Historic Dublin church required floor restoration

Client: Christ Church Cathedral

When you walk into Christ Church Cathedral, you are stepping onto a floor that tells a story. Beneath each footstep lie patterns and colours that have endured for centuries. These tiles are made from layers of coloured clay. Instead of paint, the designs are pressed into the clay itself, so they remain beautiful as time goes by. Because they are both strong and artistic, encaustic tiles have been a favourite choice for important buildings.

Our work at the cathedral involved careful cleaning and conservation. We removed ingrained dirt while protecting the tiles’ historic surface. As a result, the floor regained its character without losing the marks of time that make it special.

Tiles used in Christ Church Cathedral

Some of the tiles you see today are original medieval pieces from the 13th century. These were discovered during the cathedral’s 19th century restoration. They are inlaid with patterns made from several colours of clay, which helped them survive for so long.

Most of the visible floor comes from Victorian reproductions made between 1871 and 1878. Architect George Edmund Street led this restoration, and the tiles were produced by Craven Dunnill & Co. of Shropshire. Designs like lions and fleur-de-lis were inspired by medieval styles but arranged in patterns chosen by Street. Consequently, the present floor blends medieval originals with Victorian artistry.

General Cleaning & Maintenance

Although encaustic tiles made from clay are less porous than cement, sealing them is still important. Sealing helps prevent dirt from settling in grout lines or detailed designs. Moreover, it keeps the colours bright for years to come.

For daily cleaning, you should always use a gentle, pH-neutral cleaner such as Stone Soap by PMAC. Strong or acidic cleaners can damage the seal and fade the colours over time. Therefore, choosing the right cleaning product will protect the tiles and reduce long-term maintenance needs.

Marble and natural stone floor cleaning

Marble and natural stone floors are an expensive and luxurious item and you should only entrust their restoration to an experienced and knowledgeable professional.

Most marble and natural stone floors and surfaces can be revitalised and returned to their original state. When installed and cared for correctly, your stone or marble floor should last a lifetime. We have cleaned, polished, sealed, repaired, and restored thousands of marble and stone floors, dating from the 1700s to modern times.

All our operatives have undergone extensive training and have many years experience restoring and conserving stone and marble floors.