See How An Old Minton Tile Floor Can Look Stunning

Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by David

This Minton tile cleaning Buckinghamshire case study shows a tile restoration of a Victorian clay tile floor in Ovington, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

The floor is over 100 years old and has had several coatings over its lifetime.

Old Sealer And Adhesive

In the past, the floor was sealed, and adhesive was applied for glue-down carpet.

Ingrained Soil

The tiles’ surface has ingrained soil, which is not surprising given their age.

Loose Tiles

Over half of the tiles are loose due to loss of the original grout and breakdown of the original adhesive.

Re-grouting was not included in the restoration specification; the condition of the tiles meant we had to take great care not to over-wet the floor or dislodge any tiles during cleaning and drying.

Protect Surrounding Areas

First, we installed protective plastic sheeting on the walls and adjoining rooms. We also removed the door to the w/c to make access easier.

Remove Surface Coatings

The first job was to remove the various surface coatings. We used a broad-spectrum gel-based sealing and coating remover. The coating was allowed to sit on the floor for a couple of hours to penetrate the coatings and adhesives.

The coating remover does not dissolve coatings; it actually penetrates the coating, softening it and preparing it for removal.

The removal process started with rotary cleaning equipment with various grades of cleaning pads and brushes. The floor was then carefully rinsed to remove the slurry and residues.

As the floor was old and well-worn, many of the tiles had worn, and the old coatings could not be removed by machinery. We applied more sealing and coating remover to these areas and left them to soften the remaining coatings. We then used hand pads and brushes to reach and remove the final coating residues.

The floor was then carefully rinsed and dried several times to remove all traces of old coatings and sealers.

We then left the floor overnight to dry out, ready for sealing.

As you can see, old clay tiles lose depth of colour when cleaned because the hard outer layer has worn away.

Apply Colour-Enhancing Impregnating Sealer

We brought the colour and vibrancy back to the floor by applying two coats of our specialist colour-enhancing penetrating impregnating sealer.

As you can see, the colour transformation is significant. The different colour tiles stand out, giving a beautiful appearance.

Look After Your Minton Tile Floor Properly

Optional aftercare product examples

The products below are examples of the type of neutral cleaners and low-impact equipment often discussed with homeowners after a floor like this has been restored. They are shown here for reference only and are not required for every floor.

Fila Pro Floor Cleaner View product

LTP Colour Intensifier & Stainblock H20 View product

Vileda H2PrO Spin Mop System View product

We carefully explained the importance of properly caring for the floor.

It is important to use the right cleaning chemicals, as standard floor-cleaning chemicals will eventually strip the impregnating sealers, leaving the floor dull and porous.

The correct cleaners will clean and extend the life of the surface finish. So the floor will continue to look beautiful for years to come.

This is one of many “before and after” examples referenced in our Victorian tile floor care guide, which explains how Minton floors change with wear and why careful cleaning and restoration can restore them.

If you would like your Victorian clay tile floor, or any other stone floor, restored to a beautiful finish, use our simple contact form.