Renovate front external path tiles

[Pippippa]

Hello, I'm looking for some advice on what I should do with my small tiled path, I am the only house in my street that has the original path tiles and they are unfortunately very scruffy but I obviously want to keep them, i have cleaned them but this is the cleanest they go, so i'm thinking I'll just paint them, is there a specific tile paint i should buy? Should i varnish to seal the paint when it's done? Any advice would be amazing thank you

 

[Abi Cott]

Those are lovely, is it wear on the surface that is causing the issue?

 

[plasticpigeon]

I would embrace them, they look very nice as they are, I don't think they look dirty or scruffy at all, just normal wear. There are cleaning products that could make them a bit cleaner, such as an alkali tile cleaner but I don't see the need. I wouldn't paint or varnish. It might tidy them up for a short while but then they will look awful once the paint or varnish starts to flake off which it undoubtedly will do.

 

[88v8]

Wow! What a super rarity.
Complete, unbroken.
Agree, don't paint them, it will look daft.
Embrace their patina.

Ivor

 

[MikeG]

They're immaculate, Pippippa. Anything you do to them will spoil them. Leave well alone. Absolutely do not paint them or varnish them.........that's a nightmare idea, and the best way I can think of to ruin the tiles.

 

[Flyfisher]

I find it hard to believe painting those lovely tiles will improve them. Firstly it will be almost impossible to paint them with sharp/clean edges unless they are all raised first, which would be destructive in itself. Secondly, what sort of paint will withstand foot traffic with dirty/gritty shoes, meaning that the paint would look even worse than the existing tiles in a very short period of time of time. I really can’t see any merit in painting them. Sorry.

As for cleaning them, perhaps contact a specialist stone/tile cleaning company and ask what they would recommend?

Otherwise, and I appreciate this is a personal preference, they look pretty good to me as they are and I could certainly live with them.

 

[Pippippa]

Gosh thank you everyone, I have cleaned them a few times and it is just wear over the many years that has removed some of the colour, I think you are right, I will leave them just as they are thank you

 

[MatthewC]

They're immaculate, Pippippa. Anything you do to them will spoil them. Leave well alone. Absolutely do not paint them or varnish them.........that's a nightmare idea, and the best way I can think of to ruin the tiles.

+1. Absolutely. Don't. Paint. Or. Seal. Them.

I wish I had that feature at my house!

 

[Westholme]

It should be possible to clean your tiles further, especially the buff ones. I suggest looking at the following website, which is interesting just to see some beautiful tiled floors:
http://victorian.tilecleaning.co.uk (image heavy)

I don't know how much your local Tile Doctor would charge, but you might be able to do some more cleaning yourself by hand using some of the products mentioned. I notice one small piece of tile missing that could be replaced probably.

 

[Feltwell]

Yet another voice to say "Don't paint!"

If you do, not only do I think it would look hideous to begin with, the paint will wear through relatively quickly in the vulnerable areas. Job number 3689 here is to try and get the red paint off my sandstone doorstep that a previous owner applied, it's badly worn and looks awful.

Those tiles are in great condition, better than some *inside* my house! Embrace the patina of their age, they are a fabulous feature that your neighbours should be jealous of.

 

[Gothichome]

You can add my voice to keeping them just the way they are. They are beautiful in both condition and style. You mentioned that your the only home left with them, I think that makes them special. For many decades a clean and scrubbed step and walk was the pride of any home maker.

 

[Feltwell]

Indeed! They look great.

 

[TheSpid]

I'd kill for those tiles - inside or outside.