Removing cement embedded with pebbles and small paving stones from hallway of flat

southernst

Hi


We are in the process of re-decorating a 70's first-floor maisonette. The previous owners have, for reasons known only to themselves, laid cement in the hallway, in which is embedded pebbles and 20cm paving tiles! I assume the original floor is concrete - difficult to tell as the other rooms are tiled or with laminate floors. Can anyone offer any advice on the best people to approach to get this removed, and some idea of the costs involved. (approx. area about 5sq. metres) Thanks , Al

phill99

Approach B & Q. Buy a lump hammer and cold chisel and do it yourself. Cost £10.

nobulljusttruth

Go get a few bags of self levelling compound and cover it over. Not sure why u want to rtemove it.

tony6403

nobulljusttruth wrote: »

Go get a few bags of self levelling compound and cover it over. Not sure why u want to rtemove it.

And do what at the door thresholds?
I imagine that OP wants to remove it because it's bloody awful.

Doozergirl

If you can't chisel it off, starting from an edge and getting to it from underneath if possible, then you might have to hire a hammerdrill or kango.

I guess it would be a bit like trying to remove render from a wall.

Why do people do that?!

stebiz

The problem with the kango issue or even a chisel is

(i) You say 'first floor maisonette'. This is likely to cause movement in some way to the ceiling below.

(ii) Have they been trying to hide something?

anotherbaldrick

You will probably find that if you can clear away one corner with a small chisel say 15mm dia, you will then be able to get the chisel underneath the stones and cement and break them upwards. They probably will not be too well bonded to the slab below.

Doozergirl

stebiz wrote: »

The problem with the kango issue or even a chisel is

(i) You say 'first floor maisonette'. This is likely to cause movement in some way to the ceiling below.

(ii) Have they been trying to hide something?

There is no other way but brute force of some description. I'm sure the chisel will work if there is a free edge somewhere and be fine on the neighbours.

The bad stuff happened when someone though paving slabs and concrete was a good idea! If power tools were the only option and I had to replaster downstairs ceiling, I would.

stebiz

Doozergirl wrote: »

There is no other way but brute force of some description. I'm sure the chisel will work if there is a free edge somewhere and be fine on the neighbours.

The bad stuff happened when someone though paving slabs and concrete was a good idea! If power tools were the only option and I had to replaster downstairs ceiling, I would.

I actually agree with you. Just thought I'd mention it to him.

southernst

Thanks for the suggestions - a small chisel seems to take the cement and pebbles off reasonably easily, but will take a bit of effort and time to remove the slabs. Will get there, though!

Doozergirl

You want a wide chisel, like this sort of thing:

http://m.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-masonry-bolster-2-x-8/81206

I'm well into man territory, dicussing specific tools. Feeling slightly out of my comfort zone!