Removing self-levelling screed

[John Nye]

Does anybody know an easy way of removing self-levelling screed?

We have bought an Edwardian house and on lifting the vinyl tiles in the
kitchen have discovered the original red and black quarry tile floor which
we would quite like to "recover". However, prior to laying the vinyl tiles,
a self-levelling screed (of what nature I have no idea) was used and we need
a way of removing this without damaging the tiles underneath.

Is this possible? Should we give up now? Any useful or relevant suggestions
welcome!

MTIA,
John Nye

[geoff]

In article <%0dl5.1010$nX5.30085@news1-hme0>, John Nye <jo...@nye.org.uk>
writes

Discovered by accident when the dishwasher hose split while I was away
from home -it cracked and lifted when it was under water for a few days
(whether it really needs this length of time, I have no idea, but it
(unfortunately) did the job)
--
geoff

[Autolycus]

John Nye <jo...@nye.org.uk> wrote in message
news:%0dl5.1010$nX5.30085@news1-hme0...

> Does anybody know an easy way of removing self-levelling screed?
>
> We have bought an Edwardian house and on lifting the vinyl tiles in
the
> kitchen have discovered the original red and black quarry tile floor
which
> we would quite like to "recover"

<snip>

Wet blanket time. (BTDT)

Your quarry tiles might well have been laid on little more than a layer
of soft mortar over soil or ash. This has several consequences:

You may find that the floor is badly cracked and uneven in places, and
may have odd tiles missing. Some could also have very rough surfaces,
and be very difficult to get and keep clean.

With no damp-proofing, you may find that you have to take extra
precautions against the effects of damp on anything on or near the
floor.

Quarries can sometimes keep displaying efflorescence - either badly or
just a white bloom that re-appears every time after you wash them.

Ants. These were the last straw for us - (came home and found them all
over the food cupboard), and quite unstoppable once they're burying
under the floor.

Perhaps similar thoughts occurred to whoever put down the vinyl.

--
Kevin Poole
www.draycottclocks.co.uk

[John Schmitt]

In article <%0dl5.1010$nX5.30085@news1-hme0>,
"John Nye" <jo...@nye.org.uk> writes:

>Does anybody know an easy way of removing self-levelling screed?

In short, no. If it is a latex type, it will be very tenacious. Asharp scraper,
followed by a floor polisher with Scotchbrite with plenty of water is about the
best you can do. This will probably use up a lot of pads.

John Schmitt

"Visitors are requested to keep to the paths and are strictly prohibited from
touching monumental erections, trees, flowers and plants."
Allegedly a sign in a New Jersey cemetery.
The usual disclaimers apply, naturally.