1930's original tile flooring

[freesolo]

We moved into our house last year , it's a 1930's house and is carpeted throughout, very modern. After visiting a few neighbours I noticed they all had beautiful, original tiled halls I decided to have a look tonight and with the help of my trusty screwdriver I can see beautiful red tiles underneath the carpet! What do I do now? I want to show the tiles but I have barely any disposable income and don't know if i could take up the carpet and get the tiles cleaned myself, any advice?

I have hit a hurdle, and it's putting me off lifting anymore as I may not be able to get these bastard carpet rods off!!!
I have borrowed SEVERAL tools from my builder friend , including an electric thingy, and I just can't budge even a bit of it 😭

@WhatWouldMaLarkinDo very similar! I suppose I might be...

Are they glued? Would a heat gun soften the glue?

They are glued.. I read that heating the glue could damage the tiles. I'll just have to try again on the weekend I think, when I'm feeling fresher!

Ah, gripper rods... I ummed and ahhed for a while about those, then set to with a large screwdriver and prised them off. Good luck!

I have removed hundreds of those in my house. You just need a crowbar and lots of strength! But I would be a bit more weary of removing them from those gorgeous tiles in case of damage..

Try to break the wood up layers at a time with something like a chisel rather than prise the whole strip off. Hopefully you'll be left with a very thin layer of wood stuck to the adhesive that you may be able to soften with something (chemical/heat).
Sounds like you could risk cracking the tiles.

Just uninspiring floorboards under the carpet in my Victorian house. I’m very envious of these discoveries!

I do have tiles like Moreso’s in the storm porch, but am pretty sure the tiles are reproduction and probably put down about ten years ago.

You've got similar tiles to me op just a different pattern. We are going to have them restored after we have had our kitchen done as a couple are cracked around the stairs and a bit of grout is missing. I think yours will be lovely if you can manage to get the grippers off.

Tell your little helper that there are dreamies hidden under the carpet grippers. They will be up by morning.

I read a thread on twitter populated by people who'd found amazing parquet floors beneath their carpets.
The initial tweeter was lifting the old carpet in preparation for new carpet that had already been paid for, cut and was non refundable, so the floor was just going to get covered up again.
Wickes do a pretty good replica for those of you lacking in the vintage tile dept.
www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Dorset-Marron-Patterned-Ceramic-Tile-316-x-316mm-Sample

How about a paint scraper?

So are you all ready for the big reveal?

Yes!!!!!

Here it is!

That looks lovely! And I think having unpainted doors and skirting board makes it feel warm and homely

Omg it's like you found buried treasure!!! Thanks so much.

Now you need an original paint colour for your turquoise door!

Gorgeous!

Ooh nice.
I had a front door like that. I used paint stripper on it and it was a beautiful dark wood underneath.

Thanks everyone, I'm very happy to have found it. Will be HOURS of work getting all the carpet grippers and glue off but it can be done over time

Ohhh, I have serious tile envy. I live in a house built 1936 but there are only floorboards down. Those are absolute beauties

This is such a wonderful thread, how exciting OP and all of your wonderful floors!!!!!

We moved in to a 30's home and without researching just re-carpeted the house and put new flooring in the kitchen. As the fitters were leaving one said that we had lovely parquet flooring throughout and original tiles in the kitchen. I was gutted. I have plan to reveal them when the flooring next needs to be done!

@dudsville oh you should! I LOVE parquet flooring. From the peek I've had under the carpet in our front room i don't think the original floor boards are there unfortunately. The kitchen probably has tiles but I need to get the hallway tiles restored properly before I even think about tackling that. I've managed to get 6 gripper strips off but it's very hard work ( only about 100 to go 😖) Once they're all off I'll scrape the glue and then hopefully some kind of special cleaner to get the residue off

So beautiful OP. We are about to move into a 30s house with square quarry tiles in the kitchen and now I’m wondering what could be lurking underneath the carpet in the hallway.