Quarry tiles on earth floor repair

[tesserae]

Hi everyone,

I am renovating a house we have bought in Northamptonshire. The living room floor is quarry tiles on an earth floor. Some of it along the edge has dipped however and, near the fire, a section is missing.

I have suitable tiles to replace any that need replacing but one thing I don't have is an understanding of exactly the type of lime mortar/sand mix that should be used underneath them as an adhesive. I read somewhere that NHL 5 mixed 1 to 4 with sharp sand might be suitable. Is NHL 5 the right mortar? Is a 1 to 4 ratio with sharp sand correct?

Also, what do people recommend regarding a breathable grout?

All and any replies are much appreciated!

 

[formerly known as]

Are existing tiles bedded on earth, sand, or a dry mix of sand and lime? I would take the original as the guide for repair. I would have thought that the original tiles are simply butt jointed, with minimal gap - this need only be filled with a dry sand mixed with non hydraulic lime, gently sprayed and tamped in. Vacuum cleaners are not the friend of such floors. All of my ground floors are of this type, and the jointing stays filled by just using a dustpan and brush with a soapy scrub every few years.

 

[MatthewC]

Hi tesserae, welcome to the forum!

In the vast majority of cases I would use NHL 3.5, mixed 3:1. See sites like http://roundtowerlime.com/technical-information/mortar-mixing.html for useful info on types of sand and how to mix it, and http://www.lime-mortars.co.uk/lime-mortar/hydraulic for more technical detail.

One issue you might have is the precise size of your new quarries as the sizes are not consistent. The ones in my kitchen only had modern grouting (probably runny cement) where someone had patched them up; otherwise the gap was negligible and there was no grouting (except dirt!). That close fitting also helped hold the one inch quarries in place, as the thickness of the tile prevents them lifting. If you have gaps then I think the method is to brush dry NHL into the gaps and let it get damp and set naturally.

Are your tiles currently laid on earth or is there a layer of sand which might have been lime mortar once? If you use lime mortar then how thick will you lay it? As you are patching the floor I think you need to be careful not to have a "modern bit" which will look odd. I would be tempted to lay them on fine sand without mortar and see how good a fit you can get, with mortar to the wall edge only.

Matthew
(edit: FKA above seems to agree with me!)

 

[Flyfisher]

I also agree with using the original as a cue for the repairs. I'd also suggest that there is no need for an 'adhesive' material to secure the tiles. As mentioned above, there are plenty of stone floors laid on nothing more than bare earth and lifting is rarely one of their problems.

Indeed, this form of construction is still in widespread use today - all those block-paved driveways, patios, garage forecourts and pedestrianised town centres are simple laid on a bed of sand (albeit over a well prepared sub-base) and 'grouted' by simply brushing over with very fine sand. The blocks become firmly locked together and can resist far more traffic than a domestic environment will ever see.

 

[tesserae]

Thanks for all these replies, everyone!

I've got some pictures of the floor, which should make it easier for you to work out what was used before. It looks like a lime mortar and sand mix to me, although I'd be happy enough to do it like a block-paved driveway if that's easier.




So, what do you all think? The first picture is of one of the edge tiles flipped over, you can see the where it's come from on the left of it. Has it been laid on a lime mortar and sand mix?

The second picture relates to another question I have: how do you keep your floors clean on a daily basis? At the moment, the areas of the floor which seem otherwise alright have lots of dirt sticking out round the edges. If you run your hand over the top of them, it will become dirty. What should I do with that? How do I clean it? Do I scrape it out a couple of millimetres? Or just keep brushing it till the dirt jutting out goes away? Or do they need repeated mopping? At the moment, the amount of dirt sticking out around the edges really makes cleaning the floor difficult.

 

[tesserae]

So, anyone have any thoughts?

 

[MatthewC]

Is the floor generally dry or does it suffer from dampness? If it's pretty dry then I suggest a firm wiping with a sensible amount of water on a sponge to remove the dirt. If that fails then you could try small amounts of a cleaner; we have used Tile Doctor on our limestone with some success - it doesn't damage the floor and it certainly gets dirt off. Did it only yesterday!

If the floor is damp anyway then you have to think about the wisdom of adding more dampness to it! Not sure what's right.

 

[Flyfisher]

Lovely floor. I would guess that the true 'period' method of cleaning was simply a mop and some soapy water. It doesn't look as if it needs much more than that.

 

[88v8]

The mortar is friable, knocks off fairly easily? Yes, sand with a bit of lime as a binder.

Back in the day, the only way to clean it was with water. Our dining room floor is similar, albeit pointed with lime.
It will never be antiseptic. It certainly doesn't get cleaned on a daily basis. Personally, I think cleaning is overrated and the cause of many 'allergies'.

' If you run your hand over the top of them, it will become dirty'. As Tommy Cooper would have said, 'Don't".

Ivor