Hi,

We've just about to move our a new home that as had most of the bathroom done in travertine tiles around 5 years ago. The floor tiles I think are travertine tumbled unfilled (10cm2) and the walls are large classic which I think are filled and honed.

I've been reading this forum with great interest and have found posts on travertine cleaning and restoring. However I'm not to sure how to tackle the job at hand still....sorry!

So, I've taken pictures so please have a look, helps me explain a bit more better.

Picasa Web Albums - parms_uk - Bathroom

Main jobs are:

1. Bathroom floor looks very grubby. Picture 5 shows a tile on the side of the bath and I think this is how the tiles on the floor should actually look like. Do you think it is possible to get this clean look back?

2. Shower Bath Area. They have used large classic travertine filled and honed tiles (I think!) on most of the wall. However around the shower area the tiles looked discoloured and mouldy (picture 7 & 8) and a couple have a rusty brown colour to them (picture 9).

3. Seal the floor and wall tiles.

So I’m looking for advice on what I need to do for each specific job as explained above and what steps and solutions etc I need. I really would like to restore these lovely but neglected tiles.

Also any tips on the maintenance would be useful.

Thanks in advance.

AJ

Hello and welcome....looking at the floor you have more problems than cleaning them..

It looks like that floor is debonding , as in tiles are loose ..look at the cracks in the grout joints...

Originally Posted by Dave

Hello and welcome....looking at the floor you have more problems than cleaning them..

It looks like that floor is debonding , as in tiles are loose ..look at the cracks in the grout joints...

Wow, that was a quick response!.

The tiles don't seem loose when I walk on them. However, if there are debonded then what do I need to do before I clean them. I hope its not going to be expensive!

Cheers,

AJ

If you look at that pic above..you can clearly see bad cracking in the grout joints...

IMHO you need it looked at before you do anything else....please get a pro in to double check the integrity of the tiles..

Originally Posted by Dave

If you look at that pic above..you can clearly see bad cracking in the grout joints...

IMHO you need it looked at before you do anything else....please get a pro in to double check the integrity of the tiles..

Thanks Dave, I'll contact a professional in to have a look at the debonded floor tiles.

Meanwhile, do you have any suggestions for the grotty wall tiles?

Regards,

AJ

AJ

Are you buying the house you're moving into? My first reaction would be the put the purchase on hold until you've had a professional tiler come out and take a look at all the tiling. If you haven't already accounted for some repair/replacement of the tiling in your offer price, you may get stung once you have purchased.

If you're just renting the house, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure the fixtures and fittings are useable and suitable for the purpose.

GRR

Originally Posted by GirlRacerRed

AJ

Are you buying the house you're moving into? My first reaction would be the put the purchase on hold until you've had a professional tiler come out and take a look at all the tiling. If you haven't already accounted for some repair/replacement of the tiling in your offer price, you may get stung once you have purchased.

If you're just renting the house, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure the fixtures and fittings are useable and suitable for the purpose.

GRR

Already agreed the price and exchanged. It just looked like a grubby floor that needed a clean...how wrong was I!

We move into the new home next week and I have around a week to get most of the big jobs sorted before we move all our stuff in..

Cheers,

AJ

Hi AJ,

well in that case, get a pro tiler round quickly. If you let us know where you are located, our members closest to you will be able to help you.

A good way of finding out how well the tiles are bonded to their substrate is to tap them. If as you're tapping (Gently!) you hear some sounding hollow, then chances are the adhesive is not keeping the tile to the substrate.

Is there any underfloor heating under the tiles in the bathroom?

GRR

Originally Posted by GirlRacerRed

Hi AJ,

well in that case, get a pro tiler round quickly. If you let us know where you are located, our members closest to you will be able to help you.

A good way of finding out how well the tiles are bonded to their substrate is to tap them. If as you're tapping (Gently!) you hear some sounding hollow, then chances are the adhesive is not keeping the tile to the substrate.

Is there any underfloor heating under the tiles in the bathroom?

GRR

The house is in the Roundhay area of Leeds. I will get the keys to the house on Monday 10th August. There is no underfloor heating.

Regards,

AJ

Originally Posted by parms

The house is in the Roundhay area of Leeds. I will get the keys to the house on Monday 10th August. There is no underfloor heating.

Regards,

AJ

I think i would be looking to get a stone restoration specialist in as opposed to a tiler unless you happen to find a tiler that has the experience and the equipment to sort it an advise

tel