quarry tiles

[MetManMark]

Hi there,

We would like to use quarry tiles for our kitchen floor; we looked at Topptiles and some other tile shops locally but have not seen any that look okay. Any idea where to go to find some decent ones?
Thanks

 

[Feltwell]

Quarry tiles were so universally used that most reclamation yards will carry them, if you want old looking ones. Shop around, prices vary a lot - and bear in mind that unlike modern tiles the thickness will vary a lot, more skill is needed to lay them well. They come up on Ebay quite regularly as well, but then you aren't so sure of the source.

If you want modern quarry tiles then Dennis Ruabon is probably the most famous make that is still going in the UK. I have their quarry tiles in my house, but mine are Victorian - and they look quite different to the ones they produce now, which are much more uniform.

http://www.ruabonsales.co.uk/

 

[MatthewC]

... bear in mind that unlike modern tiles the thickness will vary a lot, more skill is needed to lay them well.

And the ones I lifted recently were not of a uniform size, which rather explained the lack of precision in the pattern on the floor! I think they were meant to be 6 inches square, but there seemed to be a one-eighth variation in that - possibly different sources I guess.

Or perhaps that's the joy of laying old tiles? Character?

Matthew
http://houseintheenchantedforest.blogspot.com/

 

[Feltwell]

Or perhaps that's the joy of laying old tiles? Character?

Yes - mine vary in length & width a little, but in thickness a lot.

The original, untouched kitchen tiles are very well laid - you can see where the Victorian tiler used his skill to compensate for the variance in tile size. Same goes for our cellar floor, although it's uneven now where the house has settled and the middle of the floor didn't.

Our scullery though, where for some reason the tiles have been lifted and re-laid at some point, is nowhere near as good a job. You can see where the tiler tried to keep the joint gaps the same - which doesn't work!

Modern, completely uniform quarry tiles look wrong in an old building, in my opinion.

 

[MatthewC]

the Victorian tiler used his skill to compensate for the variance in tile size.

I guess that's what was lacking in mine!

 

[AMc]

I've not used them but if you want something handmade these people might be worth a browse.
http://www.pamments.co.uk/index.htm
If you were interested I can PM the name of a transport company nearby who delivered turf from North Lincolnshire to me in Eastern Norfolk for about £50 a pallet.

You can also look for local sales on http://www.salvo.co.uk/ for reclaimed and try reclamation yards.

If you do buy from eBay etc. then pay attention to the provenance of any reclaimed materials as there are problems with material being stolen from period properties and if good people buy without care then it fuels this vandalism.

 

[robgil]

I would recommend going and individually choosing your pamments from that company in Norfolk, but I am quite fussy anyway.

 

[Pford75]

I've been to their factory and seen their pamments....thought they were horrible. More like a Spanish patio tile than a Norfolk pamment.

IMO, reclaimed is the best look by a long way. Depending on where you are based, I can recommend a couple of local salvage yards with good stock. Also, laying pamments in half bond is more forgiving as you don't end up with a series of parallel lines across the room.

 

[robgil]

They reminded me of Mexican tiles, the ones that didnt have two colours in them looked ok'ish, we didnt buy any.
Did you see the show house?

 

[Pford75]

If by 'showhouse' you mean the owners house where they have been laid in a dining room (albeit by a child....perhaps in the dark), then yes...we've been.

Had to try hard to disguise my horror at what he obviously thought was a lovely job

 

[AMc]

I did say I haven't used them
Based on what others have said I wouldn't travel from Devon to look - back to reclamation yards then!