Cardiff Tile Doctor Details the Restoration of a Quarry Tiled Floor in Penarth

This client from Penarth contacted Tile Doctor to see if their 100-year-old Quarry tiled floor which had broken and missing tiles could be salvaged. The property dated back to 1890 and had experienced many years of wear and tear and it certainly showed. One of the biggest problems however would be to renovate the area in front of the old fireplace where a hearth was once situated.

It was clear the area in front of the fireplace would need to be rebuilt using matching replacement quarry tiles more of which would be needed for the other repairs that needed doing. Once that was done the floor would then need a deep clean and a fresh sealer applied to give the whole floor a consistent appearance.

I worked out a comprehensive quote which included the repairs and renovation work. This was accepted by the client and a date set for the work to start.

   

Cleaning and Repairing a Quarry Tiled Room

Work started with the tile repairs which involved breaking out the damaged tiles and those in front of the old fireplace and then cleaning up the floor ready for the replacement tiles to be installed.

 

Quarry tiles are still very popular, so it wasn't a problem finding matching replacements which I had manage to source before work commenced. The replacements were then laid in-line with the existing tiles using rapid set adhesive and grouted in.

Once the tiles had set, I was able to start the cleaning process which started with scraping off as much cement, paint, and plaster residue off the floor as possible. This was then followed up with a deep clean of the tile and grout using a mixture of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean combined 50:50 with with Tile Doctor Nanotech HBU Cleaner.

After leaving these products to soak in for ten minutes I worked by hand scrubbing in 1m2 sections at a time, cleaning and rinsing with water and vacuuming up the waste with a wet vacuum as I progressed. Doing it this way ensures maximum attention to detail and ensures the floor is as clean as possible. 

Once done, the floor was given an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up which was brushed onto the floor and extracted with the wet vacuum as before. Old floors like this don't have a damp proof membrane and are susceptible to efflorescence, giving the floor an acid rinse like this counters salts and helps further clean the tiles.

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

   

Sealing a Quarry Tiled Floor in Penarth

The next morning the floor was tested for moisture with a damp meter and the readings confirmed it had dried sufficiently to accept a sealer. I don’t recommend sealing a damp floor as it impacts the sealers’ ability to cure and leads to a patchy finish.

Sealing started with the application of a single coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a very durable and breathable sealer which being an impregnator provides an excellent base. The customer wanted a shiny finish so this was followed up with a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. This product further protects the floor and adds a subtle shine which together with the Colour Grow really brought out the colours in the Quarry tiles. As you can see the red colour of the floor looks vibrant and stunning after the two different sealers were applied.

My client was delighted with the result and offered to recommended Tile Doctor to their family and friends which was nice. For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which is a gentle but effective tile cleaner that's ideal for cleaning sealed floors.

Source: Quarry Tile Restoration Products and Services in Penarth South Wales

How to Clean Hand Scraped Bamboo Flooring

What You'll Need:

• Broom
•  Dustpan
•  Mop
•  Water and white vinegar solution

Cleaninghand scraped bamboo flooringis one of the things you should consider when buying and installing this type of flooring. It is also one of the most important things you need to know if your office or house hashand scraped bamboo flooring.

Bamboo, the tallest and the most popular grass, has been widely used in different ways. Like any other building and flooring materials, there are appropriate ways of cleaning it. Your flooring is one of your investments so you really have to keep it clean and protect it regularly. Your supplier should have given you the instruction guide on the proper care and maintenance of your bamboo flooring. But if the supplier did not or you have forgotten where you placed the instruction guide, here are some of the easy-to-follow tips in cleaninghand scraped bamboo flooring:

Step one

Move all the furniture out of the room. Do not drag or pull your furniture. Always carry all the heavy pieces because pulling them will damage the floor and cause permanent marks on it. Remove the carpets and rugs carefully. Begin by sweeping up the room you are planning to clean. The room should be free from residues, debris, dust, and other minute matters such as nails, pins, and screws. Use your broom and dustpan for this job.

Step two

Buy an appropriate “wood safe” floor cleaner. Do not use heavy detergents, concentrated chemicals and abrasives because these can damage your bamboo flooring permanently. When there aren’t any “wood safe” floor cleaners available, you can create your own mixture of one-fourth cup of white vinegar to every one-quart of water. If your floor is already free from residues and dirt, get a gallon of warm water and add the recommended amount of “wood safe” floor cleaner. Mix it well so you will be able to produce an even, suitable mixture.

Step three

You will need a mop for yourhand scraped bamboo flooring. Before you start cleaning the floor, make sure you squeeze out the mop completely. Large amounts of water should not be left on the bamboo floor so moisture and molds will not develop in the floor.

Step four

Carefully wipe the floor with the mop in a back and forth motion. The entire area of the floor should be covered. Do not omit any dirty areas so your hand scraped bamboo flooring will have even color and tone.

Step five

Keep your bamboo flooring clean by mopping at least once a week.

Step six

One way to protect your bamboo flooring from getting dirty is to use rugs or carpets in areas where people often walk or stay. By doing so, the floor is exposed to less dirt and residue because the mats, rugs, or carpets filter it. If you have indoor plants, do not place them on top of your floor. Water and moisture might concentrate on the floor, thus, your flooring may fade; molds and bacteria could grow in that area which will lead to staining.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com