Loose tiles? - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

danrosswil · 02-07-2008

I recently went to see a lady about cleaning and stabilsing her victorian tiles, the tiles are all in good condition but are very slightly loose in the main wear areas and you can feel and hear them shaking when you walk over them.

What I wanted to know is, how do you stabilise them, do you have to take them out individually and if so what do you use, or is there a liquid substance that you can pour into them to set them still?

Any help would be great

thanks

dan

TilingLogistics · 02-07-2008

Victorian tiles as the name suggests probably means they have been down for close on 100 years or longer. This in turn means they are either on a lime bed mortar mix or just straight onto earth. They normally have to be lifted, then repair the substrate by various methods depending on the situation and then refixed, grouted and cleaned. Usually once you get one up the rest come up easily. I hope this helps and good luck

Kev

Fred · 02-07-2008

If they are loose they are. No matter what you do, they will still be loose, even if you pump glue in. Do it properly and dig them up or walk...........

danrosswil · 02-07-2008

Thanks for the excellent quick reply Kev and Fred

If I lift them, is there a special tool I can use to lift and where can I get proper grout for these type of tiles? Would PVA do?

TilingLogistics · 02-07-2008

Just use a thin scraper or a Fein machine on one of the loose ones the rest will fly up. If the tiles are Victorian they will have virtually no grout joint. No you cant use PVA.!!! Tilers don't use PVA.!!! Try Mapei Kerracolour FF Grout.

Kev

danrosswil · 02-07-2008

Okay thanks Kev, you have been very helpful

cheers

dan

**Dave** · 02-07-2008

If you are only lifting certain area's then you will have to make sure you put them back down exactly as they came up.....Take photo's and make a graph of the floor and number the tiles if need be...this will make it easier to re-lay........just something to think about before you go ripping them up.....the joints will be tight , thats why it is best to re-lay the same way.....

TilingLogistics · 03-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by danrosswil

Okay thanks Kev, you have been very helpful

cheers

dan

Your welcome

Kev

TilingLogistics · 03-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

If you are only lifting certain area's then you will have to make sure you put them back down exactly as they came up.....Take photo's and make a graph of the floor and number the tiles if need be...this will make it easier to re-lay........just something to think about before you go ripping them up.....the joints will be tight , thats why it is best to re-lay the same way.....

Dave

Good point!!! I just assumed he would know that sorry

Kev

**wetdec** · 03-07-2008

The majority of these tiles will be minton collins, when they were laid being so long sgo the tiles were never the same size and quite offten they were cut to fit.

As the guys have said they will be on black ash and grouted with lime mix. If you lift one to start being carefull as it will chip then work outwards from there. Put a chalk number or letter on them so you know where each goes.

You said PVA, there is a way of using this if the base they are on is solid and you cant get more adhesive in. Clean the tiles dry, hoover out the floor pour around 2mm 50/50 with water (exterior pva) onto the area and leave overnight. When dry pour 5mm neat pva onto area and squeeze the tiles back in following the numbers.

As you go wipe off any pva that comes to surface. When its all dry it will be solid for you. Run a little dry cement or grout over it to fill any grout lines.

Tiler

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smurf21 · 03-07-2008

wow was that a tiler recomending p.v.a ..lol ....thats a first on here.but good tip.
but yes more than likely if they are original vic tiles they will be minton collins so will be cut to fit and numbers or marking and photos a must.a real ball acher of a job so price accordingly. nothing looks worse than a poor laid vic floor.

**wetdec** · 03-07-2008

Its a trick we use for sticking marble mosaics etc to display boards, no adhesive to mark the tiles so they are super clean and rock solid with no real increase in hight as the pva squeezes up the side of the tiles and grips accordingly.

tiler

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