Best way to clean 230 year old quarry tiles?

[ryoc]

Having lifted the old carpet to expose the old quarry tiles, they are all there, but very stained and with a salt like deposit on some. Any idea as to the best way to clean off the old surface mortar and clean the tiles? Thanks!

 

[ryoc]

Can anyone recommend a quarry tile restoration/cleaning Company in the Newark, Nottingham area? Thanks

 

[JohnKay]

Hi ryoc
Please don't think I'm being rude about your floor. It's just that from your photo, there seems to be areas that have been patched up in concrete So is it worth the trouble to attempt restoration?
I would imagine that in days gone by, that room may have been a kitchen, and taken some very heavy wear and some damage from all sorts of spillage. It also appears to have evidence of damp, which would explain the salt deposits.
I do wonder if you could ever get it to look really nice.

 

[ryoc]

Hi ryoc
Please don't think I'm being rude about your floor. It's just that from your photo, there seems to be areas that have been patched up in concrete So is it worth the trouble to attempt restoration?
I would imagine that in days gone by, that room may have been a kitchen, and taken some very heavy wear and some damage from all sorts of spillage. It also appears to have evidence of damp, which would explain the salt deposits.
I do wonder if you could ever get it to look really nice.

Hello and thanks for the reply.
The tiles have been covered in carpet/underlay for decades. Having lifted the carpet, the damp coming through the quarrys has now evaporated and the area is dry. There are areas that have been skimmed with cement to probably level a bit.
These are the original Georgian tiles from approx. 1780, and I was hoping to clean them up. There are Companies who can do this, and the finished results are very good. Thought it was worth a try to do it myself, but probably requires specialist chemicals. Still going to give it go though!.. Cheers