Tile Frequently Asked Questions

What are OLDE ENGLISH tiles made of?

OLDE ENGLISH tiles are made of natural china clay dust, mixed with a little water, pressed in a steel mould and fired in a kiln.
* Did you know? The Victorians used clay dust since it is lighter to carry than wet clay. Using clay dust also improves the density and therefore the solidity of the tiles.

What makes OLDE ENGLISH tiles different from your competitors' tiles?

Because our tiles are fully vitrified, and have a lower porosity, they absorb less moisture, even before a polish/sealer is applied.

This makes them more resistant to staining (especially in exterior applications, where you cannot use a sealer/polish).

What does fully vitrified mean?

When tiles are fired to a very high temperature, they are "fully vitrified" rather than just "vitrified" and have a lower porosity. They therefore absorb less moisture, even before a polish/sealer is applied. This makes them more resistant to staining, especially in exterior applications, where you cannot use a sealer/polish.

Are the tiles suitable for outdoors and indoors?

Yes, the tiles are suitable both for interior and exterior use.

Tiles laid outside should not be polished/sealed, as this can affect their frost resistance.

What are the benefits of Victorian tiles flooring in comparison to other types of floorings?

Compared to other types of decorative floor finish, OLDE ENGLISH tiles have a very long life expectancy.

Remember that many Victorian and Edwardian floors are still going strong and looking good, well over 100 years after they were laid.

Provided that they are properly laid and maintained, there is no reason why you should not expect well over 50 years use from your tiled floor.

This also means that they are ecologically very sound.

How long will the colours of the OLDE ENGLISH tiles last?

Our tiles are "full bodied", meaning that the colour goes all the way through the tile. Many modern floor tiles have a thin decorative coating on the top surface only. Once this thin coating has worn away, the tiles need to be replaced, often in only a few years. As our tiles are the same right through their full depth of 10mm, you cannot wear the colour surface, except after many years wear and tear.

What happens to the colours when the tiles are scratched?

The tiles have a very hard surface, and are not easily scratched. Even if that happens, it will not affect the colour, as it goes all the way through. Usually a re-polish will mask light scratching, but some wear and tear is just part of the "patina" that a floor acquires as it gets older.

Are OLDE ENGLISH tiles difficult to maintain?

No.

As long as they are regularly cleaned (approx once a week), and occasionally re-polished/sealed (approx once a year), they will need no significant attention for many years. Even then, you should not need to do more than some re-grouting.
Although the tiles are highly resistant and unlikely to break, even if you drop a heavy object on the tiles and break some, you can have such areas cut out and replacement tiles laid.

What is the advised cleaning procedure for the OLDE ENGLISH tiles?

Cleaning the tiles is simple.

Once a week, or when dirty, wash the tiles with Original Features' HG Superfloor Shine Cleaner. We advise you to avoid using any other cleaning materials since these may harm the polish layer. You can alternatively use plain water).
Polishing the tiles once a year is recommended.
For more information about tiles' cleaning please request our free cleaning guide here. (A link to the cleaning guide sign up)

How can I be sure that the tiles I purchase will perfectly match my original tiles for restoration?

You can order a sample box showing the full range of colours. The price of the sample box will be refunded against your next order.

Can I install the floor independently?

- We recommend that you have your tiles laid by a professional tiler.
A list of tillers is provided on the http://www.tiles.org.uk/

Are OLDE ENGLISH tiles suitable for laying in the kitchen?

Yes

But they should be polished to make cleaning as easy as possible.

Are OLDE ENGLISH tiles suitable for laying in the shower room or swimming pool?

Yes.

The factory specializes in making tiles for swimming pools, using the same tile constituents. In wet areas, do not over-polish, to ensure slip resistance.

How can I calculate the amount of tiles that I need?

Our website will shortly provide an easy to use tile calculator. Add a short explanation on the way to calculate

What is the difference in the way the Victorians used to make the tiles and the way in which OLDE ENGLISH tiles are made?

Original Features tiles are made in a very similar way, but with a few small differences. Firstly, the china clay is mixed with less water – this is possible because they are pressed in the mould at high pressure, so still form a "solid", rather than "plastic" tile, in the mould. Secondly, they are fired to a higher temperature, so they are "fully vitrified" rather than just "vitrified". As they have less water in the mix initially, they are less air spaces after firing, so they have a lower porosity – i.e. they are less absorbent.

Do I need to measure floor area before visit? Or is it better for the fitter to work out the measurements for me.

- We would recommend that you have the fitter measure up for you, especially if you are intending using one of our more complex designs, which incorporate a border around

Will I have to remove any adjoining doors before tiles are laid?

It is possible – your tile fitter will be able to advise you.

How should I decide which is the most suitable pattern for my room, are all the Olde English patterns and colours suitable for all areas of my house?

All of our designs and colours are suitable for domestic applications. Remember that you can change the colours in most designs to suit particular decorative themes.

Is my existing floor surface suitable for laying Olde English Tiles on, or will I have to do any preparation work on them?

The very best surface for tiles is a solid base (e.g. concrete), with a levelling screed on top. Tiles can be laid over boards, but additional plywood will have to be fixed over the top of the boards. This should be done to a very high standard to minimise any movement in the surface – your tile fixer will be able to advise you.

Is it possible for me to lay the tiles myself?

For the very simple designs yes, but for the more complex designs such as the Grasmere, which has over 500 separate tiles per square metre, we strongly advise you to use a tiler who has experience in laying geometric floor tiles.

I would like to use Olde English Tiles outside on my pathway, what preparation will need to be done prior to the tiles being laid?

We recommend that a new concrete base is laid to ensure a long life.

Are Olde English Tiles slip resistant?

Yes our tiles conform to European Standard R10 for slip resistance.

I would like to use Olde English Tiles in my Kitchen, but I want to be sure that I can keep them clean.

We recommend that for interior use that our tiles are sealed with a non-permanent sealer such as HG Golvpolish and then regularly mopped with water containing HG Superfloor maintenance cleaner.

Are my tiles likely to crack or chip if I drop something on them.

Providing the tiles have been laid on a solid base with no movement beneath them, our tiles should withstand normal domestic wear and tear. However, if you drop something very heavy on them (like a cast iron pan), you could crack a tile. We suggest that, when the tiles are supplied, you order a few extra to keep as spares.

Will my tiles fade over a period of time?

No the colours will not fade in normal use, but over a long period polishes and sealers can trap dirt. This is why we recommend a non-permanent sealer, as they can be stripped back and re-applied occasionally.

What is the best way to maintain my tiles - should I seal them?

For interior use yes, we recommend you use HG Golvpolish. For Exterior use never seal the tiles, as this could compromise the frost resistance.

Are my pathway tiles resistant to frost?

Yes, unlike other ranges of geometic tiles, Olde English Tiles are fully vitrified, so are frost resistant.

I have an existing Victorian design in my hallway, which need repairing is it possible to use Olde English Tiles for the repairs?

Olde English Tiles are made to metric dimensions, so will not exactly match the sizes of Victorian or Edwardian tiles, which were to Imperial dimensions. In some circumstances, certain sizes may be useful for repairs, but this should only be done in full awareness that sizes will not be a perfect match.