Minton floor renovation

[Jacksdad]

Hi, Im finally getting around to the large Minton floor in our hall way. As well as the usual broken tiles and old repairs there is also quite a depression in the floor level near to the bottom of the stairs. This has meant that either side of the dip, tiles have had one end unsupported which has led to more breakages!.

Could anyone tell me what would be the best compound to level the dip with and also how best to stick down the loose tiles?

Any advice appreciated,

Cheers, Nick

 

[robgil]

Hi Nick , do you have a photo? It would help us gauge the condition and severity of the problem.

 

[Jacksdad]

Hope this shows what I mean. This is the worst place at the bottom of the stairs.
Nick

 

[plasticpigeon]

Love that floor and love your dark woodwork. I don't know about repair, but I remember reading a recommendation in a couple of old construction books that they are laid on a bed of cement with pure cement slurry for grout!!!! Usually cement is a dirty word when it comes to period buildings but maybe not in this instance.

Are you going to do it yourself??? I know that many tiles are still available from the Jackfield tile museum at Ironbridge.

http://www.cravendunnill-jackfield.co.uk/index.html

 

[Jacksdad]

Brilliant , thanks for that. I am planning on doing it myself do I will have a look at the iron bridge supplier. Would you take out the original base below the tile and just start afresh?
Cheers.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Beautiful floor. If there aren't damp issues I'd go for cement on top of the current base and proper tile adhesive.
Another possible place for similar looking spares.

http://www.originalfeatures.co.uk/shop-home-page-victorian-tiles-wallpaper-traditional-ironmongery

However it ends up looking, in my view far better to have a worn, damaged, less than perfect original floor than a new one. And a small rug (on a non slip mat) can hide any troublesome area.

 

[Jacksdad]

HAs anyone got prior experience of both techniques ie, cement slurry and tile adhesive? Is one superior to the other?? What would of been used orignally before the cement days?
Nick

 

[88v8]

Did you see this thread?

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8706

Ivor

 

[plasticpigeon]

I shall scan in a couple of pages from an old book later today. This is more for curiosity than anything else as I haven't any experience of repairing these floors so can't give first hand advice!!

 

[dandrew]

The fact that you have a depression in the floor suggests that the underlying substrate has dropped. Typically such tiled floors were laid on a cement base, and the rise in popularity of OPC in the early 20th century coincides with the boom in geometric floors. I think the important thing to establish is exactly what is under the tiles, which is easy as you are going to re-lay them anyway. If cement or something like it then a cementitious self-levelling compound to return things to flat would be in order but as other posters have said the C-word is not welcome round here.

My recent post on this subject was about a suspended timber floor, and for that I used a flexible adhesive from Bal products as well as a flexible grout that they make - any decent tile shop will advise you on what is appropriate for your circumstances, and I think Bal even have a technical help line for assistance. Obviously if your substrate is cement then flexibility is not a primary concern for you.

David

 

[JoceAndChris]

Cement has always been used though. Romans stuck mosaic patterns into it. I expect the old Delft tiles were stuck on walls with boiled bone glue. It would indeed to be interesting to read about it.

 

[MdB]

The short term fix is to lift the tiles, fill the low points with something and then relay the tiles. This may work for a while but it fairly clear that your floor substrate has failed and subsided and a simple fix won't sort this and further subsidence will cause future problems.

For a proper job (Cornish term) you need to investigate this properly and fix is properly. This will likely mean digging down and putting in a new floor either locally or across the entire floor depending on what is found.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I think it's too nice a floor to take it up though. And you can't lift tiles and put them back, they'd get smashed.

Our flagstone floors are ever so wobbly, I've always been of the opinion that unless the foot goes through or you can smell dry rot leave well alone.

 

[Jacksdad]

I would normally totally agree about leaving them alone but people keep tripping over them and my little one is just starting to walk so I've kind of been pushed into it. Ill take up a few loose tiles and have a look :roll: