Sorry another quarry tile one...

[welshgamekeepers]

We have recently bought an 1850s old gamekeeper's cottage in mid wales. In love with the quarry tile floor, but looking for some advice on maintaining it.

At the gable end next to the fireplace, in the corner there is some mould and the tiles are coming lose and lifting. I can easily pull one or two out with my hands. They are laid on earth. I have already reduced the outside ground level and adding drainage. The gable is facing a slant and gets battered by the weather and run off. The previous owners had lovely flower beds and shrubs around the house, which I have had to remove to put in the drains.
I have reinstated a wood burner in the fire place. We open the windows as much as we can and have a small dehumidifer there.

When digging to add the french drain, we discovered that this corner of the house does not have brick foundations, they seemed to stop at this corner, and it is just laid on clay. (we obviously stopped digging there when discovered)

There is a noticeable rise in the tiles here in the corner, which is contributing to them coming loose.

I probably don't have the budget to take everything out and put in a full limecrete floor. Would it be ok to use some lime grout to try and put things back in place? Builders are suggesting removing, DPM, concrete and 'new lath' membrane, then replacing the tiles but I'm unsure if this will create issues in the walls.

Any advice gratefully received. I love it just the way it is but I'd like to prevent any further movement or mould.

 

[Kearn]

That’s because the builders don’t understand old buildings… leave them to do the new builds!

I’d be intrigued as the cause of the ‘noticeable rise’ - possible old roots from nearby external planting pushing them up? Or maybe heave from the clay? Given you’re making changes to the ground conditions by removing plants and soil and digging drains, keep an eye on the area as the clay will react to these changes which impact moisture levels…

They’re lovely, look in good condition too. They don’t need much upkeep once in use, sweep/vacuum and a mop from time to time, without getting them saturated.

Initial clean up if need be, 2 bucket method like a car, some fairy or sugar soap and those green scourers.

I’d just relay the loose ones, dig down a touch if need be to re-bed, either on some plastering sand to level or a thin bed of lime mortar. Then as you say, grout the gaps with lime again - either a pre-mix or some NHL swept in dry and then moistened as they are quite tight joints. Not much need for the nuclear option of a new solid floor, unless you really want to install UFH, but feels a shame to shift a nice original floor.
When these were laid, contrary to common belief, they weren’t just chucked on the ground, the surface below was often prepared with a mixture of layers to aid moisture management and a modicum of insulation…!

Once the adjoining wall dries out and you’ve got heat and ventilation in the room, the damp/mould should dissipate too - just remember how slowly a saturated solid wall takes to fully dry!

 

[Itchinfilth]

Hello, As a low cost non obtrusive option I think using some lime to re bed the tiles and point them in is a good start. Sounds like you have plenty ongoing other works to help the house stay dry via the drainage and the ventilation will help.

 

[skierhughes]

My odd loose ones have gone down on a thin bed of lime mortar.

 

[welshgamekeepers]

Thank you so much everyone. We love the floor, it’s not going anywhere for as long as possible. Not planning on laying UFH. Slippers and the fire will have to do

Yes very possible it was roots or water lifting the tiles. The brick pointing wasn’t in a good state, and covered in wet soil but hopefully we’ve fixed that now and it will settle eventually.

Could anyone suggest a good premixed lime mortar brand to use?

Not all the tiles are in good condition, there are plenty of cracks but we are just accepting that as part of owning an old home.

 

[Kearn]

Thank you so much everyone. We love the floor, it’s not going anywhere for as long as possible. Not planning on laying UFH. Slippers and the fire will have to do

Yes very possible it was roots or water lifting the tiles. The brick pointing wasn’t in a good state, and covered in wet soil but hopefully we’ve fixed that now and it will settle eventually.

Could anyone suggest a good premixed lime mortar brand to use?

Not all the tiles are in good condition, there are plenty of cracks but we are just accepting that as part of owning an old home.

View attachment 19825

Think of them as laugh lines… the floor has seen much in its time!
It’s natural, with wear thinning them and the soil under shifting a bit.

The service end of our place has massive limestone slabs, been there likely since the 1600s. I can shove an endoscope camera a good few metres under them in various directions, such is the expense of mouse highways underneath. We’ve effectively got a very cracked, semi-suspended floor in happy tension!

Ty Mwar and Cornish Lime certainly will ensure and match for free still I believe, as will others, if you send a sample. However, as you only need a bag, and they all use pallet delivery, it would pay to find somewhere close enough that you can collect - which probably means a trip to Ty Mwar in the Brecons is your best bet …

Mortar Analysis & Matching Service

Mortars can be seen in a wide range of colours and compositions across the country, they will vary from region to region as local sands, local sources of lime and pozzolans would traditionally have been used. It is the aggregate/sand that predominantly affects the colour and texture. It is...

www.lime.org.uk

For a small amount, I’d use the same mortar for bedding and pointing, just need the one 20kg bag then I expect.

 

[Itchinfilth]

Thank you so much everyone. We love the floor, it’s not going anywhere for as long as possible. Not planning on laying UFH. Slippers and the fire will have to do

Yes very possible it was roots or water lifting the tiles. The brick pointing wasn’t in a good state, and covered in wet soil but hopefully we’ve fixed that now and it will settle eventually.

Could anyone suggest a good premixed lime mortar brand to use?

Not all the tiles are in good condition, there are plenty of cracks but we are just accepting that as part of owning an old home.

View attachment 19825

Thank you so much everyone. We love the floor, it’s not going anywhere for as long as possible. Not planning on laying UFH. Slippers and the fire will have to do

Yes very possible it was roots or water lifting the tiles. The brick pointing wasn’t in a good state, and covered in wet soil but hopefully we’ve fixed that now and it will settle eventually.

Could anyone suggest a good premixed lime mortar brand to use?

Not all the tiles are in good condition, there are plenty of cracks but we are just accepting that as part of owning an old home.

View attachment 19825

Slippers and fire are the way! On the flip side, they will be lovely and cool for hot feet in summer!