Latest building work

[Bathman]

Not the most interesting building work, but currently getting the old outside WC knocked through and blocked up, and the old dairy doors blocked up. Stuck some photos up of the progress on my blog: http://victorian-house-refurb.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/getting-external-doors-blocked-up.html

Only slightly interesting (and confusing) thing to come up is that one of the walls were sat directly on top of some original floor tiles, which appear to be completely undamaged. Which makes me wonder if the WC was even original, perhaps it used to be a cupboard and got converted? Photo below of the tiles:

 

[Zebra]

Those are nice. What are you going to do with them?

 

[Bathman]

Really not sure yet, to be honest I had been contemplating completely digging up the floor as I am in the workshop/dairy, and laying a new insulated concrete floor with DPM. I might find that those 4 tiles that were under the wall are the only surviving tiles, I'll need to lift all the existing flooring which includes a layer of concrete/screed to find out if there are tiles in the whole kitchen.

Does anyone know a good way of getting a 2cm layer of concrete up without damaging tiles which may be underneath?

 

[Zebra]

Oh, erm, there was a way. Someone posted about it on here ages ago. Can't remember what it is though. Perhaps start a new thread with a more specific title and someone might oblige.
Probably if there are tiles underneath then the concrete will be very easy to lift, and will crack into pieces quite easily. Perhaps if you lever against the tiles using a steel plate or similar, even a large wrecking bar, to spread the load against the tiles so the damage isn't concentrated in one spot, then you'll do it with little damage. Thing is to try a bit and see I reckon.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I've used a pneumatic chipping hammer to get concrete off the tops of quarry tiles, but a whole floor!!! Hammer and bolster I would assume is the only option.

 

[Penners]

Yes, and your chances of getting all the concrete up without any damage to the floor tiles are extremely small, I'm afraid. However, the more careful you are, the better (blindingly obvious statement number 27!).

 

[Bathman]

To be honest now I've had a better look I think those few tiles only survived because there was a wall sat on top; it looks like the DPM and concrete that was laid some years ago sits deeper than the remaining tiles, so assume the rest of the tiles were ripped up. Will still take up a small section of concrete at some point to check whats underneath