Levelling concrete and basement wonderings...

[gothiceye]

What is the best way for levelling concrete out ready for stone slabs?

I know the best long-term approach would probably be to remove the concrete and start afresh (or even find original flooring...) but with all the current expense (and the need to replace the carpet) we were thinking of laying the slabs or tiles directly onto what we have. There is a slight slope in the doorway which was the old back door, and a few lumps and bumps here and there which you can feel if you walk over the carpet in bare feet.

Also - I was wondering if there was anyway of discovering whether the house would have had a basement at some stage? There are no tell-tale arches on the exterior of the property (unless in the old back wall which now forms part of the kitchen) and we think that the stairs may well not be in their original form (the two lower treads definitely look like they have been recently replaced - and if you look in the small understairs cupboard - you can see the modern wood holding up the lower stairs).

I would have assumed that there would not have been one, but for the fact that one of the terrace further along (all built at the same time) has an arch and a small gap at the front of the house....

What do you reckon? I don't think I'm ready for excavating anything, but it would be interesting to find out the history of the house (we are planning to go to the regional archives too at some stage when we get that magiv thing called free time!)

Thanks!

 

[Penners]

To level your concrete floor, the best thing is levelling compound. You mix it up into a wet slurry and then trowel it across the floor thickly enough to submerge any lumps and bumps. Then you leave it for gravity to do the rest.

There is, if I remember correctly (long time since I've used any), a minimum thickness that you need to lay for it to be effective, but it's not great. But if your lumps and bumps are quite high, you can probably save yourself a bit of money (and headroom!) by chiselling off the highest peaks, in order to reduce the thickness of compound needed.

Anyway, have a look at it in your DIY store or builder's merchant, to see that it suits your need, and be sure to follow the instructions on the pack.