Installation of Victorian tiles
Some information on Victorian, Edwardian and Minton floor tiles
Fitting these floors is quite different to a normal tiled floor. The tiler needs to have a good head for maths and problem solving as well as a keen eye for detail on a small scale, a single room can be made up of hundreds if not thousands of tiles and getting the layout wrong at one end can have disastrous results a few metres down the line so planning is critical.
Click here for important information on the variation of size, shape, texture and colour in tiles...
The floors nearly always require levelling first as the surface needs to be very flat and smooth. For a new period floor, the substrate needs to be solid. This may require a fresh concrete base to be put down or, if your existing floor is timber, to be overlaid with cement-fibre board. Cement-fibre board will stiffen and make a timber floor solid. It will still usually require a thin layer of levelling compound over the top. One unique aspect of laying period floor tiles is that the tiler needs to manipulate the grout joints throughout the floor. This is particularly important when laying geometric borders as joints may need to be opened or closed slightly to allow the border to line up with the pattern correctly. It is always important with new period floors that the tiles are sealed with the correct sealer prior to, and after grouting.
Let us know if you need a tiler
While we do not carry out tiling work ourselves, we have several period floor tiling specialists whom we recommend and work closely with who can prepare and tile your new floor. We would usually quote you for the tiles first and if the price is acceptable, we would then instruct one of the tilers we work with to contact you to arrange to visit you and measure as well as discuss the proposed job with you.
Regardless of who you choose to complete your tiling work, we can work with them to plan the design and make sure it is both what you want and helpful for them - i.e minimising cuts and tricky areas that could cause issues, prolonging the job and costing you more money. By drawing these to scale we can make sure the floor is as symmetrical as possible and that the intended design will fit your room or area.
Why choose Alternative Tiles for your period floor?
- We have over 40 years' experience in the tiling industry
- We have specialised in period Victorian, Edwardian and Minton floor tiles for around 15 years
- We are one of the largest stockists in the UK of Victorian floor tiles
Our unique CAD design service
- Our scale drawing service gives you a preview of the final area and...
- Minimises waste, mistakes and cutting by supplying premade tiles where possible, saving your tiler time and you money as well as giving your tiles a neater edge
- Allows us to lay out the design symmetrically and neatly
- Allows us to calculate the exact number and type of tiles required instead of roughly working it out by area
- Gives us/you the opportunity to change colours and see what that would look like
