Hi, and thanks at the outset to anyone helping with some advice.

I've just found underneath some lino in my hallway, some beautiful Victorian tiles. However, the lino was stuck to the tiles with some brown/yellow glue, and it has been there for about 25-30 years. While I've managed to get off most of the sticky glue, I'm left with patches of deeply engrained glue and dirt. I've tried white spirit, but with very limited success.

I'd like to buy a product that can help lift off the glue residue and dirt, and then obviously clean and polish to a high shine. Just as a note, alot of the tiles appear quite rough.

If anyone can give some advice on products, technique and also if the products can be bought in North London (Islington), I would be very grateful

Many thanks

try topps tiles im sure they will have a product that will do the buisness for you ,good luck.

Hello and welcome.

It would be good if you could post some pics of the floor in question.. this will help us see what you can and advise what to use..

Originally Posted by Miles1966

Hi, and thanks at the outset to anyone helping with some advice.

I've just found underneath some lino in my hallway, some beautiful Victorian tiles. However, the lino was stuck to the tiles with some brown/yellow glue, and it has been there for about 25-30 years. While I've managed to get off most of the sticky glue, I'm left with patches of deeply engrained glue and dirt. I've tried white spirit, but with very limited success.

I'd like to buy a product that can help lift off the glue residue and dirt, and then obviously clean and polish to a high shine. Just as a note, alot of the tiles appear quite rough.

If anyone can give some advice on products, technique and also if the products can be bought in North London (Islington), I would be very grateful

Many thanks

Hello Miles

Thanks for posting your questions on the Forum - There are a few of us on this forum who specialise in Victorian Floor work and you should be able to get a balanced view.

Removal of glue and dirt -

Glue We use methylene chloride based strippers - like Nitromorss [spelling !] suggest you use masonary gel grade annd ensure you read the safety instructions properly - its not nice stuff.

Dirt - We use professional strippers delivered by a machine using black pads. - HG / Grimmex and similar although we have good results with HG Pro stripper and Yellow label stripper

Double Rinse / Dry

Sealer - HG impregmator or LTP Stainblocker - LTP Colour intensifier sealer or LTP mattstone all of which are breathable.

Polish - Satin or Matt from HG Golvpolish or LTP Iron wax - Not sure if the later is breathable. - 6 coats

Rough surfaces of tiles - This is usually wear and tear / surface degrogation and occurs in Buff / White more than Black / Reds and Blues which are harder. Nothing you can do easily on your own, although we diamond hone vic floors where clients want it back to a good surface. This a pro job and expensive and may be not an economic option. [Sorry cannot discuss typical costs here]

My advise would always be to seek professional help on Victorian floors as it is difficult to achieve good results without specialist gear to do the work - There are a couple of good restoration tilers in London so should be not be difficult to locate one or two.

Thanks for the advice. I've already used the nitromors to get off most of the glue, which was very successful, it's just the residue that is making the tile look dull and patchy.
Interesting about the surface that can be honed, I'll look in to the options as the cost will be an issue. think that the need for some professional help may be the only option in the end just to get the tiles to a point where the look clean and presentable.

Thanks again

Originally Posted by Miles1966

Thanks for the advice. I've already used the nitromors to get off most of the glue, which was very successful, it's just the residue that is making the tile look dull and patchy.
Interesting about the surface that can be honed, I'll look in to the options as the cost will be an issue. think that the need for some professional help may be the only option in the end just to get the tiles to a point where the look clean and presentable.

Thanks again

Hi Miles,

It looks like you have done your best up until now as nitromors is about the best thing for removing old glue that has cross polymerised.

I am a London based restorer who specialises in Mosaics and Victorian floor tiles. We work in private houses and places like the Natural history museum.

If you want to carry on yourself then but some strong alkaline polish stripper from any janatorial supplier and some black cleaning pads. Use the chemical in small areas and rinse well but don't throw lots of water at the floor as this causes salt migration.

Repeat the process with brick acid and let it dry for at least a week. Keep clean but do not cover then wax with a good quality polymer wax. Never use impregnaters as they will never come out properly never use HG products as they are sub standard and expensive.

Telling you these things is probably talking my way out of work but i can't stand so called experts on this site talking rubbish.

Also don't let anyone tell you that abrasives or sanding the top of the tiles is a good idea. This will ruin them forever. Oh yeah wear some gloves!!!!

Good luck.

Have a look at our web JW Restoration | Experts in restoration and conservation of mosaics for some examples.

Originally Posted by JW RESTORATION

Hi Miles,

It looks like you have done your best up until now as nitromors is about the best thing for removing old glue that has cross polymerised.

I am a London based restorer who specialises in Mosaics and Victorian floor tiles. We work in private houses and places like the Natural history museum.

If you want to carry on yourself then but some strong alkaline polish stripper from any janatorial supplier and some black cleaning pads. Use the chemical in small areas and rinse well but don't throw lots of water at the floor as this causes salt migration.

Repeat the process with brick acid and let it dry for at least a week. Keep clean but do not cover then wax with a good quality polymer wax. Never use impregnaters as they will never come out properly never use HG products as they are sub standard and expensive.

Telling you these things is probably talking my way out of work but i can't stand so called experts on this site talking rubbish.

Also don't let anyone tell you that abrasives or sanding the top of the tiles is a good idea. This will ruin them forever. Oh yeah wear some gloves!!!!

Good luck.

Have a look at our web JW Restoration | Experts in restoration and conservation of mosaics for some examples.

Would you care to explain this harsh remark or are you just here to look for work..?..

Originally Posted by Dave

Would you care to explain this harsh remark or are you just here to look for work..?..

Thankfully at the moment I am in a position that I don't need the work and my comment was not aimed at you or anyone in particular. Looking at a number of threads on this forum about Victorian tiling there seem to be a lot of people giving some very bad advice that claim to know what they are talking about.

When a DIY enthusiast could quite easily mess their floor up when so called experts give differing and bad advice I feel pretty strongly about it.

The amount of times I go round to peoples houses and have to undo mistakes made by so called experts is numerous.

Victorian geometric floors are part of our built heritage and we have a duty of care to protect them.

We do have other restoration guys on here and a couple are actually Tile masons and only do restoration work, So all info is appreciated but also wording your posts better might not upset other members ..

Just one of our Top guys, maybe you have come across his comp before.. http://www.heritagetiling.com/

Hi Guys

I'm not sure if JW's comments were aimed at me and the advise I have offered to Miles re his floor cleaning and restoration, however I would like to confirm that I agree with his methods of general Victorian Floor cleaning and resto work, in fact we do exactly the same as he is suggesting, except I don't agree with his comments about certain manufacturer's impregnators being substand over priced and will never come out. My opinon and its only mine, is that having spent many hours getting old floors clean - really clean and then dry, adding impregnators will prevent staining from oils,fats wine etc as well as water repelling barrier that will allow moisture to wick through if no damp course. I use two types and apply them differently to suit the floor. They are difficult to remove as they are designed to stay in the top 1-2mm of the surface affording long life protection - That how they work and I think they work well.

Now the contenuous issue - Tenchman and I have discussed this in PM and normally I agree that any abrasive on the top surface is a definate no-go, however, I have used our diamond honing gear twice on two floors from a total of 150+ in 7 years and these two floors were to badly damaged with worn out depressions in the softer tiles and flat hard tiles next to them in the design that looking along the surface was like looking along a ploughed field. The only real solution was to replace the whole floor, however, some clients was me to do my utmost to keep it - ' as its the original ' . Under these special circumstances diamond honing is a viable alternative. Its a specialised job and expensive, but correctly done will achieve fairly good results.

My advice is offered to help others and is given in good faith. Others may not agree and we all learn something about the work we do from others, I consider this Forum to be the best and I always find the advice of others experience invaluable, I hope this continues.

I look forward to seeing other posts and hopefully some more restoration work in the JOTM competion.

Been busy so missed this , advice is generally fine. bit concerned and therefore in agreement with Dave that this comment "Telling you these things is probably talking my way out of work but i can't stand so called experts on this site talking rubbish."

Is not welcome and as there are only a handful of forum members engaged in restoration and in my case 98% of my work load is restoration , i think i can speak for the others in saying that given your experience covers a mere decade against my 39 years richard at 30 years and the others similar spans with also a practical background of knowledge gained by actually carrying out the work.

I have a degree in ceramics but i barely use it and i got that in my 30's, your academic background & work experience =
We have over ten years of experience in the field which enables us to undertake a varied array of projects.
Oliver obtained a BA Hons in Conservation and Restoration and Christian a Diploma in Ornamental Stone Carving.

Given the fact that you don't have a trade or craft back ground and i have tools which are certainly older than you i would advise you to keep those type of comments out of the public domain.

You have a long way to go before you can criticise people who have been earning their living at something which you have barely begun.

I have travelled the planet carrying out restoration works you would be best to keep an open mind and learn what you can. you are being arrogant in your attitude. I was given a book years ago to read & appraise it was called Historic Floors their history and conservation. the dust cover pic is of St Georges Hall floor here in Liverpool which is one of the best Encaustic & Geometric floors in the world ( ihave worked on this floor and others ) i gave the book to an intern of mine and asked her to make notes of anything practical that could be used on any of her work .

After a month she admitted that she could find nothing of note ! perhaps you even had this book to read ? it is written by academics ,most of the info is gleaned from other publications there is zero information within the pages to help anyone restore or conserve any floor as it is totally lacking in any practical knowledge at all.

This forum as the name suggest is to help and discuss and share information freely not snipe at people. you only operate in a very small part of London.
if you see someone describing a method or practice which you are convinced is wrong contact them by PM or e-mail etc and given them the benefit of your experience or point them in the right direction.

The term wet behind the ears will still apply to your Co some of your principles mentioned on your site are fine perhaps you should consider withdrawing from the forum given you don't adhere to it's tenents. A general apology should be offered.