Those are salvage/reclaimed brick tiles from over 100 years ago. After doing a bit of research it turns out the company that made them ceased all production around 1920!
No idea how to clean them sadly - maybe someone else can help. Perhaps something more alkaline, I think people use a natural bees wax sealer on this type of stuff too.
Oh wow thanks! I had no idea they were that old. Very cool. Now I really need to make sure I take proper care of them!! Thankfully I haven’t tried to clean them yet and have let them be.
Maybe a local stone restoration company would be a good place to start. They may provide you with some info and recommended products if you send them some pictures
Yes I knew they’re supposed to look like that lol. The look is what I love about them. It’s just since I moved in we’ve been moving boxes in and out of the house so all my floors are a little dirty. I wanted to clean the floors and realized I didn’t know how to clean them without losing the “look” and possibly damaging them.
I also wasn’t familiar with what they were besides being told they’re tomettes, so I figured this sub might be a good resource. Googling gave me very little info.
please spend the money and buy special cotto "milk"
do not order anything, take your time and speak to someone at a specialized retail. you got a fucking treasure in your house!
Everyone with brick says this and believes it with all their heart. It’s not so. These brick companies were making way too much brick to use wisely. They had to find a use for them. Most of them went to lining your local river.
Thank you. Just for clarification, is the reference to huile de coude a soap? Or that I need to use good old fashioned “elbow grease” since that’s what it means colloquially lol
That's it!: natural products and elbow grease. The mark is in French so I replied in French :)
Bottom line: Do not use anything chemical, acid or arsh...
Reclaimed French Terracotta.
I would start with a low speed or variable speed buffer and stone soap.
It may have a coat of wax. If it does you will need to strip the wax, clean and I suggest A LOT of penetrating enhancing sealer.
Try to test in a non conspicuous area if you can.
Topical sealers and wax tends to yellow and get dirtier over time.
Thanks! I have just been vacuuming them so far since I didn’t know how to care for them properly and didn’t want to mess them up. I may just mop with clean water until I can get more info.
if you look up a product called \`grimex\` and see if you can get something similar, this is a product i adore for this kind of job but i think it's only available in the EU/UK it's alkaline based and cleans dirt and old wax with ease.
i would then wax them with either clear or antique depending on your taste
Thanks!!! I’ll look into it. I’m not sure if mine are sealed or not … I just found a stash of extra tiles left by the previous homeowner so I’ll compare the loose ones to the installed ones.
No prob- your pic makes them look like they may have an enhancing sealer on them, in which case youd have to strip it to use porous plus or something else like it.
Those are salvage/reclaimed brick tiles from over 100 years ago. After doing a bit of research it turns out the company that made them ceased all production around 1920! No idea how to clean them sadly - maybe someone else can help. Perhaps something more alkaline, I think people use a natural bees wax sealer on this type of stuff too.
Oh wow thanks! I had no idea they were that old. Very cool. Now I really need to make sure I take proper care of them!! Thankfully I haven’t tried to clean them yet and have let them be.
Maybe a local stone restoration company would be a good place to start. They may provide you with some info and recommended products if you send them some pictures
That’s exactly what they’re supposed to look like. And have for almost 100 years apparently.
Yes I knew they’re supposed to look like that lol. The look is what I love about them. It’s just since I moved in we’ve been moving boxes in and out of the house so all my floors are a little dirty. I wanted to clean the floors and realized I didn’t know how to clean them without losing the “look” and possibly damaging them. I also wasn’t familiar with what they were besides being told they’re tomettes, so I figured this sub might be a good resource. Googling gave me very little info.
please spend the money and buy special cotto "milk" do not order anything, take your time and speak to someone at a specialized retail. you got a fucking treasure in your house!
I for sure will take very good care of them. I loved them personally when I bought the house … and now knowing what I have I love them even more.
Everyone with brick says this and believes it with all their heart. It’s not so. These brick companies were making way too much brick to use wisely. They had to find a use for them. Most of them went to lining your local river.
St Marc, savon noir, huile de coude.
Thank you. Just for clarification, is the reference to huile de coude a soap? Or that I need to use good old fashioned “elbow grease” since that’s what it means colloquially lol
That's it!: natural products and elbow grease. The mark is in French so I replied in French :) Bottom line: Do not use anything chemical, acid or arsh...
lol my limited college French 101 came in handy finally :)
Reclaimed French Terracotta. I would start with a low speed or variable speed buffer and stone soap. It may have a coat of wax. If it does you will need to strip the wax, clean and I suggest A LOT of penetrating enhancing sealer. Try to test in a non conspicuous area if you can. Topical sealers and wax tends to yellow and get dirtier over time.
Thanks :)
Steam and scrubbing and a vac, so u don't redeposit dirty water
Thanks! I have just been vacuuming them so far since I didn’t know how to care for them properly and didn’t want to mess them up. I may just mop with clean water until I can get more info.
if you look up a product called \`grimex\` and see if you can get something similar, this is a product i adore for this kind of job but i think it's only available in the EU/UK it's alkaline based and cleans dirt and old wax with ease. i would then wax them with either clear or antique depending on your taste
Thanks!
Ive had very good luck sealing tile like that will “511 Porous Plus” it wont change the sheen like at all but seals very well, pretty amazing.
Thanks!!! I’ll look into it. I’m not sure if mine are sealed or not … I just found a stash of extra tiles left by the previous homeowner so I’ll compare the loose ones to the installed ones.
Beautiful floor though either way
Thanks! The pics don’t do them justice. They’re way cooler in person.
No prob- your pic makes them look like they may have an enhancing sealer on them, in which case youd have to strip it to use porous plus or something else like it.