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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Original victorian flooring - can we change?

15 replies

Flowertop · 03/02/2008 10:37

Need the Mumsnet vote on this one. We have just moved into a converted victorian property. The main hallway is huge and used as our dining room. At first we quite liked the original tiled flooring in the hallway but have grown (just in a few months!) to not like it very much and feel it makes the area look scruffy. We have had someone in to polish it - no change! We are now talking about taking the flooring up and changing to tiles of our liking. DH has no problem doing this but I feel awful about throwing away the origin. We can't tile over it as I thought at first as the floor needs to be evened out. What do you think? Has anyone else changed something so old and have any regrets. HELP!!!!
THANK YOUxxxx

OP posts:

MamaG · 03/02/2008 10:40

depends how scabby they are

I personally LOVE original features in ahouse but if they look very scruffy, you shouldn't have to live with the4m
why don't you take a pic and psot on her so we can nosy vote?

ArrietyClock · 03/02/2008 10:42

Wouldn't do it if I were you (sorry, think it would be vandalism! but that's just my view) but if you do ,don't just rip it up and throw it away. I'll bet that if it can be taken up carefully someone would pay for it, even if only for parts to fix their own floor.

Also have a look at things like this
www.buildingconservation.com/articles/tiles/tiles.htm (see the bit at the end) to see if you there's anything further that you can do with it.

KatyMac · 03/02/2008 10:45

Has it been properly sealed with linseed oil (& something...or is it boiled linseed oil)

We had this & had it properly treated & it looked fabulous - it needed doing about every 3 years - but it's possible to do yourself - I'm sure you could google it

Then put a runner down

twelveyeargap · 03/02/2008 11:04

If you REALLY don't like it, could you lay hardboard over the original and then tile on that?

If you ever come to sell your house, it will be a selling point for the original to be pristine underneath the hardboard.

Personally, I would keep it. You might find that modern tiles look very out of place with the rest of the Victorian decor.

Would a large rug work to cover most of it? There are loads of places you can get antique rugs for not much money. Well, not as much as re-tiling anyway!

ChippyMinton · 03/02/2008 11:16

I'd leave it, it's part of the house's history and when you re-sell it will be a coveted original feature. Could you carpet it or put down a large rug. Does it look scruffy because if dosn't fir with your decor? Could you try some period paint colours on the wall/woodwork to make the decor look less pristine?

suzycreamcheese · 03/02/2008 11:42

another vote to leave it...tis vandalism i think..sorry
the solutions suggested here sound good, do they appeal?

Pruners · 03/02/2008 11:50

Message withdrawn

LordCopper · 03/02/2008 12:25

Would be a shame to get rid - is there no way they can be restored at all?

Original poster

Flowertop · 03/02/2008 13:28

Thanks so much for all your replies which I agree with - especially ones about vandalism as that is how I feel! DH is really wanting to get rid. TWG the hardboard idea sounds good and will have to research that. Trouble is DH usually has his way on these things. I would just feel awful taking up something historic.
Thanks again...XX

OP posts:

wheelybug · 03/02/2008 13:41

Agree with those who say don't take it up unless its really really ruined. I have a victorian house and so wish the original tiles still existed in the hall.

ChippyMinton · 03/02/2008 15:09

Ask an estate agent to value the property with/without the floor?

hippipotami · 03/02/2008 15:12

Oh please don't take it up. I have a victorian house and the owners before us ripped out all the original features. Akin to property vandalism...

We are spending a small fortune sourcing reclaimed doors, fireplaces etc to bring some character back into this house.

Cover or live-with, but please please please do not rip it up. It has been there for over a hundred years, and should be there long after you have gone...

cupsoftea · 03/02/2008 15:29

If you really don't like it take it up and sell it. Or could you store the tiles in case you sell & you could pass them to the new owner.

You should be happy in the home you live in.

Twiglett · 03/02/2008 15:37

I have to say I agree with DH when he says only gobshites rip up original features

does it need restoring though .. polishing can just trap in the dirt .. restoring it first will bring back the beauty and then it gets polished (there are specialists)

which kind of victorian tiling is it? ... can you find a picture of it? here's some or here

you could carpet or put wood over it if you really hate it

georgie34 · 04/02/2008 10:12

keep them. I bought my otherwise awful house almost entirely on basis of the original victorian floor tiles. you will devalue and lose appeal if you take them up. Get a lovely rug or something instead or have them professionally restored.

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