Victorian black and white tiles in the hallway of a house in Wanstead (E11), laid in what is often referred to as the York Pattern with a Kingsley Border, however sadly neglected for many years after being covered with a heavy underlay and carpet. First we cleaned the tiles with a dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-clean which releases the dirt stuck in the pores of the tiles; the solution was scrubbed into the floor with a buffer machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad and then the released soil extracted with a wet vacuum. The floor was then rinsed with water and extracted again with the wet vacuum. It was left to dry for thirty minutes and the floor inspected which revealed a few stubborn areas that were then treated using Nano-Tech Heavy Build-up remover (HBU) which was left to dwell for forty minutes and then scrubbed and then extracted again with water. To Slow down or stop the possibility of an issue we sometimes have with older floors such as Victorian Tiles we often use a product developed by Tile Doctor called Acid Gel, this is left on the surface for 5 minutes and then removed with light agitation and water and a wet vac machine, the floor is then rinsed with water again just to make sure there is no Acid Gel left in the Tile or on the surface. The Acid Gel not only Keeps mineral salts (efflorescence) at bay but also helps as a bonding agent for the sealer to make sealing theses type of tiles a lot easier. After leaving the floor to dry overnight I came back the next day to seal the floor using four coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which is ideal for Victorian tiled floors as it leaves a low sheen finish whilst providing excellent stain protection. Didi Mohammed Central London Tile Doctor

In this Modern Rustic Farmhouse kitchen remodel, discover a perfect blend of modern convenience and timeless charm. The kitchen showcases a captivating combination of a white gloss ceramic tile backsplash with rustic brick accents, creating an inviting atmosphere. Enjoy the convenience of a 45" stainless steel workstation sink equipped with a Pre-Rinse Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet and Instant Hot Water Dispenser, perfect for culinary tasks. Custom cabinets offer ample storage while enhancing the rustic aesthetic. Adjacent to the kitchen, the pantry/laundry/mudroom provides practical amenities including coat hooks, lockers, and cozy bench seating, ensuring organization and comfort. Meanwhile, the bathroom exudes tranquility with serene white gloss ceramic tile shower walls and durable Calabasas Porcelain floor tile, completing the cohesive and welcoming ambiance of this thoughtfully designed space.

I thought I would share this case history of a Yellow and Black Victorian Tiled floor that we worked on at a large house in Lancaster last year. It’s a great example of the typical problems we face with old Victorian floors, especially around door thresholds where the transition between the different foundation invariable cause problems. I didn’t know the full history of the floor, but it was now in quite a state and recent renovation work had left the floor unstable with loose and cracked tiles. The tiles needed to be removed and then the damaged subfloor carefully scraped out and replaced. Once that was done the floor would need relaying and then cleaned and sealed so everything would blend in. After visiting the property and providing a quotation we were given the go ahead and agreed a date to do the work. We returned on the agreed date and set about carefully removing the loose and cracked Victorian tiles and put them aside for later use. Some would need replacing however this would not present a problem and they are still widely available, and I have several contacts I can turn to for this. Once this was done and the subfloor exposed and cleaned up, I used self-levelling cement to bring the floor level up and in-line with the existing. This now needed to set hard, so the rest of the day was spent cleaning up the tiles we removed earlier with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up and Pro-clean. Our goal is to reuse as many of the original tiles as possible to preserve the heritage of the floor. The next day with the new subfloor set it was ready for tiling. This involves laying out the tiles first without adhesive carefully cutting and fitting new tiles as needed to maintain the overall pattern of the floor. Once I was happy the tiles were moved to a board and then fitted with fresh adhesive. I came back on day three with the aim of cleaning the floor so it could be sealed however whilst inspecting my new tiling I was disappointed to discover some were not as level as I had hoped. I had noticed the replacement tiles were not the same thickness as the originals the previous day but I had worked around this by using different levels of adhesive, clearly this plan was not as effective as I had hoped for. To counter this problem, I used a set of 50-Grit, 100-grit and then 200-grit diamond pads in sequence to mill the floor flat and remove the lippage between them. This is done with water to lubricate the process and a weighted floor buffer. The pads generate a lot of slurry and so you need to rinse this off with more water and extract all the soil after each pad. I followed this up with various Diamond burnishing pads of increasingly finer grits across the whole floor until we achieved a consistent finish and had the added benefit of getting the whole floor clean. More water is used to rinse the tiles after burnishing and the soil extracted with a wet vacuum as before. Once done and inspected the floor was left to dry off overnight. Tile Doctor Colour Grow was applied to enhance the appearance of the tiles and protect them going forward. This product copes well with damp which can always be a problem with old floors like this one with no damp proof membrane present. The floor looked amazing when finished and our attention to detail had really paid off, in fact you simply could not tell we had done any tiling work or replaced any tiles. For aftercare I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is designed for the regular cleaning of sealed tiles. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

Let me start by saying this was by far the hardest job I’ve ever done and as you read on you will soon realise why. The customer called me out to quote on a Quarry tiled floor at a house in Danehill that was covered in concrete screed. She said it had always been there and she’s lived there for years always meaning to get it bought back to a state that she could live with. Undaunted by the state of the floor (see photo below) we agreed a price and fixed a date to do the work. For the next two days I spent all my time pouring neat Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up onto small areas and working it in with a metal scraper and wire brush. Once removed the resultant muck was rinsed and extracted using a wet vacuum, laborious work as you can imagine although I was kept entertained by playing the occasional game of fetch with a very keen Collie dog who seemed fascinated by the bloke sitting on his floor all day. After two days of this my hands were throbbing but I could see red quarry tile emerging. The final two hours on the second day were spent making good any areas under the washing machine and fridge and giving the floor a thorough rinse to remove any trace of cleaning product. The floor dried off overnight and I came back the third day to seal the tiles making sure that my canine companion had been sent next door first. To seal the floor I used six coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which really brought back the colour in the floor and gave it an amazingly shiny surface. Once sealed the floors transformation was complete and when the customer returned from work she was utterly speechless. I’d turned what looked like a building site into a stunning tiled floor.

In this Modern Rustic Farmhouse kitchen remodel, discover a perfect blend of modern convenience and timeless charm. The kitchen showcases a captivating combination of a white gloss ceramic tile backsplash with rustic brick accents, creating an inviting atmosphere. Enjoy the convenience of a 45" stainless steel workstation sink equipped with a Pre-Rinse Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet and Instant Hot Water Dispenser, perfect for culinary tasks. Custom cabinets offer ample storage while enhancing the rustic aesthetic. Adjacent to the kitchen, the pantry/laundry/mudroom provides practical amenities including coat hooks, lockers, and cozy bench seating, ensuring organization and comfort. Meanwhile, the bathroom exudes tranquility with serene white gloss ceramic tile shower walls and durable Calabasas Porcelain floor tile, completing the cohesive and welcoming ambiance of this thoughtfully designed space.

Pontcanna is a popular residential area in the western district of Cardiff, in South East Wales. Known for its rather large houses and spectacular foliage, interestingly enough roughly a quarter of the population are English folk. I was called down to a property in the area to take a look at a Victorian tiled floor which was in quite poor condition. Along with the typical amount of dirt and muck seen on poorly maintained tiles, there were a number of missing tiles and a fair bit of cement caked on the surface of the floor. It would require a robust clean, fresh seal, and several repairs to get this floor back into optimum condition. To begin, I checked for excess moisture problems using a damp meter in various places of the hallway floor and, thankfully, it was showing dry results. Any dampness could have potentially caused problems later on in the restoration process, so it was s good idea to run tests before starting. Next, I manually scraped as much of the dry paint and cement off the tiles as possible, with no lubrication necessary. I then proceeded to clean the floor with a solution I mixed early, consisting of equal parts Tile Doctor NanoTech HBU and Tile Doctor Pro Clean, rinsing as I went. Both products are designed to tackle heavy soil build-up, with the former uniquely using nano-sized particles (as the product name suggests) to penetrate deep into difficult to reach areas in the tiles in order to lift out ingrained muck. Following the initial clean, I removed all of the loose tiles and those heavily affected by cement, before retiling as necessary with fresh Victorian tiles, and grouting the whole floor. Of course, these replacement tiles were carefully sourced to ensure consistency, as far as possible, with the original pattern of the floor. The next day, I went over the whole floor with an application of the acid-based Tile Doctor Grout Clean Up, diluted with a little alkaline Pro Clean to form a cleaning solution. I then used a black pad to scrub the cleaner into the tiles, similarly to the previous day’s cleaning. This was followed by a through rinse with water to neutralise the floor. It was at this point that I noticed some stubborn cement stains remained so I set about breaking them down using a 60 grade hand held diamond polishing block, and this technique proved successful. After completing the clean, I left the floor to dry out for roughly 24 hours. Upon my return to the property to seal the tiles, I tested again for moisture. It is recommended to run damp tests before sealing, as excess moisture can cloud the sealer, affecting its performance in the long run. Fortunately, no dampness was detected and I was proceeded to seal the floor with seven coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go, which enhances the natural colours in the stone and provides a nice satin gloss appearance, as requested by the customer. I was extremely pleased with the results of this restoration, as was the customer. The extent of the soil build up and damage was such before the restoration that, after completion, the floor looked like it had been newly laid! Julian Iancono South East Wales Tile Doctor

This Victorian tiled hallway was one of the most beautiful Victorian floors I have ever had the pleasure to work on. With the wide range of patterns and colours they are available in, it seems no two Victorian tiled floors are exactly the same, and this uniqueness is part of what makes them so appealing to property owners. Unfortunately, this floor had been poorly maintained over the years, even suffering from a few loose and missing tiles. There was a thick coating of dust and dirt soiling its appearance, and the property owner was understandably keen to remedy the situation. Having realised that everyday household cleaners are not likely to achieve great results, she asked me to carry out a full professional restoration, including making some repairs where necessary. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this property was situated in the town of Wyken, which is a few miles outside of Coventry city centre and in fact just down the road from where I live myself! Before making a start on the cleaning process, it was first necessary to re-fix the small number of loose tiles and replace a single missing tile by the radiator. Fortunately, I’ve been working on these types of floors for some time and have built up a good collection of replacement Victorian tiles so I was able to find one that matched in nicely with the rest of the floor without too much problem. To clean the tiles, I began by applying a layer of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel directly into the floor with a small brush. This product is very similar to the popular Tile Doctor Pro Clean: both are strong alkaline cleaners, strippers and degreasers, with the main difference being that Oxy-Clean comes in a gel form, making it easier to control and therefore ideal for precise cleaning, or for application to vertical surfaces. Like Pro Clean and being an alkaline base it is suitable for use on all types of natural stone and tile. The Oxy-Gel was left to soak into the tiles for around ten minutes before being scrubbed in and then rinsed off carefully with water, I then used a wet vacuum to extract the now soiled cleaning solution off the floor. The next step was to acid wash the floor using Tile Doctor Acid Gel; this served to break down alkaline mineral deposits inherent in the grout along with some excess grout that had been left on the untidily left on tile from installation. It is recommended not to use this product on acid-sensitive soon such as Marble and Limestone as it can cause irreparable etching but its fine on Victorian tiles as long as you don’t leave it on too long. Finally, the floor was given a rinse with clean water to remove any trace of chemicals from the cleaning and to neutralise the area in preparation for sealing. I left the floor for 48 hours to dry before returning to the property to seal the tiles. This allowed plenty of time for the floor to dry completely, which is important as any excess moisture can damage the ability of the sealer to protect against dirt and stains. My choice of sealer for this floor was Tile Doctor High Shine; three coats in total were applied, providing – as the product name suggests – the high shine finish that the customer had requested. The sealer will provide durable surface 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. As a big fan of Victorian tiles, it was a great pleasure to restore this floor, and my customer was certainly pleased too. It’s amazing how far a little professional maintenance can go to improving the appearance of these fantastic types of floor. Mick Gayton Warwickshire Tile Doctor

Farmhouse meets coastal in this timeless kitchen with white oak cabinets, brass hardware, two dishwashers + double faucets, multiple pull out trash cans, custom white oak range hood, paneled wolf appliances, and tons of storage.

The owners of this beachfront retreat wanted a whole-home remodel. They were looking to revitalize their three-story vacation home with an exterior inspired by Japanese woodcraft and an interior the evokes Scandinavian simplicity. Now, the open kitchen and living room offer an energetic space for the family to congregate while enjoying a 360 degree coastal views. Built-in bunkbeds for six ensure there’s enough sleeping space for visitors, while the outdoor shower makes it easy for beachgoers to rinse off before hitting the deckside hot tub. It was a joy to help make this vision a reality!

Mid-sized elegant u-shaped travertine floor eat-in kitchen photo in Orlando with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This set of cabinets and washing station is just inside the large garage. The washing area is to rinse off boots, fishing gear and the like prior to hanging them up. The doorway leads into the home--to the right is the laundry & guest suite to the left the balance of the home.

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Los Angeles

This kitchen, once checkered with black and white flooring, black and white appliances and heavy fur downs was given a face lift to create a light and airy kitchen. Beautiful golden oak flooring was installed to match the existing flooring in other rooms and to keep the historical feel of the home. White cabinets gave the small kitchen a spacious feel and upgrade appliances lend to an easy work triangle when cooking and entertaining. The gorgeous river white counter top is a stunning yet neutral backdrop to give this remodeled kitchen class! Floorplan design by Chad Hatfield, CR, CKBR. Interior Design by Lindy Jo Crutchfield, Allied ASID, our on staff designer. Photography by Lauren Brown of Versatile Imaging.

ADU was designed to extend with a screen to hide a shower for quick rinse before and after hot tub. Its a calm private spot.
Inspiration for a large modern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard landscaping with a fire pit and decking.

Jeff Beck Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless master gray tile and subway tile marble floor and multicolored floor bathroom remodel in Seattle with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue walls, a vessel sink, marble countertops and a hinged shower door

Alison Hodgson
Photo of a landscaping in Grand Rapids.

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Home design - transitional home design idea in San Francisco

Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped brown floor and dark wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Nashville with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

The owners of this beachfront retreat wanted a whole-home remodel. They were looking to revitalize their three-story vacation home with an exterior inspired by Japanese woodcraft and an interior the evokes Scandinavian simplicity. Now, the open kitchen and living room offer an energetic space for the family to congregate while enjoying a 360 degree coastal views. Built-in bunkbeds for six ensure there’s enough sleeping space for visitors, while the outdoor shower makes it easy for beachgoers to rinse off before hitting the deckside hot tub. It was a joy to help make this vision a reality!