Sandstone flagstone floor under concrete

[jungle_jim01]

I've just lifted the old laminate floor in one room and i've discovered that the concrete floor underneath is both uneven and damp. Peering down a 2inch gap at the edge of the floor and judging by the original exposed floor in an adjacent cupboard it would appear that beneath the concrete is a sandstone floor, possibly small flags. I'm looking for a quick/cheap option (which i know isn't necessarily best or popular) for getting the room back into use. I'm considering levelling the floor and coating with dpm purely for ease. However i find myself considering what may lie beneath. I'm worried that if i try removing the concrete i may well damage the underlying floor or discovered that it is already damaged and have opened a massive can of worms!

So I'm looking for some words of wisdom and advice on my options.

Thanks in advance

 

[plasticpigeon]

Get the bolster out!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Open the can! open the can!
(what's the worst that could happen?)

 

[jungle_jim01]

Like the picture
Just a bit worried that the worms could turn out to be expensive and long winded.

 

[andrew gayton]

I had cement screed over 75% of my ground floor and all of the original pamments and floor bricks were underneath. very few replacements needed. the floor was swimming under the concrete, but fully dried out in a week. A bit of a scrub then 50/50 raw linseed and turps and all was good.

Amazingly, in 1983, the local council environmental health dept. had given the owner grant aid to remove the floor and dpm/insulate/concrete/screed/blah ................ luckily, the builder was very lazy and last seen riding out of the village shouting 'ye-hah!'

So, yes, get the bolster out.

 

[LadyArowana]

Don't do anything now that you might really really regret later. If you put another layer on top of what you have then you may just be moving the problem elsewhere, and actually making it a bigger problem to solve down the line. Any chance pf some pictures to help us with the deliberations?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Very tempting to go for the quick, cheap option - but so often this means doing it again at some point in the future.

It's worth going slow, taking one bit at a time to reduce mess ( giving yourselves at least one lovely neat room to relax in). The house will reward you for it.

Agree with the others to open the messy, expensive, can of worms - but definitely don't open them all at once all over the house.

 

[Moo]

May I second (or third, or fourth) that advice?
There's every chance that you'll end up with a floor that's the envy of all who see it, but the only way to find out is to get rid of the nasties.
If your initial exploration reveals damaged flags don't give up. It could well be that you've started at the worst corner and that things will get better as you go on, which will mean that you'll only have a little bit to repair.
On the other hand, if it turns out that someone put the screed down to cover a really knackered floor, I think you should get back to bare earth, level it neatly, cover with a layer of sand, and lay new flags/payments/tiles. No cement or damp proof membrane.
That way, your floor will be able to breath and your house will love you all the more.

 

[jungle_jim01]

Love the thought of uncovering a lovely stone floor...still deliberating. The only thing in my mind is that we're planning on moving in a little over a year's time hence looking for a short term fix. However I am curious to find out what lies beneath!...we'll have to wait and see but thanks for everyones encouragement.

 

[MatthewC]

Love the thought of uncovering a lovely stone floor...still deliberating. The only thing in my mind is that we're planning on moving in a little over a year's time hence looking for a short term fix. However I am curious to find out what lies beneath!...we'll have to wait and see but thanks for everyones encouragement.

A year? You have a whole year? Short term fix? Do the right and proper job now, as you will NEVER do the floor once you have moved in.

May I second (or third, or fourth) that advice?
There's every chance that you'll end up with a floor that's the envy of all who see it, but the only way to find out is to get rid of the nasties.
If your initial exploration reveals damaged flags don't give up. It could well be that you've started at the worst corner and that things will get better as you go on, which will mean that you'll only have a little bit to repair.
On the other hand, if it turns out that someone put the screed down to cover a really knackered floor, I think you should get back to bare earth, level it neatly, cover with a layer of sand, and lay new flags/payments/tiles. No cement or damp proof membrane.
That way, your floor will be able to breath and your house will love you all the more.

And I second every word of that advice, although the best (and expensive) modern solution would be to lay a limecrete floor...

 

[jungle_jim01]

:wink: thanks for the advice...i think you misunderstood my last comment though! Not moving in, in a year....we're moving in a year (out).

 

[Moo]

That's another good reason for restoring the original floor and making it glorious. That way the new owner won't be tempted to abuse the house with cement and/or impervious membranes.