Quarry tile cleaning service
Quarry tiles are tough, dense, unglazed clay tiles, and they have been laid in kitchens, hallways, dairies and public buildings for well over a century. They were chosen because they can take muddy boots, wet mops and heavy use, and a good many of them are still in place long after their owners stopped looking after them.
That’s usually how we meet them. Some are black with decades of dirt and old polish. Others have been buried under carpet, lino or a layer of adhesive and have only just come back to light. In nearly every case, the tile underneath is in better condition than it looks.
We restore quarry tile floors in homes, churches, pubs and commercial premises. We can do a straightforward clean and seal, or a full restoration with adhesive removal, repairs and polishing.
What we usually find with Quarry tiles
Floors covered by something else. Plenty of quarry floors have spent years under carpet, vinyl or laminate. Taking that off leaves glue, bitumen, paint or cement behind, and removing those without marking the tile takes patience and the right products.
Decades of dirt. Layers of dirt, old wax and failed sealer build up in the pores until the tiles look almost black. Under it all, quarry tile is normally a warm red, brown or buff. It’s often a shock to people when the colour comes back.
Scratches and wear. Grit leaves marks in the busiest spots. Light scratching can often be polished out. Deeper marks can be reduced, though not always removed entirely.
Cracked or loose tiles. Sometimes this comes down to a poorly laid base or moisture coming up from below. We’ll point it out when we see it, and repair what can be repaired.
How we restore a quarry floor
The work depends on the floor, but the order is usually as follows.
- Assessment. We look at the tiles, the grout and any residue, and check for cracks, loose tiles and signs of damp. This tells us what products to use and how much work is involved.
- Removing adhesive and residue. If there’s glue, cement or paint left from previous floor coverings, it comes off first. This is slow, careful work, and attempts with the wrong products at home often leave tiles stained or etched.
- Deep clean and strip. We lift the built-up dirt and old finishes with professional cleaning equipment, so the tile is bare and clean before anything new goes on.
- Repairs and polishing. Scratches and surface marks are buffed out where we can. Cracked or damaged tiles are assessed and repaired where possible.
- Sealing. Quarry tile is porous, so it needs a sealer to protect it. Finishes range from matt to gloss, and we can use a colour enhancer to bring out the depth of the clay. On older floors we often use a breathable sealer so moisture can still escape.
- Final check. We go over the floor tile by tile before we finish, and explain how to look after it.
Keeping disruption low
A restoration is a proper job, but we try to make it as painless as we can.
- Protection. We cover surfaces and surrounding areas, so the rest of the property stays clean.
- Access. If you have set access times, we’ll work to them.
- Furniture. Large items usually need to be moved so we can get to the whole floor, and we’ll help with this.
- Products. The products we use are safe for homes, and we leave the room tidy.
How long it takes depends on the size and condition of the floor. Many jobs are finished within a day, but a large floor or one that needs a lot of preparation will take longer.
If you’ve got quarry tiles that are tired, hidden or just very dirty, get in touch. Photos help, and we can tell you a lot from a few pictures.
FAQs: Quarry Tile Cleaning
Whilst we may use specialist chemicals in the course of our work, we can assure you that by the time we leave all residues will be gone and your tile, stone or LVT flooring will be perfectly safe for everyone to use. We work to extremely high standards of health and safety, conducting proper risk assessments where appropriate and never putting you or anyone else in danger.
We always work in the most considerate way possible. Work will be tailored to your needs and will fit around your schedule where possible. We avoid bringing loud or bulky machinery into your home and when a job is complete we thoroughly clean up after ourselves to leave your space looking as tidy as it did when we arrived.
