Concrete/screed flooring too high

Giveitatrytheysaid

Hi everyone,

I'd like to lay a flooring down near our back door. However, the existing painted base (which seems to be painted concrete or something) is too high. When I open the back door it only just opens and grazes the floor which leaves no allowance to add flooring on top. The same material is used for the step up to the kitchen which is higher than the kitchen floor...

This isn't an issue for the two rooms off to the side for some reason where the floor and doors are higher. 

Does anyone have any views on what the existing flooring might be and how to put proper flooring down there?

Thanks!

Bookworm105

it's an existing screeded floor.

Dig up the screed but not the underlying concrete and re-screed it 

Giveitatrytheysaid

Bookworm105 said:

it's an existing screeded floor.

Dig up the screed but not the underlying concrete and re-screed it 

Thanks so much! Is it possible to be a DIY job or do you think I’ll need to get someone in to sort it? I’ve got no idea why it was done like this in the first place… 

FIREmenow

It's possible that your external door could be eased upwards slightly, there may be hex screws in the hinge that you can adjust with an alan key. Search online for videos on how to adjust a uPVC door. 

You would probably still need to bring the floor level down slightly to allow for the thickness of your flooring plus any grout/adhesive/etc or leveling screed if it's not flat, but if the door can ease upwards it might allow you the clearance to get that floor level with the ones through each side door. 

What flooring were you thinking of? If the existing floor is fairly flat and you can get enough clearance by raising the door, you might be able to fill the biggest holes and glue down vinyl if you can find one the same thickness as the little step into the side rooms - not a terrible idea for a small space that's going to be wet a lot, especially if you have a dog.

Is the step up into the kitchen not stone? I was wondering if the porch and rooms either side were a later addition, so the step up would have been into the main house from original external door (needed so that the floors are above ground level for ventilation on old houses).

stuart45

You can hire hand held concrete planers.