using a rotary machine fitted with a coarse 50-grit diamond pad which was needed to remove the patination that the carpet had pressed into the tile surface. These circular pads can struggle to get into the edges and corners so this was followed where needed with a handheld 60-grit diamond block until I was satisfied. The soiling was rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum.

Next step was to give the floor an acid wash using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up. This is simply mopped onto the floor and brushed in before being rinsed off as before with the wet vacuum. The Pro-Clean used earlier is alkaline so the acidic nature of Grout Clean-up neutralises the floor, it also further cleans up the tiles and will dissolve any salts that may be present in the tile and could result in the appearance of efflorescence later. This is a common problem with old floors like this one which don’t have the benefit of a damp proof membrane.

Last job of the day was to dry the floor as much as possible with the wet vacuum and add grouting using a matching grout where needed.

Sealing a Black and White Encaustic Tiled Victorian Floor

I then left the floor for four days to dry out. It’s not a good idea to apply sealer to a damp tile as you can get a patchy result so I wanted to be sure it was dry before sealing. On my return I checked the floor was dry and then started the sealer application with four coats of Seal and Go which is a water-based sealer that doesn’t give off a smell as it dried. I chose this product as the client wanted the tiles to have a deep shine and this product certainly achieves that.

I think you will agree the floor looked amazing once complete, the tiled looked lighter, brighter and overall made the whole hallway look very inviting. It definitely added the period wow factor.

Before leaving I took time to discuss maintenance cleaning and recommended they use Tile Doctor’s Neutral Tile Cleaner. This product is a gentle but effective tile cleaner that won’t impact the sealer.

Professional Encaustic Floor Tile Restoration in Staffordshire

The post Classic Chequered Encaustic Tiled Victorian Hallway Floor Refurbished in Leek appeared first on Staffordshire Tile Doctor.

Neglected Marble Tabletop Restored in Wargrave Reading

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:26:48 +0000

This is another project I completed for a client Wargrave who had a very neglected Marble table that had been used outside and was now heavily stained. The client had seen a recent work history of mine where I restored a very similar Marble table, and having one herself in similar condition she asked if anything could be done. Confident we could dramatically improve it that was also booked in to be restored on the same day.

The Marble was in a very similar condition to the one I restored previously so I basically followed the same system which I will outline below. As you can see it is not just flooring that Tile Doctor is able to restore.

Cleaning a Marble Tabletop

To cut through all the algae, black spot and lichens I used a very strong acidic Tile Doctor product called Patio & Driveway Cleaner. I was completely aware that using an acidic product on marble can etch the stone however, the table needed something very strong, and I knew I could remove any damage to the stone with a set of coarse diamond pads later.

As suspected the patio cleaner did the trick and removed most of the staining. The next stage was to polish the marble using a series of pads from Tile Doctors inventory of 6-inch diamond burnishing pads. The first pad in the set to be applied was a coarse 100-grit pad followed by a 200-grit. The pads are applied with water to help lubricate the process and are designed to repair damage and etching caused by the strong product used earlier.

The process was then repeated with a coarse 400-grit and fine 1500-grit pads which gradually closed the pores and returned the shine. This is a messy process which generates a slurry which is removed after each pad with the wet vacuum.

Sealing a Marble Tabletop

With the Marble table surface restored the last step was to protect the stone with a sealer which will keep any dirt or contaminates on the surface where they can be easily wiped away. So once the table was dry, I applied a thin coat of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal which is an almost invisible impregnator that soaks into the marble occupying its fine pores and thereby preventing dirt from becoming lodged there.

For aftercare of polished stone worktops and tabletops I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Stone Patina Spray. It is a spray-and-buff cleaner that is designed to enhance the natural beauty and lustre of polished stone as it cleans.

Professional Restoration of a Marble Table in Berkshire

The post Neglected Marble Tabletop Restored in Wargrave Reading appeared first on Berkshire Tile Doctor.

Badly Stained Vinyl Covered Quarry Tiled Floor Restored in Wallingford

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 07:07:20 +0000

I went to view this Quarry tiled floor at a property in Wallingford after speaking with the owner on the phone. They were hoping the floor could be restored but were sceptical that anything could be done as it had been covered in vinyl for many years.

The trouble was, before the Vinyl was laid the floor had been covered in a layer of bitumen first which was designed to act as damp proofing, then on top of that was a layer of self-levelling screed. The client had removed the vinyl and had a go at scraping the screed and bitumen off the floor before giving up.

Having come across this sort of thing before, I was confident the floor could indeed be restored although I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I worked out a plan for the restoration and converted this into a detailed quote for the client so they could decide if it was worth doing. Keen to restore the original floor and keep what was a period feature I was given the go-ahead.

Cleaning a Quarry Tiled Hallway

Work started with scraping the the floor to manually remove the layers of bitumen and screed. This is hard manual work, but I had help from Buckinghamshire Tile Doctor Jack Day. When we had removed enough, work switched to using an application of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up worked in with a carbide brush. Going in too early with the carbide brush would have resulted in it clogging so this had to be a second step. These brushes are coarse allowing it to cut into the surface and remove the remaining screed.

To further improve the Quarry tiles the carbide brush was swapped out for a 100-grit milling pad which further scrubbed the tiles to remove the final bits of bitumen. The floor was rinsed and the slurry extracted with a wet vacuum. The pad was then changed for a 200-grit milling pad and the process repeated and then again using 1500 grit. These pads further clean up the quarry tiles and refine the surface creating a slight sheen on the floor.

After a final rinse and extraction with the wet vacuum the floor was then left to dry out.

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Hallway

On my return the floor was tested for moisture with a damp meter to confirm it had dried out sufficiently and was now ready for sealing. The results were positive, so work moved onto sealing the quarry tiles using Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which is an oil-based impregnating sealer.

This sealer works by soaking into the tile, occupying the pores and thereby ensuring dirt cannot become ingrained there. This keeps dirt on the surface where it can be easily cleaned away. This product also enhances the appearance of the tiles further bringing out the colours.

Lint free cloths were used to apply the sealer and buff off the excess. When the sealer was dry the floor was buffed with a 3000-grit diamond burnishing pad which left the floor with a mild sheen.

Once complete the floor was transformed and completely unrecognisable. For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a mild yet effective floor cleaning product that won’t affect the sealer.

Professional Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Bathroom in Oxfordshire

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