Removing the floor screed. Dismantling the screed: methods, features and how to do the dismantling of the old cement floor screed yourself

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How to remove an old floor screed? The beginning of the renovation is a huge challenge for everyone. And for those who have decided on a major overhaul, especially. There are many factors to consider, to weigh the pros and cons before proceeding with the repair. In any case, you need to consult with specialists in this field, so that they suggest where you can cope on your own, and where exactly you will need the services of masters.

What is a floor screed?

The covering, which is usually strong, located between the reinforced concrete slab and the final floor covering, is called a screed. With this coating, the floors are leveled, all gaps and cracks are filled. Between the screed and the upper layer of the floor, there is usually a layer of heat, noise or waterproofing. There can also be reinforcement under the screed. These layers are not very durable and are not difficult to remove. It is worth remembering not to overdo it at the time of dismantling and not to damage the load-bearing walls by punching a hole in them.

The screed can be monolithic (from a cement-sand mixture) or composite (from several layers of gypsum cement or expanded clay concrete). To obtain maximum strength, a monolithic screed can be reinforced with a metal mesh. The qualitative composition of the floor screed affects its strength, load, hydro- and thermal insulation properties. Among the dismantling works to remove various structural elements, one of the most demanded types is the dismantling of the floor screed.

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Dismantling or restoration?

Dismantling work can be done independently when the problem and its solution are obvious. It is not recommended to get down to business if you do not have any skills in the field of construction. It is better to invite specialists.

After a lapse of time, any floor covering becomes unusable. The concrete begins to crumble, flake off and crack. At this point, it is worth deciding whether to remove the old screed or it is suitable for restoration. Most often they are dismantled. This procedure is much cheaper than restoration. There are criteria that you should pay attention to when making a decision:

1. If it is necessary to lower the floor level.
2. The condition of the floor is very unsatisfactory, so much so that it will be cheaper to install a new one.
3. Poor quality cement was used.
4. If it is necessary to make repairs to the utilities or pipes located under the floor, as well as if the installation of new pipes is required.
5. The floors of the lower rooms are rather fragile, which cannot withstand another coating.
6. Demolition hammers are dangerous.

In houses built before the mid-50s, the floors are wooden or mixed (wooden flooring on metal beams with reinforced concrete sections in the bathrooms and bathrooms).

Dismantling a concrete floor has its own characteristics: if you disassembled it and want to pour a new concrete screed, then it will rather be recognized as unacceptable, since the mass of the mortar in the aggregate will be very heavy and the load on the floors will significantly exceed the permissible value. In this case, the right decision would be to choose a screed made of lightweight materials.

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Functions and cost of floor screed

The floor screed is inherently of great importance, and its presence in any structure is required. Main functions:

1. Distribution of heat throughout the floor, if there is heating underneath.
2. Protection of floors from all kinds of deformations.
3. Leveling the floor, eliminating various roughness and cracks.
4. Sound and heat insulation function.
5. It takes the load on the supporting structures, which significantly prolongs the life of the latter.

Considering various factors, the price can range from low to very high. Things to Consider:

• screed height;
• type of material used: concrete or cement;
• work area;
• whether there is reinforcement or not.

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Surface screed types

There are the following screed types:

• multi-layer screed;
• solid screed.

The more layers are used, the higher the cost of dismantling, since there is much more work.

All factors should be considered when removing any type of screed. Depending on this, a dismantling tool will be selected. It can be a concrete cutting machine or an impact tool. Or, the screed will be removed manually.

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Preparing and removing the screed on your own

If, nevertheless, it was decided to remove the screed on its own, then first of all, all the obstacles in front of it should be removed. It can be linoleum, laminate, parquet or carpet.

Various tools are used for removal. At home, you can use a sledgehammer, crowbar, hammer - it all depends on the thickness of the coating. After the preparatory work has been successfully completed and all the protective layers have been removed, you can directly proceed with the removal of the screed itself.

For high-quality removal of the floor screed on your own, you will need to choose the right tool. There are several different ways to uninstall. The impact method is the noisiest and most unsafe for floors, which can cause damage to the entire house and neighbors. In addition, it will require the use of great physical strength, which can be very dangerous to health. Using the floor saw tool, you can remove a screed up to 30 cm deep, reinforcement for it, as a rule, is not an obstacle.

The tools used to remove old grout from the floor can be divided into manual and electric tools. Dismantling the floor using electrical devices significantly increases labor productivity. But such a dismantling of the screed will also have an increased price. Power tools that remove solidified solution well include:

• concrete hammer;
• puncher;
• various tools for diamond cutting and drilling;
• seam cutter for reinforced coatings.

When using the percussion method, perforators, jackhammers, grinders are used. Typically, all of these devices make a lot of noise.

For those who are used to relying on their own strength, we offer:

• hammer;
• chisel;
• sledgehammer.

The question arises: why do everything manually when there are electrical appliances? This is necessary in those places where there is no electricity or work has a small volume. This is a slow and very noisy process, but these tools can always come in handy as auxiliaries.

You will need special clothing, a helmet, a respirator and goggles, as there will be a lot of dust.

Dismantling the concrete floor in any way is carried out by breaking the base into pieces.

For the removal and removal of cement-concrete residues, you should stock up on bags of durable material in advance.

The floor screed significantly extends the life of the floor covering, absorbs the load on the supporting structures, and also protects the floors from damage. However, over time, the base collapses and requires replacement. Repairing a concrete slab is a rather laborious and costly process, therefore, a complete dismantling of the screed is most often performed.

Before considering the main methods for removing a base, it is worth listing the situations when such a procedure is inevitable.

When dismantling the screed is required

Dismantling the floor screed is necessary if:

• you want to lower the level of the floors;
• the old base is deformed and cracked;
• it is required to repair the communications located under the concrete layer;
• the floor covering will be replaced;
• you are planning a major overhaul;
• cement seeped through the floor seams.

Also, the old screed is removed if, in the process of its initial installation, a poor-quality mortar was used or its proportions were violated.

In order to dismantle the cement screed, you can use various tools and methods, which we will consider in more detail.

Methods for dismantling the screed

Thanks to modern technology, the old base can be removed by the following methods:

Impact method

In this case, a jackhammer, a sledgehammer and a crowbar are used to dismantle the screed. Although an electric tool allows you to perform work much faster, you should be very careful and take into account the following nuances:

1. The jackhammer must not be used if present in the screed.
2. The tool must be lubricated at least 4 times a day.
3. It cannot be used as a crowbar if the hammer is plugged in.
4. You can hold the hammering tool strictly by the insulated surface.

Despite the strict rules for using a jackhammer, this method is considered the easiest.

Healthy! It is safest to remove the tie in a shock way if you use a regular sledgehammer.

Diamond cutting

For cutting, a special electrical device is used, equipped with a rotating diamond disc - a floor saw. This tool is able to cut slabs up to 30 cm deep and rebar.

Important! Be careful when handling this equipment as you may damage the floor.

Of the advantages of this method, it is worth noting such a loud noise as in the case of a jackhammer, as well as the small dimensions of the tool. Nevertheless, it is very difficult and dangerous to cope with the floor saw alone, therefore the dismantling of the concrete screed must be carried out by two people.

In addition, to work with this tool, you will need an uninterrupted three-phase voltage up to 14 kW and water supply (the equipment must be constantly cooled).

It is also worth noting the high cost of the device, the rent of which will also greatly "hit the pocket."

Diamond drilling

Diamond drilling equipment is considered the most expensive, and to work with such a unit, you need to undergo special training and obtain a machine operator certificate. Therefore, this technology for removing the base is not suitable if you want to remove the floor yourself.

Of all these methods, the only available method for dismantling the screed is to use a sledgehammer, crowbar and a jackhammer.

Removing the screed

After you have prepared the room for noisy and dusty work, you need to dismantle the old floor covering. At this stage, it is worth considering the features of dismantling a wooden floor:

• The most difficult thing is to disassemble block parquet, and if it is glued, then you can not even hope to keep the covering.
• To remove parquet boards, it is enough to find the last board with an open groove (usually it is located at the door).

However, if the flooring has been around for a long time, then it may be damaged by mold and mildew. In this case, there is no point in trying to save it.

After removing the finishing layer of the floor, it is necessary to get rid of ventilation and any structures located in the base (if there is access to them).

In the next step, the concrete slab is broken into pieces that are disposed of. After that, wet cleaning of the entire room is performed.

Important! In private houses, the wiring for the lower floor is most often located under the upper level screed. Usually the wires are hidden under corrugated insulation.

In custody

It is very difficult to remove the screed on your own, as it will take a lot of time and physical strength. Better to consult a specialist. The cost of specialized dismantling of the base is about 300 rubles per "square" of the screed up to 40 mm thick. Thus, in order to prepare a room for renovation, it will take about 4,500 - 7,000 rubles.

Competent dismantling of the old floor or floor covering is, as you know, a prerequisite for the successful implementation of work related to their renovation. In our article, we will try to tell you how to remove the old floor without resorting to the help of third-party specialists, while significantly saving on repair work.

It is known that the floors in modern apartments are most often equipped as follows:

• pure concrete bases with synthetic carpet, laminate or linoleum known to all of us;
• wooden floors, made from individual boards or from inlaid parquet;
• tiled floors.

Preparatory activities

Before starting to dismantle the floor, you should prepare the most necessary tool, the choice of which is determined by the type of floor covering. But in any case, you will need special protective equipment for the body and respiratory organs, which are mandatory when carrying out work of this class (respirator, cotton gloves and a hat).

In order to avoid the spread of dust throughout the apartment, it is advisable to fix a piece of damp cloth in the doorways, and lay rugs soaked in water at the thresholds. In addition, you will definitely need:

• ordinary nail puller;
• an assembly hammer or sledgehammer;
• screwdriver, pliers and pliers;
• electric jigsaw or saw for cutting long boards.

Note that for disassembling a tile floor (porcelain stoneware), you will additionally need to prepare a chisel and a perforator. Floor coverings laid with carpet, laminate or linoleum are much easier to dismantle, especially if they are simply laid on a concrete base (no glue).

Removing skirting boards

It is customary to start dismantling the floor covering with the removal of the baseboards, which can be plastic (with a built-in cable channel) or wooden. We begin the disassembly of plastic blanks by removing the decorative strip and removing the fasteners of the product to the wall. We remove wooden plinths sewn to the floor with a nail puller, and dismantling should start from the corner of the room.

In the event that the skirting board is thoroughly painted over with several layers of paint, first you need to find a place where it can be easily “pushed off” with a flat screwdriver, after which you can use a nail puller. To avoid damage to the decorative wall covering and for the convenience of fixing the position of the tool, a small wooden plank (block) is usually placed under it.

Before removing old wooden floors, you should familiarize yourself with the procedure for placing them on logs laid on a concrete base. When carrying out these works, certain difficulties may arise with the removal of the first board, after the dismantling of which it will go much faster. To facilitate this operation, you should free the gap between the floor and the wall and pry off the edge board with a nailer in this place.

All other floorboards are easy to remove and can be removed with a hammer or large flat head screwdriver. To remove the nails driven into the boards, you can use the pliers prepared earlier.

With a circular saw, all operations for dismantling wooden floors are greatly simplified. With its help, it will be possible to cut individual "floorboards" into smaller pieces, which will be much easier to remove from the place of disassembly.

For the case when the floorboards are fastened with self-tapping screws, you need a screwdriver that allows you to quickly remove the fastening elements.

Removing concrete screed

To remove a concrete screed, you will first need to remove the decorative covering used to cover the floor. And only after that you can proceed to dismantling it, which is usually done by a shock method. For these purposes, you may need the following tool:

• classic jackhammer;
• perforator with a special attachment;
• a sledgehammer, chisel, or scrap metal.

Note that the use of a special impact power tool significantly reduces the time required for dismantling concrete foundations in rooms of any category. But when it is carried out, personal protective equipment must be used to protect the respiratory tract of a person and his eyes from dust generated during work.

When preparing for dismantling, do not forget to prepare bags of durable material, in which you can take out broken pieces of cement-concrete screed and any garbage accompanying any dismantling.

Video

This video shows how to dismantle a wooden floor:

This video demonstrates the process of demolishing an old concrete floor with a jackhammer:

When a major overhaul begins in any room, including an apartment, then all work is initially concentrated on dismantling the old floor covering. This also includes dismantling. The process takes a lot of time and effort. But if there is no experience in carrying out this kind of work, then it is better to immediately contact the specialists. This will provide excellent final quality.

Causes

Some good reasons are needed to dismantle the floor screed. Among the most important are the existing surface defects, as well as the errors made during installation work. It can even be said that it is much easier to completely remove the floor screed than to partially remove the floor screed. Eliminating deficiencies sometimes even brings more hassle and financial cost.

Another reason is the production of repair of communication systems that are located under. But here everything should be done efficiently and with caution. All safety measures must be observed in full.

In the work, you will need to use a certain set of tools, among which the main ones can be distinguished:

• Sledgehammer.
• Bulgarian.
• Construction puncher.
• Garbage bags.

Construction crews, due to their experience, can complete the work as quickly as possible. Moreover, they have all the necessary tools for this, including special equipment - a floor saw, a robot for dismantling, and much more.

Advantages

It is possible to protect several parts of the premises from partial repairs at once. More preference is given to the first type of work. This is associated with lower financial costs. Not always a separate area will allow you to cope with the problem. With the passage of time of operation, it most often manifests itself again. In addition, at the same time, various additional base defects begin to appear, which alternate with each other. The floor covering can also be damaged and must be replaced.

By contacting specialized companies, you can find out which type of base restoration is best done. If the problem is significant, then it will be more profitable to clean everything to zero, and then make a screed, laying communications and flooring again.

Possible methods

There are several ways in which you can produce quality flooring. Of these, there are:

When carrying out work in any way, it is very important to be careful. It is not uncommon for electrical wiring to be laid underneath. It must not be damaged. But this applies specifically to buildings with a large number of floors. To do this, you should navigate in the materials where the wiring can be hidden. Often it is a corrugated pipe or HDPE.

rules

There are certain requirements for the removal. First of all, this concerns the right choice of tool for the job. In each case, it may be different. Everything will depend on the specific situation. To eliminate the screed, you can split it into separate elements, which are subsequently taken out. But everything is done more quickly when using a power tool.

It is very important to prepare garbage bags with sufficient strength. They will have to take out all the available garbage. It will not be superfluous to prepare the neighbors by informing them of the desire to carry out noisy work in the apartment.

In the process of dismantling, the main thing is not to overdo it. Excessive force can damage the floor slabs.

Preparatory activities

The beginning of the removal is associated with the removal of the old flooring, as well as the installed baseboards. Here you almost never need to use a special tool to get the desired result. It should be noted that the old coating in the future may be applicable in some cases. Then everything should be done very carefully so as not to damage it.

Next, the analysis of the screed itself, which will be dismantled, takes place. Its thickness, material of manufacture, design and other points should be determined. It will be very good if you have on hand schemes for laying communications and other equipment. This will prevent damage to it during the work.

To determine the composition of the subfloor, you can cut out a fragment of the base section with a grinder and see what the screed is made of. An ultrasonic flaw detector is used in the work of construction crews. With its help, you can view everything that lurks in the thickness of concrete or other mortar.

Stages of work

After the end of the preparatory activities, you can begin. For this, one of the above methods is chosen, which is more suitable in a given situation. More problems will arise with concrete and cement substrates. They are distinguished by an increased level of strength and reliability. If there is reinforcement at the base, all sections are removed in fragments, parts.

If we have a bulk polymer floor in front of us, then here we cannot do without a floor saw. With its help, you should partially cut the surface and proceed with subsequent actions.

Disassembly of the screed-leveling structure is distinguished by ease of dismantling. In this case, only the hardware is removed, and after that the sheets are removed. Perhaps they will be glued to each other. Then you will need to cut them through the measured distance.

When percussion instruments are taken into work, then everything should start from the far corner of the room. The direction goes to the entrance. Any debris that appears is best collected gradually as it accumulates. At the same time, preventive safety measures are taken in advance. For this, the power to the wires in the house is turned off, as well as the water through the pipes. Walls, windows, doors inside the premises must be carefully protected. Shrapnel should not fall on them and cause damage.

Price

Of course, it is more profitable to carry out the removal yourself. You will not have to pay for the work of teams using additional electrical equipment. But situations may arise when you cannot do without them.

In this case, the cost will be influenced by various factors, such as:

• The amount of work performed.
• Possible additional types of services.
• The thickness of the rough screed, the need to preserve the flooring, the type of subfloor covering.
• The complexity of the manufacturing process.

This indicates that it is very difficult to determine the specific cost per square meter of floor space. Everything should be calculated individually. You can only give the average indicators of the cost of work to remove the floor screed.

If the screed has a thickness of up to 40 mm, then the price will vary from 2 to 6 cu. per square meter. With a tie of 40-60 mm, you will have to invest at least $ 3.2 from your pocket, but usually no more than $ 7.5. for 1 m 2. The highest cost will be for mortar fillings up to 80 mm. The price can go up to almost $ 9. for 1m 2. Some subtleties relate to the reinforced floor screed. Here the cost will be increased by at least half. In each case, it should be calculated individually.

Renovating an apartment or house is a difficult task for every person, especially for those who decide to carry out the overhaul on their own. There is such a joke: if you want to know how much money is needed for repairs, then make the necessary calculations of the cost of building materials, tools and the like and multiply this amount by three. In other words, repairs are not a cheap undertaking, so many strive to do it with their own hands at the lowest cost.

Where to begin?

Renovation of an apartment or a private house begins with various rough work. It is necessary to tear off the old wallpaper, replace the windows and doors with new ones, and most importantly, replace the screed on the floor of the room. The screed is dismantled in cases when it was poured over a year ago, and it has managed to significantly lose its heat and sound insulation properties. The dismantling process is a very laborious and painstaking work, however, if you try and make every effort, then you can do it yourself. Many people want to do this without mistakes, while maintaining their family budget.

Before starting repairs, all factors must be taken into account. You need the advice of a repairman for apartments and houses, he will give you the answer to many questions of interest.

What is a screed?

A screed is a durable coating that is located between the reinforced concrete slab and the upper floor layer. With this coating, the floors in the room are leveled, cracks and cracks are removed. Thermal insulation, noise insulation or waterproofing is located between the screed and the floor of the room. They create additional comfort inside the living space. There is a reinforcement under the screed. Removing it will not be difficult. Be careful when removing the floor screed, do not overdo it or destroy the load-bearing walls.

Floor screed is:

• in the form of a monolith - a mixture based on cement and sand;
• composite - several layers of gypsum and cement or expanded clay concrete.

To achieve the greatest strength, the monolithic screed is reinforced with a metal mesh. A high-quality screed has high strength, waterproofing and thermal insulation properties. Among all the repair and construction work, one of the most popular is screed disassembly.

Dismantle or rebuild?

Dismantling you can easily do it yourself. You should not start repairs if you do not have the necessary building skills, do not understand anything in this matter. In this case, you need to seek help from craftsmen from construction organizations. All kinds of newspapers and magazines are simply full of offers of construction and dismantling services.

Over time, any flooring deteriorates. The concrete can start to color, flake and crack. In such a situation, it is worth deciding whether to dismantle the old screed or it will still serve. Basically, the masters advise dismantling the screed. Such work is cheaper than restoration.

There are points to take into account:

• Is there a need to make the floor lower.
• Poor floor appearance. It may be more profitable to simply reinstall it.
• Low quality cement.

• Do you need to repair communications or pipes that are located under the floor covering? You may need to install new ones.
• Will the floors on the lower floor support the additional weight of the upper floor?
• Working with a jackhammer can be dangerous.

The houses, which were built in the middle of the 20th century, had a wooden or mixed floor: timber beams were placed on top of metal ones, and in the toilet and bathroom there were sections with reinforced concrete elements. The process of dismantling a concrete floor has its own characteristic features. If you removed the old cement screed, and now want to start the process of pouring a new one, then you will not be allowed to implement this project, since the total weight of the cement mortar will be large, and the load on the floor will significantly exceed the permissible rate. It will be correct to choose in favor of installing the screed on uneven places from lighter building materials.

Functionality and price

The screed plays an important role in the design of the living space.

She performs such important tasks:

• allows heat to be evenly distributed over the floor.
• Protects floors from various deformations.
• Levels the floor, eliminates unevenness and cracks.
• Creates sound and heat insulation in the room.
• It takes part of the load on itself, which helps to relieve the load-bearing structure.

Types of screeds

There are different types of floor screeds:

• multilayer (composite). Contains gypsum and expanded clay;
• solid (monolith). A mortar that contains cement, sand and water.

Reinforcing steel mesh gives reliability to the coating. You will need to use a grinder to remove it later.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of screeds are as follows:

• long service life;
• reliability;
• protection against heat loss, water penetration, noise;
• suitable for parquet and other types of coatings;
• low cost, which is important when drawing up a general estimate;
• withstands even heavy loads.

Negative points are its difficult installation, long drying time, high price. It will not be easy to remove the screed if necessary, therefore, a semi-dry or sandy mixture must be used thoughtfully. The price of dismantling it depends on the number of screed layers, because the craftsmen will need to make significant efforts for such a repair. When dismantling the screed, pay attention to all decisive factors. The choice of tools for carrying out the process will depend on them. You can use a concrete cutting machine or an impact tool.

DIY dismantling

If you want to remove the screed without assistance, you need to remove all layers of flooring from its surface. You will also need various construction tools. You can use a sledgehammer, crowbar, hammer - it all depends on the thickness of the floor covering. After successfully carrying out and completing the preparatory work, you can start disassembling the old screed. Remember to choose the right construction tools. There are several different methods for removing old floor screed. For example, the percussion method is very noisy, moreover, it is dangerous for the overlap of the room, because it can damage the house and your neighbors. You will need to exert great physical strength, which can harm your body.

Selection of tools

Although there are some subtleties in the dismantling process, you need a few tools to remove the screed:

• perforators, hammers, sledgehammers, jackhammers, various saws are needed to saw the reinforcement, if any;
• vacuum cleaner;
• plastic bags.

Think about your health and buy protective equipment. During work, a lot of dust and dirt will rise into the air, so protect your body as much as possible. The tools that you will use to dismantle the old screed can be roughly divided into two groups: manual and electric. Parsing the floor screed using electrical appliances will increase productivity, but the work will be expensive.

Tools that successfully remove old floor screed include:

• concrete hammer;
• puncher;
• borax;
• floor saw.

When working with the percussion method, perforators, jackhammers and saws are used. These tools are extremely noisy. Do not be the enemy of your neighbors - observe the silence mode. Remember that people also live in the apartment on the left, right, bottom, top. Don't be the source of nighttime noise.

The tools for dismantling the screed with your own hands are as follows:

• crowbars;
• hammers;
• chisels;
• sledgehammers.

Manual work is necessary where there is no electricity, or the work is small in volume. This process is slow and noisy.

All of the above tools will come in handy for your work.

Additionally you will need:

• overalls;
• helmet;
• respirator;
• glasses.

The screed is dismantled by breaking the monolith into separate pieces. Prepare sturdy garbage bags in advance to remove cement residues. Prepare the room before starting work. All furniture and other interior details must be transferred to other rooms and covered with cellophane so that they do not become dusty. There will be a lot of dust. Skirting boards, old flooring should be removed. In the event that the covering will be reused, separate it from the floor with the utmost care.

If the coating is worn, then it is simply broken off, torn out and disposed of.