How to Restore Tile Gems

So you’ve got an old Arts & Crafts tile fireplace.

Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones: No one has painted over it, broken the tiles or covered it with a marble facade in the last 60 or 70 years.

But you’re more than likely to have some damage. Surprisingly, experts say, it’s fairly easy to bring tiles back to life.

“There’s a tremendous resurgence of interest in tile,” said Marie Glass Tapp, who runs Tile Restoration in Seattle, a company that restores tile fireplaces and makes re-creations of Batchelder tile.

Probably the most common problem, said Tapp, is removing paint from tile on Arts & Crafts fireplaces. For those who want to bring the tiles back, Tapp has some tips:

* Commercial paint strippers will remove much of the paint, but they need to be used with extreme care. Use an alkaline product, never an acidic one.

* Always test on a small area first.

* Along with the paint, these strippers will probably remove the fine surface seen on never-painted tile. If you end up with washed-out, dull tile, a coat of paste wax, lightly applied and hand-rubbed, may restore some of the luster to the tile, but not lost color.

* For restoring color or replacing damaged or missing tiles, a restoration specialist can be hired. The Pasadena Heritage Society has a list of recommended workers.

* To keep your tile in good shape, avoid abrasive cleaning techniques or metal bristle brushes. Also, never chop wood on your hearth.

Another good source of information is the Tile Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 1850, Healdsburg, CA 95448.