With their beautiful geometric patterns and timeless colours, Victorian tiles can certainly give your floors the ‘wow’ factor, but time can take its toll on them over the years. However, with a little know-how and elbow grease you can help them take centre stage once more.
What are Victorian floor tiles?
Victorian and Edwardian tiles are also known as encaustic tiles, and often a key period feature of a Victorian house or Edwardian home. They’re traditionally characterised by their ceramic unglazed patterns, although are these days they’re usually made from cement mixed with pigments and poured into a mould.
They’re laid without the need for grouting, with the tiles holding themselves together by locking into place on top of a bedding layer. Whether they’re original or modern lookalikes, encaustic tiles are hardwearing and attractive features which make floors stand out from the crowd. The only drawback is that, due to their matt finish, they require a little TLC every now and then. Common problems include chipping, cracking, and stubborn accumulation of dirt, but they are all resolvable.
How to restore encaustic tiles
To restore Victorian tiles you will need:
- Plastic scraper
- Stiff brush
- Vacuum and/or dustpan and brush
- Mop and bucket
- Mild floor cleaner
- PVA adhesive glue
- Epoxy puttyYou will need:
- Plastic scraper
- Stiff brush
- Vacuum and/or dustpan and brush
- Mop and bucket
- Mild floor cleaner
- PVA adhesive glue
- Epoxy putty
Step one: Remove loose tiles and debris
Using a scraper, gently prise any loose tiles away from the floor and put them to one side. You will find that some tiles will come away easily, while others might take a bit of wiggling and encouragement. Make sure you take photos of the floor before you start lifting the tiles so you don’t forget which tiles go where when it comes to replacing them.
Step two: Clean the tiles
Cleaning the tiles is an important part of the restoration process. Use the stiff brush to remove dirt and to help disturb the grit beneath the loose tiles that you’ve removed. Next vacuum clean the entire floor area. Then, use a mop and bucket with a mild detergent solution to clean the floor thoroughly. While the floor is drying, start work on cleaning the tiles you’ve removed.
TOP TIP:If the adhesive on the bed and the back of the tiles has worn away, you’ll need to reapply it. Make sure the areas are thoroughly cleaned before doing so to ensure longevity.
Step three: Reattach the floor tiles
Now your floor is prepared, you can reaffix the loose tiles. Use the photos you took as a references to help you remember which tiles go where. Then dampen the floor bed and the back of each tile, prime with diluted PVA (mixed to a 5:1 ratio), and allow to dry. When the diluted PVA is dry, add some non-diluted PVA to the floor and the back of the tile and push it firmly into place. Repeat this method with the remaining tiles and then leave the area to fully bond for 24-hours. Try to avoid walking on the area during this time if you possibly can.
Step four: Use putty to repair small chips
Epoxy putty is available in a range of colours, so pick the one that most closely matches your tiles. Clean the chipped tiles and leave them to dry. Knead and roll the putty for around five or six minutes until it’s malleable. Once it’s ready, press the softened putty into the chips and smooth flush with a wet finger. Make sure you clean your tools immediately afterwards or else the putty will be difficult to remove.
Step five: Use a plastic scraper to remove paint
As most homes are redecorated a number of times over the years, your Victorian floor tiles may well have a few paint splashes on them. Simply use a plastic scraper to gently and carefully remove any dried-on paint marks. Always use a plastic scraper, never a metal one, to avoid scratching the original tile.
Where to source encaustic tiles
If your floor is missing a few tiles, or some are damaged beyond repair, you will need to replace them. One of the best places to find authentic replacements is in architectural salvage yards. The tiles may need a bit of cleaning up, but they will usually be more affordable than buying them from new. eBay is another useful source for secondhand Victorian and Edwardian tiles; you’ll find everything from single tiles to whole floors for sale. If you would prefer to buy new replacement tiles, then there is a wealth of companies who sell new tiles, such as .londonencaustic.com, porcelainsuperstore.com and .bertandmay.com.
How to clean and care for encaustic tiles
If your floor is undamaged, but looking a bit grubby after being trodden on by hundreds of feet over the decades, then all it needs is a thorough clean to brighten it up once more.
What you need to clean Victorian tiles
- Vacuum and/or dustpan and brush
- Mop and bucket
- Floor cleaner
- Scrubbing brushes
- Cotton cloths or old towels
- Encaustic tile sealer
- Power drill polishing disc
Step one: Clean the floor
Remove any dust and debris from the floor using a vacuum cleaner or dustpan and brush. Then clean the floor with the mop and bucket using a mild detergent solution.
Step two: Scrub the floor
Next, go over the area with a scrubbing brush to lift and shift ground-in dirt.
Step three: Dry the floor
Wipe the floor clean with a cotton cloth, or an old towel. Sponge off any surplus water to prevent it from seeping into the cracks.
Step four: Seal and buff the floor
Once the floor is thoroughly dry and looking squeaky clean, your final steps are all about preservation. For this, consider applying an impregnating encaustic tile sealer that will allow moisture to pass freely through the tiles. Wait for 24 hours for the sealer to dry, and then buff the floor using a power drill polishing disc.
TOP TIP: Bear in mind that any cleaning treatment on old floors is always experimental and is not always guaranteed to be effective, so it’s advisable to never start the cleaning process in the middle of the floor. Always find an unobtrusive corner in which to test your method or product.
