Case Study
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While preparing the main reception at St George’s College, Weybridge for decoration, the facilities manager uncovered original Victorian mosaic tiles hidden beneath concrete screed and carpet adhesive. Given the complexity, I enlisted expert restorer Mick Conlon from East Surrey.
Over five days, we removed the adhesive with Tile Doctor Remove and Go, followed by diamond honing to cut through the concrete and reveal the century-old tiles. Some were worn and uneven from years of foot traffic, so we used handheld buffers for precision and replaced any missing or broken tiles sourced from a reclamation yard in Tenterden.
Once restored, we sealed the floor with Tile Doctor Colour Grow for a durable, matt finish that enhanced the colours without adding unwanted gloss. The results drew admiration from staff across the school — the headmistress described it best: “astonishing.”
Services
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Limestone is cleaned and polished by using a burnishing system of four diamond encrusted pads, each with a differing grit or coarseness.
The first pad is 400 grit which removes and existing sealer and dirt. Gradually I work down through a 800 grit then 1500 grit to the final 3000 grit which returns the shine.
Limestone is sealed using a natural look, solvent based product that penetrates the stone offering maximum stain protection. Depending on the size of the work area limestone restoration takes two days work.
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Marble requires a high level of care to restore its natural sheen.
Using a series of fine diamond abrasives, scratches and etching are gently removed before the stone is polished to the desired finish. A penetrating sealer is then applied for lasting protection.
The result is a smooth, reflective surface that looks fresh and refined.
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Victorian tiles are my favourite to work on despite being labour intensive. The before and after can be astoundingly beautiful.
Hard wearing and tough, they can be worked with an aggressive diamond encrusted pad. This wipes of the muck and a minuscule layer of the tile exposing the true colour beneath. All muck is removed with a wet vacuum cleaner. The tiles need to dry for a minimum of two days as a lot of water is used in the process.
A matt or gloss sealer should be applied.
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Flagstone floors are known for their character and variation, often found in older properties or garden areas.
Cleaning begins with the removal of any surface coatings, followed by a deep scrub to extract built-up dirt from the stone and grout lines. The surface is then sealed to enhance colour and make future cleaning easier.
This process restores the natural look without losing the aged charm.
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Quarry tiles are durable but often become dull or ingrained with dirt over time.
Old coatings and sealers are removed before a deep clean is carried out to lift the years of grime. Once cleaned, a fresh sealer is applied to protect the surface and bring out the natural rich tones.
A traditional material that benefits hugely from proper restoration.
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Ceramic tiles are extremely popular due to being hard wearing and inexpensive. Also durable in wet situations and resistant to scratching.
Before and after results are often spectacular...
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Travertine is a stunning surface once cleaned and polished.
The four pad burnishing system is used whereby a course diamond pad is used to remove existing sealer then gradually lesser diamond encrusted pads are used and the shine returns.
A sealer is applied then polished off.
Highly specialised work that gives a great result.
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Slate is usually used in kitchens, wet rooms, showers and patio areas.
Smooth or even, any existing sealer must be removed first. Slate has a history of being difficult to work with so tests must be carried out priory to work being undertaken.
Matt or gloss finish is available.
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Terracotta has been around for thousands of years. It can be used anywhere and is particularly popular in warmer climes.
A strong tile, often thicker than other tiles it does gather dirt easily so must be sealed correctly. The most popular sealer is the glossy type which protects the dirt from penetrating. Once cleaned and sealed the original colour will return to your tiles.
Regular maintenance is recommended.
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Tile cleaning, grout cleaning, grout removal and replacement, mastic removal and replacement, mould removal, grout recolouring and shower glass cleaning.
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Patio restoration and cleaning is usually done in spring in readiness for the summer.
I use either a jet wash or a rotary cleaner depending on your surface.Repair work is also undertaken.
Ready to Restore?
“Excellent results and Rupert was very professional, polite and thorough.
I would definitely recommend him.”
Client Feedback
“Rupert provided a very prompt, efficient and high standard of work. He was very pleasant and I was very pleased with the results.”
