Kitchen Floor Dilemma

[simon_v]

I am in the process of renovating the kitchen in a Victorian terrace and have a stone flagged floor which is in a poor state of repair. The flags are presumably laid directly onto earth hence the mould on the floor covering I've just removed. Should I: a) Renovate the flags and live with the damp? b) Lift the flags, install a damp proof membrane and re-lay the flags? (Big job!) c) Forget the flags, lay a damp proof membrane and tile over?

I would prefer to keep the original flags, but they're not in a great state of repair. Does anyone know of a contractor in the North West who can renovate stone flagged floors?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Hello Simon - welcome to the forum.

What is the floor covering you have just removed? It may well have been causing the damp problem by trapping moisture between it and the flags - particularly if it was lino or some such.

Would suggest a damn good scrub and leave the floor to dry out for a good while, and then reassess. Dependent upon what kind of flags they are (eg slate), it may be unlikely that they are porous enough for moisture beneath to penetrate thorugh - except via the pointing.

In many cases installing a membrane can make the problem worse - or simply push the moisture elsewhere - eg towards the walls.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I have a similar scenario in my kitchen; family were horrified at filthy old flags and wanted rid. But you must keep them if you possibly can, they're very precious and once you have scrubbed them, lived with them, and thought about the thousands of different footprints that have walked there before you might feel more softly towards their imperfections.

Mine have come up damp in various spots, then dried out, all winter. But they're in a basement, I think yours might be OK once you've done as Family Wiggs suggest.

Look at the thread "Care of Limestone and Pine Floors" for more specific advice on treatments to make flags shinier. Or just put flagstones in the search bar and loads of interesting stuff comes up.

 

[CHRIS]

WHY IS THERE 2 POSTS OF THIS?

 

[simon_v]

Thanks for the swift replies!

The flags are stone and were covered in what looks like a layer of oilcloth with lino on top of that. Concrete pointing has been slapped on, I assume in an attempt to level the floor in a time before levelling compound was invented, and in patches there is real modern levelling compound which must have been applied before the lino was laid.

Can all this be removed by scrubbing, or do I need chemicals and power tools? Or do I need to employ someone with chemicals and power tools to do the job properly?

 

[CHRIS]

Simon

Dont lay a DPC as it will just push the moisture out and into he walls causing even more problems and then you will be back here asking how to fix that!!!!

If you suspect a leak I would lift the flags, find out if there is a burst pipe or similar causing the moisture. Then take the flags outside give them a jet wash and kill any mold - if they have concrete stains get some brick cleaner or similar and wire brush them. If they have been covered by lino or any other covering as Moo mentioned that will be the cause not the earth and you could clean in situ but re-point with lime in 3-1 mix.
You could wax or polish the flags but watch out as too much polish can cause terrible accidents like my Mothers elderly friend who spent 6 months in hospital and had part of her skull removed due to falling over on a flag stone floor.

It may be a pain but you will have to chip out the cement pointing or use a grinder but go easy as you could damage the stones