OOOooooOOOoooOOooooOO!! Look what I found unger the hall carpet!!!!!

:username:

Some lovvvvverly tiles!!

Anyone got any ideas to bring them back to 'life'?

UN

Counting_Pennies_2

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/how-to/data/14574.xml&catref=bcat31

This might be of help (press close if a pop up covers the page!)

:username:

Nice one!! Thanks C_P

Debt_Free_Chick

Fantastic!

Remove the gripper rods (glued down?)

Remove any adhesive or paint - very gently with a heated stripper and a scraper.

If you must use chemical strippers, then work very quickly and rinse the area thoroughly as you go along. Acidic strippers can damage the tiles if left on the surface. Wash the floor and leave it to dry, completely. May take days ....

Thoroughly sweep it to take up all grit etc pre-wet the floor, then give it a good clean with something like HG porcelain tile cleaner. You can use steel wool - not brillo pads - but the type used on fine furniture. Grade 00 or 0000 would be fine.

Don't completely seal the tiles - they need to breathe a little. The traditional wax/sealant is a combination of beeswax and pure turpentine. Or a slate dressing would be fine. This claims to be suitable on porous tiles.

Don't expect them to come up "perfect". They are 100 or so years old and will show signs of use even if you are 100% successful in your cleaning

Post back with a "before" and "after" picture please

Debt_Free_Chick

Counting_Pennies wrote:

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/how-to/data/14574.xml&catref=bcat31

This might be of help (press close if a pop up covers the page!)

Just be aware that they are referring to glazed ceramic tiles - and you have unglazed encaustic tiles, which won't take acidic treatment. Also, you don't want a glossy finish when cleaned.

:username:

Thanks for all the tips and advice kids!!

never_enough

Lovely! I have some similar to that. They had been partly concreted over by a previous owner...lots of work on hands & knees chipping it off, but it was worth it!

ooo000ooo

For a moment I thought someone wanted me

nearlyrich

Wow what a find, I can never understand why anyone would cover them up?
Hope they come up well.

tomstickland

The folded up carpet looks like a stretched skeleton in the small image.

gooismeid

never mind ooo000ooo, you must be tired from all the extra work over Halloween.. Take a well-deserved rest.