Victorian Pathway?

[chris1012]

We are having the front garden of our Victorian terrace landscaped at present. Part of the plan was to have a new black and white Victorian path laid. However on lifting the current paving we have uncovered the original victorian tiles.

We are unsure what to do with this and whether it is worth trying to save the tiles and re-lay them.

There path is considerably lower than the pavement so keeping it as it is is not really an option.

The path seems to be in a reasonable condition but there are a number of tiles missing.

Is reconditioning the original tiles and sourcing reclaimed tiles to fill in the gaps a viable option ?

The path is a red, black, yellow and grey mix of varying sizes.

We really need some advice as to whether a restoration project would be worthwhile and cost effective or whether a better option would be to install a replica pathway.

 

[Mynight]

I doubt it would be as cost effective as laying over the top of it. Shame as that would look great!

 

[randal]

Why not narrow the pathway, reclaim some tiles and patch up the missing ones with what you've reclaimed?

 

[Mynight]

Just asking to get a pleb trip on it and sue at that point though .

 

[randal]

Just asking to get a pleb trip on it and sue at that point though .

Set up a camera too, so we can laugh at the (mis)footage.

 

[joelk2]

laying on top would most likely be cheaper.

i wish mine was still there. i have the one in the hallway though (has been hidden for a while under carpet from the previous owners)

 

[tom_e]

Just asking to get a pleb trip on it and sue at that point though .

Plenty of gardens have a step down from the street and I'm pretty sure court cases have not yet become endemic!

I'd definitely try saving it if you can, it'll certainly cost more than laying over it but it's nice to try and preserve these little touches.

 

[a1ex2001]

laying on top would most likely be cheaper.

i wish mine was still there. i have the one in the hallway though (has been hidden for a while under carpet from the previous owners)

This, if you want to save it your looking at a labour of love and trawling round reclamation yards for enough similar tiles to fill the holes. I'd do it but I'm a sap for period features and could never bring myself to bury that path once I knew it was there!

 

[Skiddley]

You could have a step down from the street height to your path height. I think that'd look fine.

I'd be concerned about water pooling.

 

[Gilly]

I'd get rid. Not a fan. I'm sure there'd be someone else that would be after them for the very same reason though.

That is, unless you are desperate to keep them. It won't be cost effective though.

 

[DB_SamX]

I'd be concerned about water pooling.

Otherwise, I would say relay them at the higher level, but will be costly though. Mind you, would be an attractive feature.

 

[Maccapacca]

I'd not create an ice rink or a puddle for myself and lay over, remember to direct the water onto your neighbours path (ask DJ lol)

 

[Kuros]

If you are going to go over the top of them again, I'd argue about pulling them up and storing them elsewhere/flogging them, else they'll be lost all over again.

 

[Danthus]

That looks rather posh for an external floor, are you sure it was not part of a floor from an earlier part of the building?

I have watched a lot of Time Team.

 

[~Lithium~]

That'll cost a fortune to fully restore and will become slippy as hell with a bit of ice. I'd try contacting a local reclaimers, they might be interested in buying them from you and removing them - it might go some way to paying for the work you're having done. You could always put a new mosaic/pattern in your new pathway.

 

[joelk2]

That looks rather posh for an external floor, are you sure it was not part of a floor from an earlier part of the building?

I have watched a lot of Time Team.

quite common in victorian properties.

 

[Skiddley]

Doubt digging them up to sell\re-use is worth it. Go over with modern comparable.

 

[Rroff]

Interesting but a bit dated looking IMO I don't think the look would really work.

 

[darael]

That looks rather posh for an external floor, are you sure it was not part of a floor from an earlier part of the building?

I have watched a lot of Time Team.

A search on Google images for "victorian house path" should ease your concerns.

 

[Midlife Crisis]

I have fitted and re fitted may Victorian floors and I can tell you that for the most part trying to refit the old tiles is a pain in the XXXX, that is if you want them to look anywhere like it should. The new tile made by Original Style look pretty much the same as the old ones, the yellows look more err, yellow and less orange if you get my drift.
They may well lift easily as they have been damp under the surface for years. If you can lift them and flog them, but the tiles might fragment as they are prone to cracking and turn to useless chunks some times when lifted. An architect once asked me to lift all the individual tiles in a 18m hall and put them all in labeled box's ready for refitting, needless to say they all went in a skip as someone had already re-stuck most of them and my sds drill smashed them to bits. I was not surprised as they are often way more fragile than you would think. Covered up for a reason and the reason is they are XXXXed
PS. I hate these tiles