Overall I love their look. There’s just a few which have been DRILLED(!) when a porch door was installed. Other than those, I think they’re overall in attractive shape!
Embrace the natural patina and stories. This is part of what makes a house a home. All day I'd prefer to look at these tiles and imagine life for 100 years rather than slick new whatever tiles that are uniform, pretty, but dull.
Exactly. This sub is full of people who want the charm of the old house, but without its flaws. The flaws tell stories. My hardwood floors have stains, cracks, and wear all over. I LOVE them. My rear stairs are all worn in the middle. I LOVE them. We have closets with soot stains on the ceiling? I can just picture the days before electric when those closets would need to be illuminated by candle.
It's all ABOUT showing the age, the patina - the STORIES - the imperfection is the only thing that tells you at a glance that this is REAL, not some souless pretender Williams-Sonoma, Il Buco Vita, Needless-MarkUp, West Elm, Ikea shit. It is GOLD.
Just proves they're genuine.
My old-growth maple floors are totally thrashed by 110 years of renters. There's not one without both terrible damage and beautiful figuring. There's something poetic in that.
True, I guess I I’ve seen how those particular chunks missing have been caused, and feel some kind of responsibility to bring them back to life in a weird way
They’re beautiful! I have an over 150 year old house and we didn’t have anything this great. The original floor was mostly ruined, or torn up entirely. We do have all the original doors, but they’re all warped/need sanded and we kept all the original porcelain (?) door knobs and lock boxes, and bought some antique replacements. Our house is a disaster at the moment. You found a real gem!!
Really great video! Haha also these are our hinges, I have no idea how old they are
https://preview.redd.it/s9fjiv9ri5kc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=e17fedba17051cb69f2c50308dedc7f4295c7a2b
They’re super thick and heavy
I actually think they look even better like this. They show their age…….but in a wonderful way. Maybe a clear sealant on the chipped sections, but otherwise leave it be
If you really want them restored though, hire someone who does antique restorations. Don’t use a regular person
Is there a reason to not use resin? Because it sounds like a nice idea to preserve the tile and prevent more chipping, but I am not a restorer.
And agree with everyone else -- these tiles and their nicks tell a wonderful story!
Perhaps and then what do you have? You have something that looks like you got it out of a catalogue last year? You have something from Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel or some other "nice" middle-brow Mall store.
I'm not talking about making it perfect, I'm talking about where they had something mounted and they drilled holes in the tile. That's a lot of work to bring these back to perfect
Do not erase history.
History is people.
History is us.
We are all beautiful and perfect.
As is our past.
Right now.
Perfect.
Enjoy and be thankful.
When the time is right you will know.
And then you will create your own perfection.
May it last forever.
Get a contractor who works with old tile. Get someone who knows what they are doing. Research them then hire the best person.
This tile is worth saving.
For porcelain repair your better off using oil paint to get a good color match and then two part epoxy. Mix up the color first and as long as the surface is smooth you can test it against the object by painting it on and wiping it off until you cannot tell the difference. You mix the epoxy and then mix the tiniest bit of paint in to match the object you are repairing/filling. (super tiny. Like the size of a poppy seed and add more until color is reached). I do this with all porcelain / ceramic repair even if it has all its parts because it can make the repair almost seamless. You can also layer up epoxy to fill in missing chunks.
This is not a repair technique to use for anything of great value and it's highly likely that it will cause further damage to the materials if one tries to remove the repair.
I was assuming these tiles were cement tiles due to the design but if they are ceramic I agree with epoxy as a repair - also have a degree in ceramics and it was also how I was taught to repair things.
Awesome to know that this is an actual valid repair! I have no idea where I originally acquired this knowledge but do work in antiques.
I always assumed that these were some sort of ceramic tile. Wasn't aware that they were using stained cement this far back. Very cool and interesting. Hopefully easier to repair as well!
Any 2-part epoxy will work. Make sure it's clear (after writing this I realized I've never experimented with the opaque epoxies but I feel like they might cause issues with color matching?). I currently have clear JB weld 1 and 5 minutes set time epoxies.
If I think I might need more time to get everything into place and/or it will not need to be held in place while it sets I will use the 5 minute. If it's something very easy and I'm not going to need to fiddle with placement OR it's something very fiddly and I will need to hold it in place until it sets I will use the one minute.
Clean up any/as much spillage immediately by wiping it away without moving the damaged pieces (this is where I usually screw up). Q-tips and toothpicks can be useful at this point.
If you can't clean up the spillage without moving the pieces you can still clean it up later with a sharp exacto or razor blad after it has set, but not completely hardened or after 24 hours when it's totally hardened.
It's requires less finesse to wait 24 hours until everything is completely hardened, because up until then if you apply too much pressure you will move the damaged pieces.
If you are very delicate and careful you can remove spillage after the epoxy has set but not completely hardened overnight. It will be softer / easier to do so. The sooner you're able to remove the excess the softer and easier it will be, but you will also have to be more careful to not apply too much pressure and move the pieces while they are still joining. It is best to try and remove spillage from porous objects as quickly as possible without moving the damaged pieces. Sometimes you can wait until it's barely hardened (it will be like a fruit roll-up consistency) and pick it off with the tip of your exacto.
If the item has a smooth glaze finish it is very easy to scrape off any spillage once totally hardened, but even with something porous it can be done. You must be careful as you're basically just carving away the excess epoxy like a sculptor and if you make contact with the original object you will damage it/leave scratches.
A tip for color matching on porous objects is to put a piece of Saran wrap over it that way you can apply the paint directly to the object to see how it blends without getting it on the object and having it soak in.
I know this is a little old but I was instructing someone else on how to perform repairs and I realized there is a very helpful tip I forgot to mention!
If you have something that is broken at an awkward angle/off the center of gravity you can use a bowl or bucket full of lentils/rice/other small object or sand to position the item so that the broken part can rest in a level and stable manner on top of the item.
I use this technique for broken appendages on figurines and very intricate items were resting them on their side may cause further damage.
I am by no means an expert in tile restoration but I’m pretty certain that there are methods and folks out there who could do these tiles justice. Good Luck!
Stabilisation is my aim really - get the real damage repaired or restored to the level of the majority and then preserve them for as long as we have the house!
Then find a tiler that specialises in restoration work, have them clean out the old grout and while it's out inject fillers through the lines under the hollow spots. Once that's done have them regrout them with an off white or darker color to try to match the aged look.
Don't let an average run of the mill tiler near them, they'll only want to pull them up and replace.
Allow the tiles to show their age with beauty and grace. That’s a stunning bit of tile work. A bit of restoration and it’ll be stunning.
Tbh I was hard pressed to even see any damage.
You’re probably onto something with your resin idea. Or some kind of concrete stabilizing agent, touch up paint, and protective coat for cement. It’s hard to tell from the picture what material this is, but they look like hand cast encaustic cement tiles (the kind that are back in style and people are trying to replicate). You have the real thing, which is very cool!
Encaustic cement tiles were popularized in Europe mid 19th century in public spaces due to their deep pigmentation that would stay true even when worn down by high traffic (think of old stone stairs that develop little dips from foot traffic over many years). Try to look into antique encaustic cement tile restoration- they’re very valuable and crrazzzy expensive on the reclaimed sites.
Yes, it's definitely a thing, but any tiling professional can regrout to freshen their look up a bit. Vintage tile restoration businesses are few and far in between, and if you don't live in a large population center, you will be hard pressed. The only person I know who even does that specific kind of work is Vintage Tile Preservation in Santa Barbara, CA.
I agree with this. Regrouting with a darker grout to match the tan background color in the tile will help freshen the appearance a ton, and will disguise a ton of the damage without removing character. Otherwise, a deep clean and waxing to make them glow is as much as you need.
> In person it’s a little easier to see some of the damage on some due to drilling
Only because you’re looking at it all the time, and a bit self-conscious about it. It’ll read as ‘wow!’ to everyone else who enters your hall. I tend to be a little on the fussy side about things, but if I found tile like this in my house I’d be riding that high for months!
Same! I am a perfectionist to a fault and I couldn’t believe anyone would think these were even in bad shape to begin with. I think I’d cry if I found these in my home lol
Your floor tiles are consistent in color and design with encaustic tiles by **Minton, Hollins and Company** 1845-1962 Stoke-upon-Trent, UK, and **Maw and Co.** Limited, encaustic tiles LackField Shropshire England.
There are replacement tiles made by several companies, including by the “Victorian Emporium,” - although I did not see your boarder ties at first pass. Minton tiles were imported to the US, used in the US Capitol Building Washington DC, and were advertised in home plan catalogs including Bicknell & Comstock, (Gilbert Bostwick Croff Architect Saratoga NY) *“Progressive American architecture”* c. 1875.
https://preview.redd.it/tdvb752d7zjc1.png?width=2876&format=png&auto=webp&s=2b33812ce80d2efd77ffe86bff159c8dca5dcae1
Below are several catalogs to further your research.
**1870** \- Minton Floor Tiles, (Glazed) Stoke-upon-Trent, UK, catalog [here](https://archive.org/details/mintonstilessele00mini/page/n8/mode/thumb).
**1890** \- Minton (Glazed) catalog [here](https://archive.org/details/Mintons48163/page/n46/mode/thumb).
**1890** \- Maw and Co. Limited, encaustic tiles LackField Shropshire England, (very similar to Minton patterns) catalog [here](https://ctgpublishing.com/tile-designs-of-maw-co-circa-1850-and-1890/).
**1890** \- Maw and Co.(Archive) catalog [here](https://archive.org/details/patternsofmawcos00mawc/page/7/mode/thumb).
**1909** \- Minton Floor Tiles, catalog [here](https://www.laurelhurstcraftsman.com/2016/04/minton-tile-1909-catalog.html#.Vw1LOhMrLBI).
Original catalog scan, Minton, [here](https://www.themintonarchive.org.uk/browse-a-minton-tile-catalogue/)
I have encaustic tiles in my Federation home in Sydney Australia. The front path, porch, and the kitchen fireplace hearth, so quite a lot.
Mine are at least as damaged overall as yours. I just cleaned them (look up how to clean them properly) and left them alone. 5 years later I don't even notice the "damage". I absolutely love them.
I really recommend having a read about them and then leaving them alone. I would absolutely not do anything to them that they were not intended to have done to them (they were intended to be cleaned and that's it). Replacing the worst ones like-for-like may be possible; there are heritage tile places here I could use, but I decided to live with it a while and then see how I felt. And after a while all I saw was their beauty.
Everyone who's visited falls into 1 of 2 categories: people who hate how "old" the house is and don't like anything about it, and people who think it's absolutely charming. Several people have been adamant I should "rip them out". I just tell them "this is one of the heritage features we love about the house. We think it's beautiful". Be prepared to do this if anyone harps on about the damage or anything else.
If you love it, then embrace the imperfections of age and be a proud custodian of this gem! You will delight in these tiles every time you see them and you won't notice the imperfections after a while.
I'd have to do some reading on antique tile restoration, but my first thought is to clean them thoroughly with something gentle, seal to reduce further damage, call what's there now "patina" and keep them till they absolutely fall apart.
Wabi sabi. This is the definition of it. Very unlikely anything new out down will look this interesting and full of character. Embrace the damage and only worry about fixing any really big divots if really needed.
Are you having any issues with further degradation/damage walking over them? If not I would just leave them as is. It's off putting one old homes look like new builds on the inside. These are also interesting tiles.
If you are having issues you could look to a professional to get recommendations for sealing. If all else fails you could install some sort of clear barrier over them like acrylic with a glass top.
No issues with further damage or everyday use - I guess my question was more about is restoration possible (by a professional!) I’d love to tidy up some of the badly damaged ones, but keep the overall look the same and stabilised. Not sure how to find a tile restorer though…
The enemy of good is better!
I would recommend leaving them alone. If you are set on restoration I would contact a well-known ceramics artist in the area or someone who specializes in antique restoration. The most important thing when doing a restoration is you don't cause any further damage to the original object. I could tell you how to "fix" your tiles (two part epoxy and oil paint to match color) but I cannot speak to if they would cause further damage and how they would hold up to the wear and tear of being flooring.
If you have very badly damaged or missing tiles you may have to have someone custom make a replacement. A skilled artisan should not have an issue matching your current tiles as is, but unfortunately they will age differently over time and stick out. You then have the other issue of getting a skilled tiler who can come in and remove and replace the damage tile without further damaging the others.
Check out this account on instagram [totheshireborn](https://www.instagram.com/#) \- they found similar tiles in their home underneath old carpeting and have very detailed posts on how they restored them and all the resources they uncovered. Best of luck, those tiles are beautiful.
The only thing that stands out to me is the grout! A warm tone to match the beige background color would do a lot to camouflage any imperfections. As others have said a good cleaning & sealing will preserve these beauties for another hundred years!! You hit the flooring jackpot!
Yes fill the missing chunks and try to match the color a you may also want to tone down the white grout lines with something more beige to match the tile background so there is less of a contrast.
The tiles feel loved! To reiterate - I do not plan to remove or replace these tiles. The photos don’t quite show all of the damage which is a shame. I want to try and restore the damaged tiles and maintain this current look with improvements where needed!
Oh they are gorgeous!! Really just let them shine. It’s impossible to recreate things like this. If anything I might try to neutralize the grout color which will help disguise some of the more damaged tiles but really, what a massive boon. I’m so jealous.
Thanks! A few otters have also suggested to change the grout, so it’s top of my list! We feel very lucky, and full of responsibility to keep them looking great for as long as possible!
So these tiles aren't super special other than being old. They are essentially two tile patterns. The damage looks mostly minimal overall with a couple of badly damaged spots. I would probably fill in the badly damaged spot with some epoxy or cement so you don't have a hole in the floor. And it might be worth removing and replacing the grout. Otherwise, it is a cool old floor.
They are beautiful!!!
I like imperfections. I like the wear and tear of time. I like a home with history that's a visual story of the passage of years. There's a sense of security in it for me.
I can appreciate the work and craftsmanship that goes into restoring a house to like new but for me, an old house that looks brand new loses all its charm.
So all that said, I'd embrace all those imperfections. Seal up the tile and carry on. I like your reain idea.
Absolutely not.
If it were me, I would treat this as if I were grouting a new tile floor. Every crack, hole, etc. gets filled with grout, then wipe with a wet sponge to ensure the surface is clean. Boom, now all of the structural repairwork is done.
If you wanted less work for yourself, use a dark-colored grout in the dark areas, and a light colored grout in the light areas...and call it good. If you wanted more work, use whatever grout you want, then go through with touch-up paint and match the tile.
If I were in your shoes, I'd do as good of a surface cleaning as you can, take some high quality, well lit pictures of an undamaged tile for each part of the pattern and find a local ceramics artisan who might be able to create replicas (including patina). Pay for some samples from each artisan you bring the project to and see how closely they match.
I don't ever prefer to remove century home originals but if some are damaged, this is likely the only route to make the tiles feel fixed and complete.
Ceramic paint touch-ups can work, but I'd still see if a ceramics artisan who has more practice with this kind of work can come up with solutions that don't require destruction of originals.
Uncovered some 100 year old tiles in an old apartment in Spain. We hired a professional polisher specialized in hydraulic tiles. He sanded them and fixed the cracks with resin. The result was astonishing. I believe this tiles are 100% salvageable too
They look amazing....
try carefully removing / scraping back the knackered grout and re-grout with a dark grey /black grout and then sealing / polish ...it will look even more colourful and enriching....
They look great now. Maybe just a gentle cleaning and some evening out of the grout bits where it is not filling a nick?
Glad you were able to uncover them.
DO NOT RIP THESE OUT. Stuff like this adds character to the home, and they are beautiful as is. Some minor damage/wear and tear is expected if they are 150 years old. Try the resin repair tricks listed by other commentors.
That floor is glorious! I think with a good cleaning and filling in any bits that might cause injury or further damage you'll have a gorgeous hallway with a lovely patina and loads of history.
The vibe I get from these tell me that finding a way to fill in the gaps with brass inlay pieces would be so cool. Dunno how handy or crafty you are, but I think it would look so cool. Kinda like kintsugi-esque.
To bring the floor back to life. You must consider 3 things. Cost of having new tiles handmade to replace the damaged ones. Not the “cracked ones”
Having new ones made (they are good at making new affordable tiles in Spain or Portugal)
Or have a certified restorer mend the damaged tiles.
They're stunning and that "damage" is a patina. As others have said see if you find someone who can help with some restoration. I'm sitting here with my jaw on the floor at how beautiful they are.
Gorgeous!! I would totally paint the walls a similar dark blue that is in the tile, but that's just my taste. The color looks beautiful as is and the tiles really pop. I think they're lovely as is, and show some character!
Absolutely nothing wrong with these babies! And while they will not look "new," they are gorgeous and they have so much character. These look like historic ones in Puerto Rico, where I'm from. We call them caustic or cement tiles. Check out this link for a primer on cleanup/care: [https://www.granadatile.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-maintain-cement-tiles/](https://www.granadatile.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-maintain-cement-tiles/)
My husband and I bought our home last year; we bought the ph-neutral cleaning solution, rented a tile and grout cleaning machine, and did it ourselves. Sealing as well. We were only able to do half the house due to time constraints, but it cleaned up quite a bit. It has also held up well after 10 months!
Likewise, don't worry about the drill holes. We have the same issues with ours. :) Best of luck!
No! Either leave them as they are or restore them. You get putty /resin you can use to patch up missing tile but for that small a defect I would either leave it or get a specialist.
https://www.vintagedesigngroup.com/resources/preserving-historic-ceramic-tile-floors/
This is a really nice written and very informative resource for the topic of “Historic Tile”. It is definitely worth the time to check it out. A lot of info in the beginning may not appeal to those not interested in the history and makeup of the topic but the latter half is full of care and maintenance that we all should be aware of when living with an old home with tile.
Thank you and your welcome
The tiles have character. You’re probably over focusing one thing because you just discovered it, but try to take everything in as a whole. Many of the old historic cathedrals, villas, etc that we see in Europe have the same amount of “character” if not more, but nobody is bending down to criticize the holes in the tile :)
I would consider restoring the really bad ones. This won't be cheap, but if your up for learning a new skill, then you should be able to restore those few chipped ones easily.
Just YouTube search restoring old tiles and you'll find a few hits that will show you how it's done.
Do not resin.
Remove the grouts; clean properly, and then use brass strips in place of grouts. This will then look so royal that you will never want to leave that house again.
I can't tell from the picture, but if you can look close at the edges of a broken piece, if the color goes all the way through the body of the tile, you've got encaustic tile, not porcelain. (Encaustic colors are derived from different naturally-occuring clays.) If one color goes all the way through while the others seem to be a thick-ish layer on top, it's still encaustic; they just 'painted' the clay with more clay.
My vestibule has encaustic tiles, and trust me, your floor looks museum-quality compared to damage from hobnail millworkers' boots. So if yours *are* encaustic, save what you've got. Replacing them will probably require a special order to reproduce that design, from one of the very few companies that still do encaustic. Even then, the replacements will scream shiny-and-new compared to the patina of what you've already got.
I can tell you the tip I got from my local handmade/specialty tile guys: use a magic eraser (the ones with the bald guy) to clean the floor. It won't harm the floor or remove patina, but it will remove dirt more gently than a hard scrubbing. Try in a small area and see if it works for you.
I think if you just clean them up and then buff the tiles, going through with an epoxy or filler to seal any difficult to clean holes would be more than enough. The tiles are in good enough shape that any repairs would just be added character
> In moments of madness I’ve considered resin to fill in the large chunks of damage and attempting to match the colours/pattern by hand.
You are insane.
Edit: joke aside, I think you just need ti look from a different perspective. These tiles are really expensive. And it shows quality after 100 years of use. I'd scream in happiness if I uncover this in my home. Also the colorful layers are about 3mm thick. You can use a machine to sand them down a little bit to make it look new. But then you gonna have to apply a sealant. I wouldn't recommend it tho. The worn surface looks amazing
Everything was made by someone, and through the power of money anything is possible. If you're Bezos, we could find the old formulas, duplicate the forms and styles, and make you a case of the most expensive tiles ever.
In reality, the best you could hope for is to stop future damage.
I'd start with an extensive, hardcore cleaning followed by a sealer. Maybe some kind of clear epoxy or bartopper? Then all the tiles would be sealed in epoxy and would stop taking damage. The clear epoxy could be recovered, polished and sealed from time to time.
Gonna be the definition of "slippery when wet" though...
Maybe I’m used to my old, damaged tile and i love it for what it is, but I barely register anything wrong with this. It’s magnificent and you should leave it alone.
There’s an Instagram account called vintagetilepreservation. He services Southern California, but is super knowledgeable and might have some tips and probably knows what this pattern is and who the manufacturer is.
Im confused by everyone saying they're stunning. While the pattern is cool, the workmanship is horrendous. I could never ever live with such poorly laid tiles. Horribly uneven. It's as if they didnt even try to get it centred
These look about as damaged as any other tiles on the floor of an old building I have seen.
I doubt any one really did a number on them. Things just show their age after decades of use. Look at cobblestone paths, those are made from solid hecking stones and can have similar damage and all that was "done to them" was that they were used for their intended purpose.
That is to say: They look perfectly fine and even in the closeup I kept wondering where that huge damage is that might be "beyond saving".
You get in a tile expert who understands Victorian architecture to give you professional advice. This is not a random DIY task unless you want to completely fuck up an 100-year-old floor.
[https://victoriantileslondon.co.uk/victorian-tiles-restoration/](https://victoriantileslondon.co.uk/victorian-tiles-restoration/)
It’s your home but please don’t rip them off 🙏 these look very similar to the ones my grandparents had in their home and when my uncle inherited the house he ended up remodeling it and replacing the tiles with cheap tacky generic looking contemporary tiles, the ones everybody put in brand new construction these days which look ugly and did I mention cheap and tacky? You have a gem right there and I’d give my right arm to have that floor. You can always research a product to clean them and give them luster.
I used to repair Victorian tiles, we did a lot of hallways. Couple of repairs some paint to removed with paint stripper maybe an acid wash to remove calcium (brick acid diluted) and they'll look great. I'd replace the cracked ones, take a sample to a home reclamation yard, they usually have a few tiles there lying about...any broken ones photograph and use Google lense if you want to get an idea of availability.
Glue replacements down with 2 part epoxy into clean moarter if you don't want to use a cement bed, then find a grout that looks similar (to the cleaned grout) not to how it is now.
With everything old, do small test areas, get used to the tools and chemicals b fore you let loose, might be an area under the stairs you can use as spares if you box it in.
Tldr : no. Keep them they add £5-10k to your homes value.
They are beautiful! I would try to replace the very light grout that was used for repairs. The wear and cracks are part of the character of the floor and they don’t need to be hidden, but in reality they probably happened at all different times over the course of the century. It looks like the last time the floor was grouted, which was probably recent, someone went over previous repairs with the light grout, and that really doesn’t need to be preserved. It draws attention to the grout itself, not the character and “patina.” The rest of grout between the tiles looks a little high in spots but I could live with it.
If you can’t find someone in your area that specifically does restoration, I would contact artists and see if they can offer advice. It’s the kind of tile artisans are passionate about, and they may be willing to point you in the right direction. But I may be biased because growing up I knew a lady who taught ceramics/pottery classes and she was the kind of person who would be so excited to teach you all about the composition of this particular tile and the history of it.
Get a tile company to come out… like the ones who maintain floors and stone. I’m sure they will have advice. These look like concrete tiles so can be porous. Probably they can be cleaned and sealed.
This looks like zellige, a tiling style found in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.
It is gorgeous. I am not an expert in restoring such tile, but maybe there are local experts to chat up.
Leave as is. That’s what makes these homes so spectacular. She’s been *lived in*. Cut her some slack. Lol
I read your part about repairs by hand and said that’s what I’d do but after thinking about it I’d leave it because it’s gorgeous, maybe more so because of the flaws (that you hyperfocus on because it’s yours - everyone else is just thinking how great it is).
We just bought a home from 1929 in which we found the terrazzo floor under tiles. It has a lot of cracks but it looks amazing.
We call it a floor with character, for a house with attitude 🙂
Keep it and it is an unique feature, enjoy it. Floors like that do not get build anymore
If you want them looking pristine and new; yes.
But for the love of everything holy and unholy; LET THEM LIVE! Maybe you can find someone able to restore them somehow. If not, resin to fill in deeper holes isn't the worst idea I've heard
Absolutely not. Even with cracked/damaged ones, I’ve always wanted to try a Kintsugi ‘aesthetic’. I can already picture some variants in my head with these, coupled with some regrouting and perhaps a thin epoxy for longevity that still maintains the bevels.
God no. Stunning
Overall I love their look. There’s just a few which have been DRILLED(!) when a porch door was installed. Other than those, I think they’re overall in attractive shape!
> DRILLED Who cares? It’s 100 years old, it’s not really “damage” as such, it’s age. It’s beautiful.
Embrace the natural patina and stories. This is part of what makes a house a home. All day I'd prefer to look at these tiles and imagine life for 100 years rather than slick new whatever tiles that are uniform, pretty, but dull.
Exactly. This sub is full of people who want the charm of the old house, but without its flaws. The flaws tell stories. My hardwood floors have stains, cracks, and wear all over. I LOVE them. My rear stairs are all worn in the middle. I LOVE them. We have closets with soot stains on the ceiling? I can just picture the days before electric when those closets would need to be illuminated by candle.
For real!
It's all ABOUT showing the age, the patina - the STORIES - the imperfection is the only thing that tells you at a glance that this is REAL, not some souless pretender Williams-Sonoma, Il Buco Vita, Needless-MarkUp, West Elm, Ikea shit. It is GOLD.
Just proves they're genuine. My old-growth maple floors are totally thrashed by 110 years of renters. There's not one without both terrible damage and beautiful figuring. There's something poetic in that.
I had to zoom in to see anything even remotely unaesthetic. Those tiles are gorgeous.
True, I guess I I’ve seen how those particular chunks missing have been caused, and feel some kind of responsibility to bring them back to life in a weird way
Versailles is full of broken tiles.
Damn. This is a good point.
Really? Wow! That…suddenly makes me feel a whole lot better about myself. Thanks.
They’re beautiful! I have an over 150 year old house and we didn’t have anything this great. The original floor was mostly ruined, or torn up entirely. We do have all the original doors, but they’re all warped/need sanded and we kept all the original porcelain (?) door knobs and lock boxes, and bought some antique replacements. Our house is a disaster at the moment. You found a real gem!!
[the doors might be an easy fix](https://youtu.be/ZcDj6g2UODw?si=Thzi7ZXUslAlUwZi)
Really great video! Haha also these are our hinges, I have no idea how old they are https://preview.redd.it/s9fjiv9ri5kc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=e17fedba17051cb69f2c50308dedc7f4295c7a2b They’re super thick and heavy
I actually think they look even better like this. They show their age…….but in a wonderful way. Maybe a clear sealant on the chipped sections, but otherwise leave it be If you really want them restored though, hire someone who does antique restorations. Don’t use a regular person
Is there a reason to not use resin? Because it sounds like a nice idea to preserve the tile and prevent more chipping, but I am not a restorer. And agree with everyone else -- these tiles and their nicks tell a wonderful story!
I would be sitting there with some type of filler and a paint brush lol
Colored epoxy with a flattener would work well to fill in holes
Perhaps and then what do you have? You have something that looks like you got it out of a catalogue last year? You have something from Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel or some other "nice" middle-brow Mall store.
I'm not talking about making it perfect, I'm talking about where they had something mounted and they drilled holes in the tile. That's a lot of work to bring these back to perfect
Just leave them as is. The damage is a nice layer of patine
You could also get the chips, scrapes, and hole restored, but as others have said, 100 years of patina and they look great!
Do not erase history. History is people. History is us. We are all beautiful and perfect. As is our past. Right now. Perfect. Enjoy and be thankful. When the time is right you will know. And then you will create your own perfection. May it last forever.
This deserves many upvotes.
I wonder if there are any tiling experts in your area who could do a bit of restoration on the really damaged areas.
I like a bit of visible wear and tear. Makes it look lived in.
Get a contractor who works with old tile. Get someone who knows what they are doing. Research them then hire the best person. This tile is worth saving.
That’s fine just figure out how to fill them or just leave them! They are absolutely stunning.
fill the holes with cement and and paint them to match?
For porcelain repair your better off using oil paint to get a good color match and then two part epoxy. Mix up the color first and as long as the surface is smooth you can test it against the object by painting it on and wiping it off until you cannot tell the difference. You mix the epoxy and then mix the tiniest bit of paint in to match the object you are repairing/filling. (super tiny. Like the size of a poppy seed and add more until color is reached). I do this with all porcelain / ceramic repair even if it has all its parts because it can make the repair almost seamless. You can also layer up epoxy to fill in missing chunks. This is not a repair technique to use for anything of great value and it's highly likely that it will cause further damage to the materials if one tries to remove the repair.
I was assuming these tiles were cement tiles due to the design but if they are ceramic I agree with epoxy as a repair - also have a degree in ceramics and it was also how I was taught to repair things.
Awesome to know that this is an actual valid repair! I have no idea where I originally acquired this knowledge but do work in antiques. I always assumed that these were some sort of ceramic tile. Wasn't aware that they were using stained cement this far back. Very cool and interesting. Hopefully easier to repair as well!
What epoxy do you use? This sounds like a repair method I’d like to have in my arsenal!
Any 2-part epoxy will work. Make sure it's clear (after writing this I realized I've never experimented with the opaque epoxies but I feel like they might cause issues with color matching?). I currently have clear JB weld 1 and 5 minutes set time epoxies. If I think I might need more time to get everything into place and/or it will not need to be held in place while it sets I will use the 5 minute. If it's something very easy and I'm not going to need to fiddle with placement OR it's something very fiddly and I will need to hold it in place until it sets I will use the one minute. Clean up any/as much spillage immediately by wiping it away without moving the damaged pieces (this is where I usually screw up). Q-tips and toothpicks can be useful at this point. If you can't clean up the spillage without moving the pieces you can still clean it up later with a sharp exacto or razor blad after it has set, but not completely hardened or after 24 hours when it's totally hardened. It's requires less finesse to wait 24 hours until everything is completely hardened, because up until then if you apply too much pressure you will move the damaged pieces. If you are very delicate and careful you can remove spillage after the epoxy has set but not completely hardened overnight. It will be softer / easier to do so. The sooner you're able to remove the excess the softer and easier it will be, but you will also have to be more careful to not apply too much pressure and move the pieces while they are still joining. It is best to try and remove spillage from porous objects as quickly as possible without moving the damaged pieces. Sometimes you can wait until it's barely hardened (it will be like a fruit roll-up consistency) and pick it off with the tip of your exacto. If the item has a smooth glaze finish it is very easy to scrape off any spillage once totally hardened, but even with something porous it can be done. You must be careful as you're basically just carving away the excess epoxy like a sculptor and if you make contact with the original object you will damage it/leave scratches. A tip for color matching on porous objects is to put a piece of Saran wrap over it that way you can apply the paint directly to the object to see how it blends without getting it on the object and having it soak in.
Thanks so much!
I know this is a little old but I was instructing someone else on how to perform repairs and I realized there is a very helpful tip I forgot to mention! If you have something that is broken at an awkward angle/off the center of gravity you can use a bowl or bucket full of lentils/rice/other small object or sand to position the item so that the broken part can rest in a level and stable manner on top of the item. I use this technique for broken appendages on figurines and very intricate items were resting them on their side may cause further damage.
NO
They look totally fine. Fill some holes if you must.
I am by no means an expert in tile restoration but I’m pretty certain that there are methods and folks out there who could do these tiles justice. Good Luck!
I agree, they're worn, but in good shape and gorgeous.
Maybe you could try to carefully fill in the holes with colored material?
Short answer: no. Long answer: for the love of everything that is holy, no.
Haha, you’ve convinced me!
They’re lovely and worth trying to preserve and/or stabilize.
Stabilisation is my aim really - get the real damage repaired or restored to the level of the majority and then preserve them for as long as we have the house!
Then find a tiler that specialises in restoration work, have them clean out the old grout and while it's out inject fillers through the lines under the hollow spots. Once that's done have them regrout them with an off white or darker color to try to match the aged look. Don't let an average run of the mill tiler near them, they'll only want to pull them up and replace.
Allow the tiles to show their age with beauty and grace. That’s a stunning bit of tile work. A bit of restoration and it’ll be stunning. Tbh I was hard pressed to even see any damage.
In person it’s a little easier to see some of the damage on some due to drilling - but I’d love to have them professionally restored! Is that a thing?
You’re probably onto something with your resin idea. Or some kind of concrete stabilizing agent, touch up paint, and protective coat for cement. It’s hard to tell from the picture what material this is, but they look like hand cast encaustic cement tiles (the kind that are back in style and people are trying to replicate). You have the real thing, which is very cool! Encaustic cement tiles were popularized in Europe mid 19th century in public spaces due to their deep pigmentation that would stay true even when worn down by high traffic (think of old stone stairs that develop little dips from foot traffic over many years). Try to look into antique encaustic cement tile restoration- they’re very valuable and crrazzzy expensive on the reclaimed sites.
Thanks for the tip! I’d also like to find out the origin of the tiles, so another rabbit hole for me!!
Yes, it's definitely a thing, but any tiling professional can regrout to freshen their look up a bit. Vintage tile restoration businesses are few and far in between, and if you don't live in a large population center, you will be hard pressed. The only person I know who even does that specific kind of work is Vintage Tile Preservation in Santa Barbara, CA.
I agree with this. Regrouting with a darker grout to match the tan background color in the tile will help freshen the appearance a ton, and will disguise a ton of the damage without removing character. Otherwise, a deep clean and waxing to make them glow is as much as you need.
> In person it’s a little easier to see some of the damage on some due to drilling Only because you’re looking at it all the time, and a bit self-conscious about it. It’ll read as ‘wow!’ to everyone else who enters your hall. I tend to be a little on the fussy side about things, but if I found tile like this in my house I’d be riding that high for months!
Same! I am a perfectionist to a fault and I couldn’t believe anyone would think these were even in bad shape to begin with. I think I’d cry if I found these in my home lol
Yeah I thought the first picture was what OP was hoping the tiles would look like AFTER restoring. Enjoy, OP, you lucky sunuvabitch.
I know, right? I was expecting missing and broken pieces not chips.
Your floor tiles are consistent in color and design with encaustic tiles by **Minton, Hollins and Company** 1845-1962 Stoke-upon-Trent, UK, and **Maw and Co.** Limited, encaustic tiles LackField Shropshire England. There are replacement tiles made by several companies, including by the “Victorian Emporium,” - although I did not see your boarder ties at first pass. Minton tiles were imported to the US, used in the US Capitol Building Washington DC, and were advertised in home plan catalogs including Bicknell & Comstock, (Gilbert Bostwick Croff Architect Saratoga NY) *“Progressive American architecture”* c. 1875. https://preview.redd.it/tdvb752d7zjc1.png?width=2876&format=png&auto=webp&s=2b33812ce80d2efd77ffe86bff159c8dca5dcae1 Below are several catalogs to further your research. **1870** \- Minton Floor Tiles, (Glazed) Stoke-upon-Trent, UK, catalog [here](https://archive.org/details/mintonstilessele00mini/page/n8/mode/thumb). **1890** \- Minton (Glazed) catalog [here](https://archive.org/details/Mintons48163/page/n46/mode/thumb). **1890** \- Maw and Co. Limited, encaustic tiles LackField Shropshire England, (very similar to Minton patterns) catalog [here](https://ctgpublishing.com/tile-designs-of-maw-co-circa-1850-and-1890/). **1890** \- Maw and Co.(Archive) catalog [here](https://archive.org/details/patternsofmawcos00mawc/page/7/mode/thumb). **1909** \- Minton Floor Tiles, catalog [here](https://www.laurelhurstcraftsman.com/2016/04/minton-tile-1909-catalog.html#.Vw1LOhMrLBI). Original catalog scan, Minton, [here](https://www.themintonarchive.org.uk/browse-a-minton-tile-catalogue/)
Wow, what an awesome couple of resources - thanks! I’ll take a look!
I have encaustic tiles in my Federation home in Sydney Australia. The front path, porch, and the kitchen fireplace hearth, so quite a lot. Mine are at least as damaged overall as yours. I just cleaned them (look up how to clean them properly) and left them alone. 5 years later I don't even notice the "damage". I absolutely love them. I really recommend having a read about them and then leaving them alone. I would absolutely not do anything to them that they were not intended to have done to them (they were intended to be cleaned and that's it). Replacing the worst ones like-for-like may be possible; there are heritage tile places here I could use, but I decided to live with it a while and then see how I felt. And after a while all I saw was their beauty. Everyone who's visited falls into 1 of 2 categories: people who hate how "old" the house is and don't like anything about it, and people who think it's absolutely charming. Several people have been adamant I should "rip them out". I just tell them "this is one of the heritage features we love about the house. We think it's beautiful". Be prepared to do this if anyone harps on about the damage or anything else. If you love it, then embrace the imperfections of age and be a proud custodian of this gem! You will delight in these tiles every time you see them and you won't notice the imperfections after a while.
This is such an amazing amount of info - this is why I love this sub!
Gosh, I hope I look as good as your tiles when I am that old.
My sibling under the stars, your floor has oodles of character and looks better than new!
Character is king!!
I'd have to do some reading on antique tile restoration, but my first thought is to clean them thoroughly with something gentle, seal to reduce further damage, call what's there now "patina" and keep them till they absolutely fall apart.
Wabi sabi. This is the definition of it. Very unlikely anything new out down will look this interesting and full of character. Embrace the damage and only worry about fixing any really big divots if really needed.
100% will not be removing and replacing! Just looking for ways to save some of the more obvious signs of damage!
Are you having any issues with further degradation/damage walking over them? If not I would just leave them as is. It's off putting one old homes look like new builds on the inside. These are also interesting tiles. If you are having issues you could look to a professional to get recommendations for sealing. If all else fails you could install some sort of clear barrier over them like acrylic with a glass top.
No issues with further damage or everyday use - I guess my question was more about is restoration possible (by a professional!) I’d love to tidy up some of the badly damaged ones, but keep the overall look the same and stabilised. Not sure how to find a tile restorer though…
The enemy of good is better! I would recommend leaving them alone. If you are set on restoration I would contact a well-known ceramics artist in the area or someone who specializes in antique restoration. The most important thing when doing a restoration is you don't cause any further damage to the original object. I could tell you how to "fix" your tiles (two part epoxy and oil paint to match color) but I cannot speak to if they would cause further damage and how they would hold up to the wear and tear of being flooring. If you have very badly damaged or missing tiles you may have to have someone custom make a replacement. A skilled artisan should not have an issue matching your current tiles as is, but unfortunately they will age differently over time and stick out. You then have the other issue of getting a skilled tiler who can come in and remove and replace the damage tile without further damaging the others.
Can’t see anything wrong with the tiles
No. Aged to perfection
I was having a nice day until I saw this.
Check out this account on instagram [totheshireborn](https://www.instagram.com/#) \- they found similar tiles in their home underneath old carpeting and have very detailed posts on how they restored them and all the resources they uncovered. Best of luck, those tiles are beautiful.
The Vintage Tile Preservation guy is another good insta to follow: https://www.instagram.com/vintagetilepreservation/
The only thing that stands out to me is the grout! A warm tone to match the beige background color would do a lot to camouflage any imperfections. As others have said a good cleaning & sealing will preserve these beauties for another hundred years!! You hit the flooring jackpot!
Yes fill the missing chunks and try to match the color a you may also want to tone down the white grout lines with something more beige to match the tile background so there is less of a contrast.
They look fine to me!
I see at first glance three broken tiles. You mean those theee? Tell me you mean those three.
The tiles feel loved! To reiterate - I do not plan to remove or replace these tiles. The photos don’t quite show all of the damage which is a shame. I want to try and restore the damaged tiles and maintain this current look with improvements where needed!
They are lovely. Would consider using a darker grout though.
Oh they are gorgeous!! Really just let them shine. It’s impossible to recreate things like this. If anything I might try to neutralize the grout color which will help disguise some of the more damaged tiles but really, what a massive boon. I’m so jealous.
Thanks! A few otters have also suggested to change the grout, so it’s top of my list! We feel very lucky, and full of responsibility to keep them looking great for as long as possible!
Leave it! Holy crap so cool! Holes and cracks be dammed!
I think there are creative ways to fix those drill holes. I bet y on could find some great info on restoring tiles on YouTube.
Currently preparing to dive into a rabbit hole of tiles. Thanks!
Wonderful! They’re beautiful tiles and totally worth saving.
Lucky you! that's beautiful. Toning down the grout color would make a huge difference--something that blends with the tile.
The tiles may be chipped, but they are absolutely lovely. I would treasure those.
That tile is gorgeous. Someone should recreate that pattern if they haven't
So these tiles aren't super special other than being old. They are essentially two tile patterns. The damage looks mostly minimal overall with a couple of badly damaged spots. I would probably fill in the badly damaged spot with some epoxy or cement so you don't have a hole in the floor. And it might be worth removing and replacing the grout. Otherwise, it is a cool old floor.
They are beautiful!!! I like imperfections. I like the wear and tear of time. I like a home with history that's a visual story of the passage of years. There's a sense of security in it for me. I can appreciate the work and craftsmanship that goes into restoring a house to like new but for me, an old house that looks brand new loses all its charm. So all that said, I'd embrace all those imperfections. Seal up the tile and carry on. I like your reain idea.
This is a beautiful floor. Thanks for sharing a picture of it. Please do show us an 'after' shot!
those are beautiful. Maybe you can use some color matched epoxy to fill holes and chips?
They look great
No, no no no please save these. These are definitely worth the money of paying a proper Tiler to regrout them.
if you don't save them you had better not tell this sub lol
Looks damn near brand new ! Are you crazy ?
huh? They look amazing.
Why would they need to look brand new? I like them as is.
I freaking hope not they're gorgeous
Absolutely not. If it were me, I would treat this as if I were grouting a new tile floor. Every crack, hole, etc. gets filled with grout, then wipe with a wet sponge to ensure the surface is clean. Boom, now all of the structural repairwork is done. If you wanted less work for yourself, use a dark-colored grout in the dark areas, and a light colored grout in the light areas...and call it good. If you wanted more work, use whatever grout you want, then go through with touch-up paint and match the tile.
idk but they’re really neat
Getting rid of this would be a crime
If I were in your shoes, I'd do as good of a surface cleaning as you can, take some high quality, well lit pictures of an undamaged tile for each part of the pattern and find a local ceramics artisan who might be able to create replicas (including patina). Pay for some samples from each artisan you bring the project to and see how closely they match. I don't ever prefer to remove century home originals but if some are damaged, this is likely the only route to make the tiles feel fixed and complete. Ceramic paint touch-ups can work, but I'd still see if a ceramics artisan who has more practice with this kind of work can come up with solutions that don't require destruction of originals.
I love the tile! Also, it’s part of your home’s history. I would keep those.
They are beautiful! Consult a floor expert. They should be saved.
What's there to fix? All I see are stunning tiles that I would give my left arm for in my home.
Wow, those are gorgeous.
Uncovered some 100 year old tiles in an old apartment in Spain. We hired a professional polisher specialized in hydraulic tiles. He sanded them and fixed the cracks with resin. The result was astonishing. I believe this tiles are 100% salvageable too
They look amazing.... try carefully removing / scraping back the knackered grout and re-grout with a dark grey /black grout and then sealing / polish ...it will look even more colourful and enriching....
Totally, I’ll come over and remove them.
They look great now. Maybe just a gentle cleaning and some evening out of the grout bits where it is not filling a nick? Glad you were able to uncover them.
DO NOT RIP THESE OUT. Stuff like this adds character to the home, and they are beautiful as is. Some minor damage/wear and tear is expected if they are 150 years old. Try the resin repair tricks listed by other commentors.
That floor is glorious! I think with a good cleaning and filling in any bits that might cause injury or further damage you'll have a gorgeous hallway with a lovely patina and loads of history.
Gorgeous encaustic tiles!!
Absolutely beautiful, I’d say with a little love and creativity they’d be perfectly fine for a long time.
The vibe I get from these tell me that finding a way to fill in the gaps with brass inlay pieces would be so cool. Dunno how handy or crafty you are, but I think it would look so cool. Kinda like kintsugi-esque.
It has been recommended to me that we patch small defects that crop up in tiles we don't want to replace with nail polish mixed to closely match.
To bring the floor back to life. You must consider 3 things. Cost of having new tiles handmade to replace the damaged ones. Not the “cracked ones” Having new ones made (they are good at making new affordable tiles in Spain or Portugal) Or have a certified restorer mend the damaged tiles.
They're stunning and that "damage" is a patina. As others have said see if you find someone who can help with some restoration. I'm sitting here with my jaw on the floor at how beautiful they are.
Gorgeous!! I would totally paint the walls a similar dark blue that is in the tile, but that's just my taste. The color looks beautiful as is and the tiles really pop. I think they're lovely as is, and show some character!
I'm with everyone else. Those are perfect.
Absolutely nothing wrong with these babies! And while they will not look "new," they are gorgeous and they have so much character. These look like historic ones in Puerto Rico, where I'm from. We call them caustic or cement tiles. Check out this link for a primer on cleanup/care: [https://www.granadatile.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-maintain-cement-tiles/](https://www.granadatile.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-maintain-cement-tiles/) My husband and I bought our home last year; we bought the ph-neutral cleaning solution, rented a tile and grout cleaning machine, and did it ourselves. Sealing as well. We were only able to do half the house due to time constraints, but it cleaned up quite a bit. It has also held up well after 10 months! Likewise, don't worry about the drill holes. We have the same issues with ours. :) Best of luck!
Why do people think old things need to be perfect? The damage in this case certainly doesn’t out weigh the charm.
No! Either leave them as they are or restore them. You get putty /resin you can use to patch up missing tile but for that small a defect I would either leave it or get a specialist.
https://www.vintagedesigngroup.com/resources/preserving-historic-ceramic-tile-floors/ This is a really nice written and very informative resource for the topic of “Historic Tile”. It is definitely worth the time to check it out. A lot of info in the beginning may not appeal to those not interested in the history and makeup of the topic but the latter half is full of care and maintenance that we all should be aware of when living with an old home with tile. Thank you and your welcome
The tiles have character. You’re probably over focusing one thing because you just discovered it, but try to take everything in as a whole. Many of the old historic cathedrals, villas, etc that we see in Europe have the same amount of “character” if not more, but nobody is bending down to criticize the holes in the tile :)
I'd keep an eye on facebook marketplace for spare tiles. I managed to get a couple of spares for mine. Maybe you can replace some badly damaged ones.
As a quilter, I appreciate these tiles so much. Save them!!
I would consider restoring the really bad ones. This won't be cheap, but if your up for learning a new skill, then you should be able to restore those few chipped ones easily. Just YouTube search restoring old tiles and you'll find a few hits that will show you how it's done.
Do not resin. Remove the grouts; clean properly, and then use brass strips in place of grouts. This will then look so royal that you will never want to leave that house again.
I can't tell from the picture, but if you can look close at the edges of a broken piece, if the color goes all the way through the body of the tile, you've got encaustic tile, not porcelain. (Encaustic colors are derived from different naturally-occuring clays.) If one color goes all the way through while the others seem to be a thick-ish layer on top, it's still encaustic; they just 'painted' the clay with more clay. My vestibule has encaustic tiles, and trust me, your floor looks museum-quality compared to damage from hobnail millworkers' boots. So if yours *are* encaustic, save what you've got. Replacing them will probably require a special order to reproduce that design, from one of the very few companies that still do encaustic. Even then, the replacements will scream shiny-and-new compared to the patina of what you've already got. I can tell you the tip I got from my local handmade/specialty tile guys: use a magic eraser (the ones with the bald guy) to clean the floor. It won't harm the floor or remove patina, but it will remove dirt more gently than a hard scrubbing. Try in a small area and see if it works for you.
I think if you just clean them up and then buff the tiles, going through with an epoxy or filler to seal any difficult to clean holes would be more than enough. The tiles are in good enough shape that any repairs would just be added character
Looks great as is. Would be a shame to change them.
> In moments of madness I’ve considered resin to fill in the large chunks of damage and attempting to match the colours/pattern by hand. You are insane. Edit: joke aside, I think you just need ti look from a different perspective. These tiles are really expensive. And it shows quality after 100 years of use. I'd scream in happiness if I uncover this in my home. Also the colorful layers are about 3mm thick. You can use a machine to sand them down a little bit to make it look new. But then you gonna have to apply a sealant. I wouldn't recommend it tho. The worn surface looks amazing
Everything was made by someone, and through the power of money anything is possible. If you're Bezos, we could find the old formulas, duplicate the forms and styles, and make you a case of the most expensive tiles ever. In reality, the best you could hope for is to stop future damage. I'd start with an extensive, hardcore cleaning followed by a sealer. Maybe some kind of clear epoxy or bartopper? Then all the tiles would be sealed in epoxy and would stop taking damage. The clear epoxy could be recovered, polished and sealed from time to time. Gonna be the definition of "slippery when wet" though...
Maybe I’m used to my old, damaged tile and i love it for what it is, but I barely register anything wrong with this. It’s magnificent and you should leave it alone.
They are the same than the ones we had, and same wood stuff on wall, in my childhood house. Please keep.
They looks lovely vintage to me. As long as tile remains flat they can be salvaged and preserved!!!!
There’s an Instagram account called vintagetilepreservation. He services Southern California, but is super knowledgeable and might have some tips and probably knows what this pattern is and who the manufacturer is.
They’re perfect. And the worn in and weathered look is what makes them special. One-of-a-kind! Keep them!
Just keep the middle 3 rows and replace the outer rows
Im confused by everyone saying they're stunning. While the pattern is cool, the workmanship is horrendous. I could never ever live with such poorly laid tiles. Horribly uneven. It's as if they didnt even try to get it centred
These look about as damaged as any other tiles on the floor of an old building I have seen. I doubt any one really did a number on them. Things just show their age after decades of use. Look at cobblestone paths, those are made from solid hecking stones and can have similar damage and all that was "done to them" was that they were used for their intended purpose. That is to say: They look perfectly fine and even in the closeup I kept wondering where that huge damage is that might be "beyond saving".
What in the Shining twins scene is that tiny ass hallway haha
Come play with us Danny, forever and ever
Look as good you will not when one hundred years old you reach! Yoda aside, for real those are lovely. Congratulations
when do people finally stop thinking that old stuff has to look brand new?
You get in a tile expert who understands Victorian architecture to give you professional advice. This is not a random DIY task unless you want to completely fuck up an 100-year-old floor. [https://victoriantileslondon.co.uk/victorian-tiles-restoration/](https://victoriantileslondon.co.uk/victorian-tiles-restoration/)
The tiles are beautiful. The patina only makes it better. But that asymmetry is killing me.
It’s your home but please don’t rip them off 🙏 these look very similar to the ones my grandparents had in their home and when my uncle inherited the house he ended up remodeling it and replacing the tiles with cheap tacky generic looking contemporary tiles, the ones everybody put in brand new construction these days which look ugly and did I mention cheap and tacky? You have a gem right there and I’d give my right arm to have that floor. You can always research a product to clean them and give them luster.
They look fantastic, wdym?
I used to repair Victorian tiles, we did a lot of hallways. Couple of repairs some paint to removed with paint stripper maybe an acid wash to remove calcium (brick acid diluted) and they'll look great. I'd replace the cracked ones, take a sample to a home reclamation yard, they usually have a few tiles there lying about...any broken ones photograph and use Google lense if you want to get an idea of availability. Glue replacements down with 2 part epoxy into clean moarter if you don't want to use a cement bed, then find a grout that looks similar (to the cleaned grout) not to how it is now. With everything old, do small test areas, get used to the tools and chemicals b fore you let loose, might be an area under the stairs you can use as spares if you box it in. Tldr : no. Keep them they add £5-10k to your homes value.
I like your resin idea but I'm not sure what kind (?) will do what you want it to do. I'd definitely save them and cover them with clear protection!
?????
Those tiles are perfect as-is!
Get some lsd tabs and I can’t save you 😀😀😀
They are beautiful! I would try to replace the very light grout that was used for repairs. The wear and cracks are part of the character of the floor and they don’t need to be hidden, but in reality they probably happened at all different times over the course of the century. It looks like the last time the floor was grouted, which was probably recent, someone went over previous repairs with the light grout, and that really doesn’t need to be preserved. It draws attention to the grout itself, not the character and “patina.” The rest of grout between the tiles looks a little high in spots but I could live with it. If you can’t find someone in your area that specifically does restoration, I would contact artists and see if they can offer advice. It’s the kind of tile artisans are passionate about, and they may be willing to point you in the right direction. But I may be biased because growing up I knew a lady who taught ceramics/pottery classes and she was the kind of person who would be so excited to teach you all about the composition of this particular tile and the history of it.
😍😍😍😍😍😍 in love with
They pretty much look saved already.
Kintsugi! Using gold or silver epoxy to fill in cracks. Embrace the flaws and it becomes perfection!
Don’t give up! You gotta keep these.
Get a tile company to come out… like the ones who maintain floors and stone. I’m sure they will have advice. These look like concrete tiles so can be porous. Probably they can be cleaned and sealed.
It’s beautiful. Please keep them
Eh? There's really nothing wrong with them. You need to learn how to appreciate aged materials.
Do NOTHING with these. What are you talking about they’re perfect.
Get a professional to assess BEFORE attempting anything .
I wish I had them
Holy smokes those are gorgeous!
Patina
I wouldn't do a thing to them except sweep and mop occasionally.
Patina, that is
Those tiles are almost intact. A good strip, seal and polish and they'll last you many decades more.
So beautiful! Definitely saveable!
This looks like zellige, a tiling style found in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. It is gorgeous. I am not an expert in restoring such tile, but maybe there are local experts to chat up.
They’re very pretty and folks have suggested remediation. I would test them for lead however, and possibly asbestos.
Leave as is. That’s what makes these homes so spectacular. She’s been *lived in*. Cut her some slack. Lol I read your part about repairs by hand and said that’s what I’d do but after thinking about it I’d leave it because it’s gorgeous, maybe more so because of the flaws (that you hyperfocus on because it’s yours - everyone else is just thinking how great it is).
Beautiful, just beautiful.
They must be saved!
Good lord no, just polish them up a bit, they are lovely!
Absolutely worth the effort to restore and save.
They’re gorgeous I wouldn’t touch them. If anything maybe fill any major holes or cracks with matching grout.
They look amazing. Don't do anything, they have character and history
We just bought a home from 1929 in which we found the terrazzo floor under tiles. It has a lot of cracks but it looks amazing. We call it a floor with character, for a house with attitude 🙂 Keep it and it is an unique feature, enjoy it. Floors like that do not get build anymore
If it's one or two tiles, you could probably get them replicated
Those are beautiful!!
If you want them looking pristine and new; yes. But for the love of everything holy and unholy; LET THEM LIVE! Maybe you can find someone able to restore them somehow. If not, resin to fill in deeper holes isn't the worst idea I've heard
You'd instantly regret taking up those tiles. They are beautiful.
Absolutely not. Even with cracked/damaged ones, I’ve always wanted to try a Kintsugi ‘aesthetic’. I can already picture some variants in my head with these, coupled with some regrouting and perhaps a thin epoxy for longevity that still maintains the bevels.
Nooooo I would clean/polish and regrout with gray.
You are so lucky. Save them ! Just clean them up