Original tile work restoration

[Castle Rovneyko]

I'm back at it. Awhile back, I peeled up the press-on linoleum tiles, on a hunch, and found the original tile work from when the home was built - ( approx 1885 - 1900).

Mostly I use a heat gun, scraper and various mild cleaning soaps, Goo Gone type products - no heavy chemicals so far.

The floor space is about 6 x 9 with 10 ft ceiling. Nice big double-hung stained glass window in there too along with original sink and claw foot tub. The tiles are wall to wall.

Just wanted to show the pictures in case anyone has any suggestions about anything to make shorter work of the tile restoration. Would I seal these when completely cleaned? Clean and re-grout around each round tile?

This is my "start a project and finish it before moving onto the next"....project.

I picked out a nice rose color paint for the walls when I get to that stage.

Someone painted the old tub blue. I have to get that paint removed too.

Thank You

[Manalto]

It's coming along nicely. Although the clean-up is a hassle, those linoleum tiles may have done you the favor of protecting this wonderful floor for the years it was in place; it looks remarkably well preserved. You're following the cardinal rule of restoration - begin with the least invasive method possible, and intensify your efforts only when necessary. I'm sorry I don't have anything to add.

It's always a pleasure to have a peek inside your fine house. I agree rose would be an excellent color for the walls, especially if the window faces north; I assume you're referencing the sea-shell motif.

[Gothichome]

What a wonderful period and original room, and in outstanding condition. A lot of effort I can see went into your cleaning up already, and you have brought a bit of history back to life. Well done.
As far as finishing, I think a good cleaning of the grout with one of the bleaching cleaners for grout will give it the new look. Once that has been done, you only need to grout the areas that have failed with a colour matched grout. Sealing of the floor I think might be a bit tricky from a restoration view. You might be tempted to use a modern polymer sealer, I think I might put some serious thought into a more natural product like wax. Too bad we don’t have restoration tile setter on staff in the District.

[Castle Rovneyko]

Encouraging comments and observations. Thank You

Manalto: I never thought of that. Great thought about that linoleum protecting those tiles. Absolutely. Yes, the window faces North - northwest.

Gothichome: Appreciated. I'll follow your grout idea. Agree - I'd rather avoid a sealer and will try something natural like a wax.

Will continue the work and post the results. Thanks again - great forum.

[Manalto]

Yes, the window faces North - northwest.

Years ago I came across a guide for room colors that made sense to me. It recommended warm colors for the northern exposure and cool for the southern.

[heartwood]

an absolutely gorgeous intact bathroom!!

if I search for methods online, I employ my common sense and prior knowledge to weed through 'magic solutions' and hacks...the one video doesn't mention the product/machine that is being used...is it steam or perhaps steam and scrubbies? where does the dirt go?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9-4N04qmJI
https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/floor-an ... tiles.html

https://www.younghouselove.com/bathroom-breakthrough/ this one claims that 'caulk is magic in a tube'..
ugh, say it isn't so! i'm think that the tile maybe should have been placed a little closer to the tub and finished off with grout then sealed...expansion and contraction would dictate that the grout be replaced more often but that's
easier than dealing with caulk...caulk attracts mildew...

speaking of sealing, I think it might be better to seal with a water based product that can be removed or worn away
rather than a wax that tends to yellow over time...

whichever method you plan to use, I think your knees will appreciate some protection and patience will be
your greatest virtue...

good luck!....jade

[Manalto]

...I think it might be better to seal with a water based product that can be removed or worn away
rather than a wax that tends to yellow over time...

I was thinking the same thing. How about just leaving the floor nude and putting down a cotton throw rug to protect the traffic areas?

[1918ColonialRevival]

To be honest, probably the least risky method of getting the remainder of the backing off the floor is to manually scrape it, using denatured alcohol to help soften the stubborn areas. For cleaning, I'd recommend the liquid Bar Keeper's Friend cleaner and a blue (not green) Scotch Brite pad made for non-stick cookware.

Do research on sealers. What would be nice is to find a book from the 1930s or earlier that covers tile setting and grouting and see what was used to seal tile in those days. Grout can stain unglazed tile.

The walls of that bathroom are beautiful. The tiles look like they were probably made by the Trent Tile Co. and date to around 1905 or so.

[phil]

maybe it just needs the right cleaner. I got ahold of some commercial product and it worked well to clean old grout. You might be able to use a carpet cleaner with an upholstery attachment to suck it up , then re-grout to fill any voids.

Ive always wanted to do a floor like that but with a little edge and a drain so any water on the floor just runs away. It would make cleaning easy. You'd have to have the drop and a way to keep the trap wet. maybe share the sink trap and put that below or something. one house I lived in had a thing that let a dribble of water into the floor trap every time you turn the hot water on to keep water in the trap.

the tiles are neat. nice floor beside it too. all you need now is a fancy old toilet!

[SouthernLady]

I have enjoyed these pictures of your beautiful bathroom. Thank you for sharing them! I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your restoration.

If you are looking to remove stains from the grout, I wonder how hydrogen peroxide would work for you, before you try the bleach. I had hex tile put down in my oldest bathroom, and it was not sealed properly. With a dog and a cat as well as entertaining a bunch of folks on different occasions, the grout became pretty discolored. I don't mind using bleach, but my mother has a great sensitivity to it. I tried hydrogen peroxide instead, which is odorless and less harsh than bleach, and it did the trick!

I now also use hydrogen peroxide in place of bleach for disinfecting and removing stains as much as I possibly can and reserve the bleach for the jobs the peroxide don't tackle as well.