We are hoping to buy a house builtc1800. There are quarry tiles in the hall and part of the kitchen. Part of the kitchen only has concrete.
As we are to install a shower room at the tiled end I am hoping we can lift the tiles there and reuse them on the other end. The surveyor feels the tiles date from the build of the house.
How would they have been laid and as a result will it be possible get them up in good condition? If so ideas as to how gratefully received.
What is the grout like?
How big are the tiles and do you have a photo ? Pre 1800 tiles certainly existed but their age (to this rough level) should be quite obvious. They'd be rare though and they'd only be in a high status house. If it's a partial floor, then there's a good chance they indicate a missing old wall dividing a kitchen and dairy (more likely with) or possibly scullery (almost certainly without).
I'd expect it more likely that they're recent rather than that old. The way to tell for sure is to lift one and look for markings on the back (tile making history is well documented, if you check archives and experts at somewhere like Jacksfield)
One technique for lifting tiles is to saw between them (quite deeply), then saw beneath them, then lift the floor in large slabs without breaking the tiles. Yes, this is a lot of digging - you might go a foot beneath the tile. Then turn the tile chunks over and "take the floor off the tile" rather than taking the tile off the floor. A diamond saw with accurate height control (stone saw running on a timber jig) does the donkeywork, followed by some cleanup with hydrochloric acid. If they're laid on bitumen, then use a hot air gun and scraper instead of the acid.
On the whole, it's a huge pain and only worth it for good mosaics. I'd be very surprised if it was worth it for mere quarry tiles.
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