Sectional Replacement of Tiles. In some instances, the
best approach may be to remove a complete section of damaged original
tiles and replace that section of floor in its entirety with new
reproduction tiles. Advantages of this method include the ability
to lay a level setting bed, as well as achieving a finished product
that is uniform in color and pattern match. Although this approach
may involve replacing more original tiles with reproduction tiles
than may be absolutely necessary, original tiles that remain in
good condition can be saved to be reused in other sections where
only a few tiles are damaged. This technique is generally most
appropriate either when the section being replaced is the most
damaged portion of the floor, or is in a relatively inconspicuous
location and the tiles that are removed will supply enough salvaged
pieces to permit in-kind repair of a more visually prominent area.
When laying a section of reproduction tiles, it may be a good
idea to use contemporary materials and installation methods such
as expansion joints or flexible expansion material. One of the
major causes of ceramic floor tile installation failure and cracked,
broken or disbonded tiles is the lack of expansion joints. Expansion
joints were sometimes used in laying historic ceramic tile floors,
and these are frequently the ones that have survived in the best
condition. Many preservation contractors hesitate to use conventional
expansion joint filler materials because of their limited range
of colors. However, there are new flexible sealants in a wide
range of colors that are available in either sanded or unsanded
textures to match the surrounding grout joints. As a result,
the expansion joints are almost invisible. A bonding agent may
also be considered-if recommended by the tile manufacturer-and
any drawings provided by the manufacturer should be used to guide
the installation.
Each preservation technique has advantages and disadvantages that
the historic property owner or manger should take into consideration
before deciding which one is best suited to the particular flooring
problem. For example, slight differences in the shape, size,
color and the pattern between the old and the new tiles are frequently
encountered. If replacing an entire section, the slightest difference
in size and dimension between the original tiles and the reproduction
tiles, even if it is as small as 1/8" or 1/16", can
mean that the new section of tile will not fit inside an existing
border. Even though drawings and photos are provided
to the manufacturer, there may be some variation in the design
and pattern size on the new tiles. Thus, they may not align perfectly
with the original tiles, and as a result the section of the floor
that has been replaced may be quite conspicuous.
"Preserving Historic Ceramic Tile Floors" an Historic Preservation Brief
