Search results for "Restoration process" in Home Design Ideas

Make a Dream Home proudly presents a stunning showcase of our recently completed staircase refinishing project in Wilmette, IL. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to craftsmanship, we have transformed a worn-out staircase into a magnificent centerpiece that exudes elegance and sophistication.
The staircase now stands as a testament to our dedication to reviving and renewing spaces. Every step of the refinishing process was carefully executed to ensure a seamless transformation. From sanding and staining to polishing and sealing, our team of skilled professionals employed expert techniques to enhance the natural beauty of the staircase.
Upon entering the space, you will be greeted by a staircase that exudes grandeur and refinement. The wood has been meticulously restored, showcasing its intricate grain and rich tones. The refinishing process has revitalized the staircase, breathing new life into its design and enhancing its overall visual appeal.
Make a Dream Home's commitment to quality is evident in every aspect of the project. We utilized premium materials and finishes to ensure durability and longevity. The completed staircase not only exudes timeless beauty but also stands up to the demands of everyday use.
With this staircase refinishing project in Wilmette, IL, Make a Dream Home has proven to be a trusted partner in creating extraordinary spaces. Whether you seek to enhance the elegance of a traditional home or bring a touch of sophistication to a modern interior, our team is dedicated to turning your vision into a reality.
Experience the joy of a beautifully refinished staircase that perfectly complements your home's aesthetic. Trust Make a Dream Home for your next staircase refinishing project and let us unveil the beauty and elegance within your space.

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project.
As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish.
What that means for you:
-One point of contact — clear communication the entire time
-A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met
-Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes
-A more seamless, less stressful experience overall
We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage.
Services include:
Residential and commercial painting
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Whole-home renovations
Electrical, plumbing, and framing
Drywall, flooring, and finish work
Window and door replacements
Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation
Water damage and restoration
And More!!!

Polished stone floors will lose their shine over time depending on the amount of wear and cleaning products used and this Travertine Tiled Floor in Lower Woodrow had basically experienced this problem. The solution is to burnish the floor with diamond encrusted pads, a process that will remove any dirt and bring back the polish.
We started by smothering the floor is a mild dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and left it to dwell for ten minutes. We then scrubbed the grout lines using a stiff grout brush to get the grout clean. Next we fitted a course diamond burnishing pad to a rotary machine and slowly burnished each and every tile. We then extracted the slurry using a wet vacuum and rinsed. We continued this procedure with the medium, fine and very fine pads rinsing in-between until the shine had been restored. We then left the floor overnight to dry.
Upon our return we sealed the floor using Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that soaks into he pores of the stone protecting it from within and enhancing the natural colours in the stone. Once the seal had dried I used a white buffing pad attached to the rotary machine and buffed the travertine to a nice shine.
Stuart Ford
Wiltshire Tile Doctor
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It’s not often that we get called abroad for a job, but when we do, it’s always a fantastic experience. We have done a few jobs abroad in the past, including the restoration of Terracotta tiled restaurant floor at a hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This job was closer to home at a chateau in the town of Arcis-le-Ponsart near Reims, located in the Champagne-Ardenne region of North Eastern France. As its name suggests, the Champagne-Ardenne region is famous for its champagne.
The owner of the chateau was, in fact, an English property developer. He asked us to work on two floors: a Terracotta tiled hallway, and a French Victorian tiled floor. The French style of Victorian tiles are actually made of encaustic cement rather than clay, so we were excited to have the chance to work on something a bit out of the ordinary.
It was going to be a long trip, so after packing the van with the necessary equipment and Tile Doctor products Heidi and I set off to France via the Channel Tunnel. Fortunately, we avoided any disruptions both on the way there and the way back!
On arrival at the chateau, we immediately spent two hours running tests on the two floors to determine the most effective processes. We had four days in which to complete the job, so it was essential to make sure our methods were correct before beginning to avoid any unwelcome surprises later on!
After running the tests, we set about cleaning the Victorian tiles using a combination of clean water and diamond burnishing pads. No damage was done to the tiles, and they polished up well. Following the cleaning process, we began sealing the floor using Tile Doctor Colour Grow, a sealer which helps to bring out the colour in the stone while also providing durable surface protection. We were only able to apply one coat of sealer, however, as the second coat kept smearing, preventing the shine from settling in – this was despite testing the process earlier. Nonetheless, we resolved to polish off the one coat we could apply with a fine burnishing pad. Thankfully, the results were still very good.
The Terracotta tiled hallway had no sealer, and so it had, over time, become very dirty. We cleaned the tiles using a solution of one part Tile Doctor Pro Clean to five parts clean water, in combination with a couple of black burnishing pads.
As you can see from the pictures, the combination really helped to lift out the ingrained dirt, leaving the tiles looking at their best again. The floor took three days to dry completely before we could begin the sealing process. Once the floor was dry enough to seal, we applied eight coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go, which is suitable for use on a variety of internal, unsealed porous surfaces.
It was a long and exhausting week but the client was delighted with the results on both floors and left the following comments, he also mentioned using Tile Doctor in the future to work on the other properties he is developing.
“Thanks for yours and Heidi’s work in renovating our floors. It was also great to meet you guys and I hope you have enjoyed your visit to champagne and will come back some time. “

This is ongoing in Naro moru in Nyeri #county_number_19 concrete underground water tank, Underground tank is extremely durable and permanently we do plastering also waterproofing for added for strength. Get 5% off discount on Concrete Underground Water Tank Construction in Kenya; Our Key responsibilities on concrete preparing the concrete pouring schedule and monitoring the concrete quality. Constructed Concrete Water Tanks in Kenya, Structural engineer will check the columns, beams, slabs and shears walls if they are setup with the correct dimensions as in the drawing plans. Calculating and checking the elevations by the use of the total station. Reading and analyzing structure project drawing plans as per Architect satisfaction. This work is professionally processed into a seamless mold to prevent leaks, with warranties of a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years; indeed, a good quality concrete water tank can last several decades. Also we do repairs and restores old and dilapidated water tanks. In addition, in towns and cities is an excellent method of recovering water. #construction #concrete #structural #project #work #quality #engineer #architect #water #kenya

It’s been my experience that it’s not un-common to discover fantastic tiled floors hidden underneath an additional layer of flooring usually carpet or linoleum. This was the case with this property, situated in the town of Canley, Coventry, where the owner had found a Quarry tiled floor underneath Vinyl tiles which had been stuck down using an adhesive.
Quarry tiles are typically hard wearing and very durable and a sensible choice for flooring in high traffic areas of both residential and commercial properties, a tiled floor is of course a difficult to remove so it’s not surprising that tiles do get covered over rather than replaced during redecoration.
Taste’s change and like most property owners who unearth hidden tiled floors, my client was keen to restore them as an original feature. Despite the amount of adhesive and the poor state of the Quarry tiles, I was confident that the floor could be restored to new, so we agreed a date for me to come back to the property and complete the work.
The process of cleaning the Quarry tiled floor – including remove large amounts of adhesive – took a total of two days to complete.
I started by carefully removing the Vinyl tiles using a hand scraper which as you can imagine was a lot of manual effort and the adhesive proved quite difficult to remove. In the end I had to use a combination of a very coarse 50 grit pad fitted to a heavy rotary machine lubricated with water, to clear the area completely of the substance.
The resulting slurry was rinsed away, and the floor was then given a thorough acid rinse with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. Grout Clean-Up is a cleaner which contains concentrated phosphoric acid, and is designed to dissolve minerals such as salts and cement left on the surface of the tile.
This was followed by a final thorough rinse with water, and the excess moisture was soaked up with a wet-vac machine.
After the cleaning process was complete, I left the floor to dry off completely for 24 hours. Upon my return to the house the next day, I checked for any dampness that could have damaged the performance of the sealer, thankfully, the floor was dry and ready to seal, and so I proceeded to apply several coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go Extra.
Seal & Go Extra is a fully breathable sealer that provides for effective moisture transmission. It provides durable surface protection against dirt and stains, and is suitable for most kinds of internal, natural stone tiled floors, including Quarry, Victorian and Flagstone.
As you can see from the photographs the Quarry tiles came out really well and it’s hard to believe that this is the same floor.
Mick Gayton
Warwickshire Tile Doctor

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

This brownstone renovation was a full gut project in every sense of the word. On top of installing new floors, a kitchen and bath renovation, and all the typical restoration and refinishing involved in a brownstone built in 1899, we also completely updated the exterior, constructed a balcony that was not originally there, and converted the space from a single-family home into an an owner’s triplex. A newly separated studio rental on the garden level offers the opportunity for supplemental income, an uncommon and welcome addition to a New York brownstone.
A TRANSITIONAL GEM
The result is a two-family brownstone that perfectly combines classic townhouse living with today’s modern needs, including SmartHome technology that we installed to control Bluetooth speakers, Nest thermostats, and the security system.
The overall aesthetic goal was to pay homage to the historical periods the brownstone has lived through in a cohesive way that is the hallmark of modern transitional style.
In the kitchen, white Shaker-style cabinetry, a subway tile backsplash, and marble rather than quartz countertops bring a classically upscale sensibility. To modernize the space further, we opened up the back wall to create floor-to-ceiling windows that are also doors, opening up into the newly built balcony.
TIMELY TOUCHES
This brownstone renovation included many quintessential elements, such as millwork like the ceiling medallions. We restored some and custom built others, perfectly recreating their original appearance.
The heated master bathroom is now serene, with a walk-in shower featuring a subtly modern linear drain. A herringbone Carrera marble tiled floor and marble slab sink complete the scene. In the powder room, we embraced a contemporary look by pairing dark hexagonal floors with light chevron tiles, accented with dramatic navy blue wallpaper. With its clear-cut 1920s-style, we selected the wall sconce to reference one of the brownstone’s earlier eras.
DESIGN DETAILS
Natural oak herringbone floors we installed throughout the entire home bring a modern yet warm touch. We restored the wood-burning marble fireplace, which is fully functioning. An elegant staircase with a custom-crafted black wooden banister and white balusters winds up and down alongside a real brick interior wall that we restored and refinished.
In this brownstone renovation, we were also able to create ceiling height, an unexpected yet aesthetically pleasing side benefit. When working on the joists and beams to level out the floors (a common issue in pre-war renovations) we added ceiling height in the main parlor floor by taking the second floor and raising the ceiling an entire foot. The end result is a main floor with stunning 9-foot ceilings.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS
- Solid natural oak herringbone floors throughout
- A fully restored, refinished, and functioning wood burning fireplace with a marble mantle
- Complete exterior renovation of the facade, cornices, windows, mouldings, and even the ironwork, including the railings leading up to the stoop and those facing the street
- A brand new central air and heating system with uniquely modern vents – look above the couch in the living room with the fuzzy rug and large painting
Considering a brownstone renovation? Contact us today! We specialize in brownstone renovations in New York as well as all pre-war apartments. When you work with a design-and-build firm like Gallery to renovate your brownstone, you get the full range of our expertise in working with all the finest details and pre-war architectural elements of these classic New York spaces. We also handle every step of the process, from filing permits and organizing schedules to sourcing custom pieces and building entirely new rooms (or even balconies). Call us for a free initial consultation when you’re ready.

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project.
As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish.
What that means for you:
-One point of contact — clear communication the entire time
-A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met
-Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes
-A more seamless, less stressful experience overall
We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage.
Services include:
Residential and commercial painting
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Whole-home renovations
Electrical, plumbing, and framing
Drywall, flooring, and finish work
Window and door replacements
Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation
Water damage and restoration
And More!!!

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project.
As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish.
What that means for you:
-One point of contact — clear communication the entire time
-A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met
-Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes
-A more seamless, less stressful experience overall
We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage.
Services include:
Residential and commercial painting
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Whole-home renovations
Electrical, plumbing, and framing
Drywall, flooring, and finish work
Window and door replacements
Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation
Water damage and restoration
And More!!!

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project.
As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish.
What that means for you:
-One point of contact — clear communication the entire time
-A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met
-Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes
-A more seamless, less stressful experience overall
We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage.
Services include:
Residential and commercial painting
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Whole-home renovations
Electrical, plumbing, and framing
Drywall, flooring, and finish work
Window and door replacements
Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation
Water damage and restoration
And More!!!

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project.
As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish.
What that means for you:
-One point of contact — clear communication the entire time
-A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met
-Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes
-A more seamless, less stressful experience overall
We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage.
Services include:
Residential and commercial painting
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Whole-home renovations
Electrical, plumbing, and framing
Drywall, flooring, and finish work
Window and door replacements
Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation
Water damage and restoration
And More!!!

At RG Painting & Construction, Inc., we bring over 20 years of hands-on experience to every project.
As a locally owned Santa Barbara contractor, we don’t rely on random subcontractors or pass your project around. We manage everything with a consistent, trusted team so you get a smoother process and better results from start to finish.
What that means for you:
-One point of contact — clear communication the entire time
-A reliable, experienced team — not crews you’ve never met
-Quality workmanship that lasts — no shortcuts or patchwork fixes
-A more seamless, less stressful experience overall
We handle everything in-house and with trusted trades, so your project is done efficiently, correctly, and with attention to detail at every stage.
Services include:
Residential and commercial painting
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Whole-home renovations
Electrical, plumbing, and framing
Drywall, flooring, and finish work
Window and door replacements
Energy-efficient upgrades and insulation
Water damage and restoration
And More!!!

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Hope Restoration & General Contracting
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

Bridgwater is known to be one of Somerset’s liveliest towns. With a history dating back over 1000 years, it has many traditions, including a carnival which happens every November, and is hailed as the world’s largest illumination procession.
What wasn’t looking lively, however, was this Limestone tiled kitchen floor at a house in the town. It had been laid five years previously but at the time of laying hadn’t been sealed with adequate amounts of sealer.
As a result, the Limestone had absorbed a lot of wet footprints and other dirty stains. The sealer simply broke down after a while, leaving the homeowner with a floor that never looked clean no matter how much they cleaned it – using all kinds of products. In fact, the tiles looked blackened and mouldy, as you can see in the photos below.
It was time for the homeowner to seek out professional assistance, so she decided to contact her local Tile Doctor. I was asked to completely restore the look of the floor – something the homeowner had deemed impossible at this point.
In practice, I knew the floor could be restored using the right products and methods including a really deep clean and resealing with the right type of sealer for these tiles.
I scrubbed in Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which is a powerful coatings remover which draws out ingrained stains and strips away any old sealer remaining on the tiles. The floor was then rinsed thoroughly with plain water to neutralise it, and the resulting soiled solution was extracted using a wet vacuum. I repeated the process on stubborn areas, eventually transforming the floor back to its natural and clean state.
I allowed the Limestone to dry out completely overnight before returning to the property to seal the tiles. This is important as the slightest amount of excess moisture can damage the performance of the sealer, and we would’ve been back to square one!
After checking with a damp meter, I could see everything was fine, so I proceeded to seal the floor with Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which is not only a robust impregnating sealer that will protect the floor going forward but also enhancing the natural colours in the stone at the same time.
In the space of two days, the Limestone tiles had been completely transformed. Now it had been properly sealed, the floor will be much easier to clean and therefore should stay looking great for a long time to come. The customer was very happy to have finally resolved the problem with some assistance from the Somerset Tile Doctor!
Dave Hurst
Somerset Tile Doctor

The owner of this historic and landmarked town-home renovation in Hudson Square, originally built in 1826, hired Gallery Kitchen and Bath to fully gut-renovate this 3-unit row-home. The scope of work included a full-scale renovation of the owners unit, including the renovation of the kitchen, one 4-piece master ensuite bathroom, one 3-piece bathroom with a walk-in steam shower, and a beautiful powder room. Additional work in the owners unit also included flooring, electrical upgrade, major plumbing work, new HVAC system, restoration of a fireplace, installation of a fully integrated smart home system and landmarked approved windows.
CELLAR RENOVATION IN NYC LANDMARKED TOWN-HOME
Rounding out the owners unit we renovated the cellar, which was converted into an entertainment space and featured a custom glass curtain wall, along with a custom staircase with an exposed brick wall. During the demolition phase of the cellar, our team discovered 56 wine jugs filled with wine from the prohibition era, leading us to name this project the prohibition house. For the two tenant units, Gallery Kitchen and Bath undertook the renovation of 2 kitchens, 4 bathrooms, new hardwood flooring throughout, along with detailed carpentry work in the entire home.
WHY GALLERY KITCHEN AND BATH
After interviewing multiple contractors, our client decided on Gallery Kitchen and Bath primarily because of our turnkey design, selection, and build process. In a renovation of this magnitude it is crucial to have a centralized full service contractor under one roof to handle all of the aspects and simultaneous moving parts of the project. Decentralizing the entire process by having multiple unaffiliated vendors handle various parts of the process can easily become chaotic, time consuming, and costly.
Because Gallery Kitchen and Bath undertook the entire process, from the design of the entire space to the selection and procurement of all finishes and fixtures, down to the procurement of all permits and LPC filings, it made a seemingly chaotic project a’lot more manageable.
PHASE 1: DESIGN, SELECTION, PROCUREMENT
Our client wanted the renovation to incorporate a fully modern design into his Hudson Square town-house. Being that this is a landmarked property, the exterior facade had to be restored and kept with the original aesthetic, the interior of the home however was a whole different story.
In keeping up with the modern aesthetic, our designers went to work to design a custom kitchen that included fully custom flat panel base cabinets in a white high gloss finish and an absolute matte black appliance/pantry wall. The kitchen design also included a white quartz countertop and backsplash with a waterfall edge island. To bring warmth to the modern kitchen, our designers incorporated a rifted and quartered select oak wood floor in a herringbone pattern, and custom blended stain with matte polyurethane finish. For continuity, the wood floor was also extended throughout the entire owners unit.
In the ensuite bathroom we created a “wet area” which houses a standalone soaking tub as well as a beautiful rainfall shower, completely leveled with the rest of the floor in the bathroom. Some highlights within this space include a tiled square drain, large niche cutouts with a carrera marble accents. Once again, to bring warmth to this modern bathroom, our designers incorporated a floating rustic oak vanity and carrera marble mosaic floor tile.
Last on the list on the owners unit floor was the cellar, which our client wanted to utilize as an entertainment space for his friends and family. During the design phase, we incorporated an open concept layout, wedding the indoor and outdoor space with a custom glass curtain wall. The design also included custom walnut built-ins that serve as a custom wet bar and storage piece.
With the design approved and selections made our office liaisons moved to procure all of the material selections and finishes.
PHASE 2: DEMO
Because this home is almost two centuries old, we had to take extra precaution during the interior demolition phase of the project. One specific area that we had to pay special attention to was the existing brick. Over time the mortar in old brick homes deteriorates and turns into dust – for this reason it was extremely important that a thorough and ongoing inspection of the exteriors and interior walls took place during the demolition of the space.
After 14 30-yard debris containers and 56 wine filled jugs from the prohibition era later , the demolition of this historic Hudson Square town-home came to an end. If you are wondering whether we tried the wine? After notifying the owner we agreed to open one of the jugs and try them together – nothing but vinegar.
PHASE 3: BUILD
One of the challenges in a renovation project of this scope is nailing down the logistics and delivery of fixtures and finish material. Adding to this challenge was a narrow entry door that required us to use a boom truck in order to deliver some of the larger materials on site. To ensure a succinct time schedule, we boomed all of the materials through the 3rd floor for the entire project and worked our renovation work from top floor to cellar. This technique also insured that any unexpected water issues during the renovation process would not damage a finished floor.
With all roughing and framing complete, the Gallery KBNY team proceeded to execute on the design plan.
THE REVEAL
From what was once a dilapidated town-home with nothing but potential, to a glamorous and luxurious modern interior space – the prohibition house was complete. Ready to speak with us about your renovation project? Contact us to schedule your free consultation and let Gallery KBNY show you why our all-inclusive approach to your renovation is the smartest way to renovating in NYC.

Here’s a job I completed just before Christmas last year, at a house in Northampton which has a rich history and mix of architectural styles. The run up to Christmas is always popular as people try to get their household projects finished off in time for celebrating the festive season with family so this is always a busy time for Tile Doctor.
The photos below show a neglected Victorian Quarry tiled floor in need of repair, with cracked tiles along the edges. These were caused by somebody in the past using brute force to remove carpet gripper rods which had been glued to the tiles. These cracks were present around the edges of the entire hallway, however; this particular type of tile is very hard to get hold of. Furthermore, it is a costly process to replace the tiles as the skirting boards would have had to have been removed.
As well as the physical issues the floor had a dull appearance due to the build-up of builder’s dust and the general wearing down of the paintwork over time. I agreed with the client that the best course of action would be to fill the tiles, and paint the damaged tiles using a colour that matched as close as possible. Many of my Tile Doctor colleagues would disagree with this approach opting to source the correct tile and rebuild the damaged section however unfortunately in this case we didn’t have the time or the budget.
My first action was to use a brush and vacuum to remove as much loose debris and dust as possible. I followed this by agitating the tiles with a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro Clean which is a strong alkaline product and safe to use on tile and stone. I use a combination of a coarse burnishing pad fitted to a rotary machine and hand held brushes, in order to get the floor clean. The resulting slurry was then rinsed and removed using a wet vacuum. This process was repeated twice followed by a thorough rinse to ensure any trace of cleaning agent had been removed and the floor neutralised.
As this was such an old property, I then used a steamer to heat up the tiles in order to draw out any contaminants and assist with the drying process. I installed a fan to dry the floor before starting repairs, mixing up some coloured grout and filling all holes and cracks along the edges, including the doormat area.
I allowed the coloured grout to dry overnight, before hand painting the black and Terracotta tiles. These were then given time to dry (about a couple of hours). Following this, I carefully painted in the other colours: brown and cream. The overall effect was quite convincing and you had to look very closely to notice.
Due to the fact that there were other tradesmen working in the house at the time, the floors were sheeted up to protect from additional dust and muck. I then left the house for a week, allowing the floor ample time to dry completely in preparation for sealing.
Upon my return, I took damp meter readings, and once satisfied with the dryness of the tiles, I began the sealing process with the impregnating, colour-enhancing sealer Tile Doctor Colour Grow. The sealer provides both durable surface protection and an aesthetically pleasing matte finish.
The below photos show how the product has enriched the colours with the two coats applied.
The process of restoring this wonderful Victorian Quarry tiled floor was certainly time consuming, but very rewarding. I am exceptionally pleased with the results myself, and my client couldn’t have been happier and I’m sure the newly revitalised hallway will have been a talking point for all their visitors during the Christmas break.
Phil Vissian
Northamptonshire Tile Doctor

What an exciting project to be part of! This 100+ year old Twin Cities home is being painstakingly restored to its original beauty — with some modernization in the process. Here at The Cabinet Store we had the opportunity to help the owners with their kitchen selections and are proud to showcase the beautiful end results.
The homeowners chose the Showplace Wood Chesapeake door style in Red Oak wood with a matte Driftwood finish to accent the beautifully-aged original woodwork throughout the home. The gray of the Driftwood over the natural wood of the Red Oak creates a lovely unique style and color tone. The contemporary organizational and storage cabinet pieces from Showplace are also a much appreciated addition to this vintage kitchen.
The homeowners topped off their kitchen remodel with amazing Cambria Quartz Countertops in Torquay for a complete turn of the century feel!

Sponsored
Galena, OH
Buckeye Restoration & Remodeling Inc.
Central Ohio's Premier Home Remodelers Since 1996

The owner of this house in Chaplefields near Coventry had bought this property as an investment and was keen to improve its appearance. As part of this work he had lifted the vinyl tiles in the hallway and discovered a lovely Edwardian tiled floor. Unfortunately, whoever had laid the Vinyl tiles had decided to use Tar as an adhesive and this had left a black mess all over the floor.
Realising the potential value an original feature such as this could add to the property he was keen to restore the tiles but not so keen to deal with the Tar, so we were asked to deal with the problem and restore the floor as close to its original condition as possible.
To get the tiles clean and remove the horrible tar I applied a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which as its name suggest is great for removing coverings from tiles. I applied the Remove and Go with a mop, left it to soak in for a few minutes and then worked it in using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The soil was extracted off the floor using a wet and dry vacuum and then the process repeated until I was happy all the tar was gone.
I then gave the tiles an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel; this serves to break down alkaline mineral deposits such as cement and grout smears, it also counters any efflorescence problems which can be an issue with these old floors where no damp proof membrane has been installed.
Finally, the floor was given a rinse with clean water and a steam clean to remove any trace of cleaning products and to neutralise the tiles in preparation for sealing.
I left the floor to dry off overnight and returned to the property to seal the tiles the next day. To seal the tiles, I used three coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is a water based sealer that leaves a subtle sheen finish and being water based doesn’t leave a smell as it dries. The sealer will provide durable protection going forward preventing dirt from becoming ingrained into the pores of the tile and ensuring it remains easy to clean and keeping its appearance for some time to come.
The floor now looks fantastic and gives a great impression when you come into the property which is exactly what the owner wanted.
Mick Gayton
Warwickshire Tile Doctor

Another fun Crestview project! This young couple wanted a back yard that reflected their bohemian-eclectic style and could add additional privacy from the ever climbing construction around them. A place for “hanging out and drinking coffee or beer in the backyard.” But what was most exciting, was the air stream they had just purchased and were in the process of restoring. With the end goal of using it as a guest home for family and friends, we were challenged with creating a space that was cohesive and connected this new living space with the rest of the yard.
In the front we had another quark to fix. The sidewalk from their front door to the street suddenly stopped 5 feet from the curb, making a less than inviting entry for guests. So, creating a new usable entryway with additional curb appeal was a top priority.
We managed the entertainment space by using modern poured concrete pad’s as a focal. A poured concrete wall serves as a bench as well as creates a visual anchor for the patio area. To soften the hard materials, small plantings of succulents and ground cover were planted in the spaces between the pads. For a backdrop, a custom Cedar Plank wall and trellis combined to soften the vertical space and add plenty of privacy. The trellis is anchored by a Coral Vine to add interest. Cafe style lighting was strung across the area create a sense of intimacy.
We also completed the fence transition, and eliminated the grass areas that were not being utilized to reduce the amount of water waste in the landscape, and replaced these areas with beneficial plantings for the wildlife.
Overall, this landscape was completed with a cohesive Austin-friendly design in mind for these busy young professionals!
Caleb Kerr - http://www.calebkerr.com

Marble tiles can be tumbled in large drums to achieve an aged and softened effect, and this can look very nice providing that the stone is adequately maintained.
In the case of this floor at a property in Twickenham South West London, the Marble tiles that had been laid over five years ago, and in that time the sealer had worn down offering the floor little protection. Dirt had now become ingrained in the pores of the stone and grout, and a deep clean and fresh seal were required to restore the stone’s original colour and lustre. The property owner asked me to complete the job and I was more than happy to oblige.
To begin the restoration, I applied both Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, which is a high alkaline cleaner, and Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which a heavy-duty stripper and remover, to the floor and scrubbed the products in using a scrubbing pad fitted to a professional rotary machine.
The chemical solvents in the Remove and Go helped to break down any old sealer that remained inside the stone, allowing the Pro Clean to then work its magic on the stubborn ingrained dirt the customer had struggled to remove previously. Some of the deeper veins and grout lines I chose to scrub by hand to ensure the fullest and most meticulous clean possible.
The resulting soiled cleaning solution was then pressure rinsed with water and the soil extracted with a wet-vacuum, leaving a completely clean floor that was now ready to be sealed using a new sealant.
I returned to the property the following day after allowing the Marble tiles to dry fully. Drying the tiles is a crucial part of the restoration process, since even a small quantity of excess moisture can cloud the sealer and prevent it from working to its fullest capabilities.
I applied two coats of our solvent-based impregnating sealer known as Tile Doctor Colour Grow. As the name of the product suggests, Colour Grow not only protects the tiles against ingrained soil, it also thoroughly lifts and enhances the natural colours in the stone.
The new seal will make it easy for our customer to maintain the floor, making daily cleaning easier. It will also protect the stone against the nasty spillages that are common in kitchens and living rooms.
The customer was thrilled with the much-improved appearance of the Marble tiles and is very reassured that they will now stay in great condition for a long time. Another satisfied client!
Jonathan Oldham
South Middlesex Tile Doctor
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