Context
Directions for laying the pavements
A voice from the past: a century-old instruction
on how to lay Victorian tiles by Maw and Co.
The Victorians were undoubtedly skilled when it came to tiles.
Their vibrant geometric and encaustic tiles were not just aesthetically pleasing; they were also remarkably durable and functional. Clearly, Victorian builders knew what they were doing - numerous geometric and encaustic-tiled floors and pathways have endured over 150 years of use and wear.
We love old books and old building techniques; quite often they give us an unusual insight into the essence of what we do now.
Here is an instruction published in the 1860s on how to lay Victorian tiles. It was created by Maw and Co., at the time the world's largest manufacturer of tiles, and, therefore, the leading authority on Victorian tiles.
OF THE FOUNDATION
In preparing concrete foundations, the introduction of lumps of unslaked lime should be carefully avoided, as they are liable to swell and displace the pavement.
A good foundation may also be prepared by laying an even layer of bricks; or if the tile pavement is to replace a pavement composed of flags or stones, they form an excellent foundation when lowered to the required depth.
Wood floors in upper stories may be readily replaced with mosaic, the foundation being prepared by nailing fillets to the joists at three inches from the upper surface, and the floor boards sawn into short lengths, and fitted in between the joists upon the fillets; concrete may then be filled in flush with the upper face of the joists, and faced with the coat of cement before mentioned. The tiles and cement will occupy about the same space as the floor-boards they replace.
Tiles should on no account be laid on boarded floors without the intervention of concrete, as they are certain to become loose within a few weeks of being laid.
In giving dimensions of spaces to be paved, the exact width of the stone nosings of any steps should be stated.
Sand employed for mixing with the cement should be sharp, and free from loam.
Some of the sand in the neighbourhood of Manchester, and other parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, contains fragments of a tarry, bituminous substance, which produces unsightly stains on the tiles, and should be carefully avoided. In this it is recommended to lay the tiles in pure cement, without sand.
By this process the whole of the tiles will be brought to a perfectly even surface, and thoroughly consolidated with the cement, which the beating down regularly distributes under them, counteracting any slight variations in their substances, by depressing the thicker tiles, and floating upon the cement for displaced those that may be too low.
The evenness of the surface should be occasionally tested with a mason’s straight-edge, of sufficient length to bear on the guides.
The workman will have to use his discretion in determining the portion of the pavement it will be most convenient to commence upon. In regularly formed spaces, it will be best to lay a part of the general pattern across the whole width within the borders, in the centre of the pavement. This will enable the work to be symmetrically disposed; the borders may then be laid to it, after which, the general patterns may be completed within the borders. Care should be taken that the work is placed centrally with the space, so as to avoid having a wider margin on one side than the other. This can only be ensured by temporarily laying down a part of the pattern, and ascertaining the extra space the tiles occupy; the laying should then be proceeded with in every direction from the centre.
The foundation should he kept thoroughly wet whilst the pavement is being laid.
When the bedding is sufficiently hardened, mix some pure cement (without sand) with water to the consistency of cream, to run into the joints, taking care that what remains on the surface is wiped off before it dries hard. Cement or dirt should not be allowed to harden on the surface during the laying, and the pavement should be carefully covered up with a layer of saw-dust till the painting and all other work is completed. After first being laid, the pavements are liable to injury from the heavy traffic of workmen, and unless protected, may be permanently disfigured by paint stains and dirt.
When the tiles have to be cut, rule a line where the division is to be made, and rest the back of the tile on the sharp edge of a stone, immediately under the line, along which bruise the surface with a hard, sharp chisel; the parts will easily separate, after which, chip the back edge even.
It is recommended to remove the skirting boards from the walls whilst the pavement is being laid. When replaced, they should rest on the tiles; the trouble of cutting the outer tiles to fit against it will be avoided, and a much neater appearance produced than when the outer joint is visible.
FOR KEEPING
THE PAVEMENTS CLEAN