Are My Quarry Tiles Worth Restoring?

[abigailbetton]

Hi We recently found pretty basic red and black victorian quarry tiles in our kitchen. They are a bit damaged in places but if possible we'd really like to keep them. We aren't bothered about them being pristine, we just hope to clean them up a bit to a usable, 'shabby chic' standard. Any advice on what best to use to make them look their best would be appreciated (ie) cleaning products/sealing products?

One big concern that we have is that there appears to be occasional patches where the tiles seems to get a bit damp (darker colour) and this is obviously coming from underneath. Though this doesn't seem so bad at the moment we wondered if this might be more of a problem in winter? Also, is it anything to worry about? Should we be restoring these or seriously thinking about ripping them out and putting down a brand new floor? We'd really like to keep them but if this isn't a sensible option we'd rather know now before we splash out on a new kitchen!

Any advice, previous similar experiences you can share would be really helpful. I'll try and upload a photo of said floor.

Thanks. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Concrete guy]

It's not unusual to find this type of floor down with now damp proof course under them.

That will probably determine if they are viable to keep down or not.

 

[steve187]

there would be no damp proof course and that would just be laid on dirt, in my mind they are worth keeping as not now available, whatever you put down you would need a damp proof membrane, so the extra work in cleaning them up would be worth it. if i was putting them back down i would use a half inch joint and grout with sand and cement.

 

[Ajax123]

DO NOT PUT A DAMP PROOF MEMBRANE ON THESE TILES!! They are Victorian and designed with no damp proof membrane undrneath which allows the floor to breath. A surface DPM is designed to suppress residual moisture not rising damp. Lifting themwill most ikely break most of them so leave them in situ. If the tiles were covered they will be damp and will take quite a while to dry thoroughly. Just give them a good scrub (used a floor scrubbing machine on mine) let them dry out. Then polish them with linseed oil. You will have a beautiful floor that will last for years. Put a hessian backed rug down in winter to stop the floor from feeling cold underfoot.

 

[steve187]

DO NOT PUT A DAMP PROOF MEMBRANE ON THESE TILES!! They are Victorian and designed with no damp proof membrane undrneath which allows the floor to breath. A surface DPM is designed to suppress residual moisture not rising damp. Lifting themwill most ikely break most of them so leave them in situ. If the tiles were covered they will be damp and will take quite a while to dry thoroughly. Just give them a good scrub (used a floor scrubbing machine on mine) let them dry out. Then polish them with linseed oil. You will have a beautiful floor that will last for years. Put a hessian backed rug down in winter to stop the floor from feeling cold underfoot.

as i have said before you never stop learning in this game

 

[Concrete guy]

DO NOT PUT A DAMP PROOF MEMBRANE ON THESE TILES!! They are Victorian and designed with no damp proof membrane undrneath which allows the floor to breath. A surface DPM is designed to suppress residual moisture not rising damp. Lifting themwill most ikely break most of them so leave them in situ. If the tiles were covered they will be damp and will take quite a while to dry thoroughly. Just give them a good scrub (used a floor scrubbing machine on mine) let them dry out. Then polish them with linseed oil. You will have a beautiful floor that will last for years. Put a hessian backed rug down in winter to stop the floor from feeling cold underfoot.

This is interesting.

Is there any inherent issue with not fitting a DPM and just leaving it all be?

 

[Ajax123]

This is interesting.

Is there any inherent issue with not fitting a DPM and just leaving it all be?

They have been there for over a hundred years with no issues. The problem with putting a liquid DPM on top is that the rising damp will cause osmotic bubbling over time and may even pop off the top. The issue with putting a DPM underneath is lifting the tiles will destroy some and probably a lot of them and the sub base was never designed to have a DPM. It will be a lime screed underneath which would also need to be replaced. Why try and fix it if it isnt broken.

 

[DHTiling]

Is there any heave in the floor or loose areas..? and a pic from further back would be good...just to see what surface contamination there is over the yrs..

 

[NickyJ]

This is interesting.

Is there any inherent issue with not fitting a DPM and just leaving it all be?

Hi, yes.
Quarry tiles are designed to breathe. If you put a DPM over the top, or seal them with a non breathable sealant, the the moisture will find its way into the walls as it has to go somewhere.

 

[Tsctiling]

In my view quarry tiles are always worth restoring. Even if tiles are.fixed they can be lifted whole. Then re-prep sub floor plus a dpm, and relay cleaned tiles. Don't just smash them up.