Exterior thick tiles question

[Jvincent]

Hi, wondering if anyone would have some advice or ideas on what I can do to either cover or remove these tiles. They are generally stuck down solid so removing would be a big pain I think and they go right to the brick wall and door. I had thought to either tile right over them if that is possible or maybe I could cover them in concrete?

Any help appreciated! :)

[ayjay]

They look like painted paving slabs to me.

It depends what they're stuck down with, if they're laid on sand and cement they should come up fairly easily.

It doesn't look as though you have enough depth available to use concrete over them.

What's going on with the sidelights on that door? Whoever fitted them has left the horns on!

[Jvincent]

They look like painted paving slabs to me.

It depends what they're stuck down with, if they're laid on sand and cement they should come up fairly easily.

It doesn't look as though you have enough depth available to use concrete over them.

What's going on with the sidelights on that door? Whoever fitted them has left the horns on!

The are laid on what you can see from the side view, guess it may be cement. A few were loose but the majority seem stuck like hell, not sure what i'd remove them with. And if I could get them off then i'm guessing I would have to bring quite a level of concrete/cement up to replace them as they are really thick!

And yes these existing ugly tile slabs were painted over last year as a temporary clean up.

Sidelights on the door? Horns? You've lost me :)

[ayjay]

Start at an exposed corner, and drive a cold chisel or crowbar underneath a slab and lift, then move on to a pick-axe for the rest, same principle, swing the pick until it's under the slab and lever it up.

It's not a good idea to use concrete less than 4" thick, you'd probably get away with 3" and only pedestrian traffic but 4" is better.

Have you checked where the dpc is in that brickwork?

Sorry about the horns: just my carpenters eye was drawn to them immediately, they are the projections on the ends of the stiles of the sidelights, left on for protection after manufacture but usually removed when fitted.

[OchAye]

Sorry about the horns: just my carpenters eye was drawn to them immediately, they are the projections on the ends of the stiles of the sidelights, left on for protection after manufacture but usually removed when fitted.

[Jvincent]

Start at an exposed corner, and drive a cold chisel or crowbar underneath a slab and lift, then move on to a pick-axe for the rest, same principle, swing the pick until it's under the slab and lever it up.

It's not a good idea to use concrete less than 4" thick, you'd probably get away with 3" and only pedestrian traffic but 4" is better.

Have you checked where the dpc is in that brickwork?

Sorry about the horns: just my carpenters eye was drawn to them immediately, they are the projections on the ends of the stiles of the sidelights, left on for protection after manufacture but usually removed when fitted.

Thanks for getting back again :)

Haven't checked yet where the dpc is. I should say at this point, I have only arrived on this really, it's my girlfriend's grandmothers house and we're trying to fix it up a bit. I'm from London but the house is in Sweden so it's a little difficult for me to ask in the local hardware shop, and from what I have found they don't really understand someone doing thier own work. For instance you can't buy a little bit of woodworm killer, have to go to the big pest control company only. Many little things like that. I miss the UK and all it's products!

Nevertheless i'd love to have a go at these ugly steps and learn some things while I go :)

As for the horns now I think I know what you mean, takes an expert eye, I didn't even notice anything different :o

[Jvincent]

Is there something I should watch out for with the dpc?

As soon as I can I may have a go at getting them up, prob have some job near the door and sidelights, they aren't just layed down they seem to be really stuck fast, the others wouldn't budge, whatever grout was used is really intact and holding still :o

[AAA.Handy.Man]

WHY do you want to do what you're proposing to do?
What would replace these steps, please?

I know a little about the Scand-Nordic 'way of life' - I have a close Finnish friend and other such contacts - I trust that you have checked with EVERYONE imaginable that you are allowed to do that which you're intending to do.
Interesting about the DIY - my friend tells me that her brother, who lives in Suomi, is an ardent DIY-er.

[Jvincent]

WHY do you want to do what you're proposing to do?
What would replace these steps, please?

I know a little about the Scand-Nordic 'way of life' - I have a close Finnish friend and other such contacts - I trust that you have checked with EVERYONE imaginable that you are allowed to do that which you're intending to do.
Interesting about the DIY - my friend tells me that her brother, who lives in Suomi, is an ardent DIY-er.

I also have a close Finnish friend/ex gf who's father and family are every bit the DIY'-ers so I can relate to that, but maybe Swedes and Finns possibly being somewhat different, wouldn't want to lump them in all together like, I have found in general Swedes seem to be adverse to taking on anything themselves if they can pay someone, maybe it is just a middle class thing I don't know, it's not ALL Swedes.

As for the steps, the grandmother is an old lady and only has her grand daughter left alive (my partner), being that when I arrived to visit 4 of the step tiles/slabs had fallen and 2 more were loose with a network of woodlice living under them, also others are cracked so as you would guess it's a potential hazard, so it would be nice if I were able to remove them and make solid whatever way possible.

[AAA.Handy.Man]

Good points, and given how long Finnland was occupied and dominated by 'Sweden', perhaps the Swedes got used to the Finns doing the toil.
Post Gawd-only-knows how many other occupations, the 'loss' of Karelia, the Winter War, etc - the Finns 'Just get on with it themselves'

In terms of the job you're tackling - .....

By the way, did you hear the recent serial on BBC R 4 about the Brit going to live in a remote village in Sweden with his pregnant G/f and her extended family and his 'adventures' in X-cultural clashes?

[davyp1]

Having followed your thread so far, I am a little concerned that you have perhaps been concentrating on the demolition of the existing step arrangement rather than a viable plan for their replacement. While I am sure that you will have a couple of excellent schemes in mind for a ramped arrangement or replacement steps; perhaps post a couple of sketches to enable this forum to advise on min/max rises & going etc. I also wonder if you intend the concrete to be your finish or to tile over concrete? As also mentioned earlier, please indicate where the DPC is?

[Jvincent]

Having followed your thread so far, I am a little concerned that you have perhaps been concentrating on the demolition of the existing step arrangement rather than a viable plan for their replacement. While I am sure that you will have a couple of excellent schemes in mind for a ramped arrangement or replacement steps; perhaps post a couple of sketches to enable this forum to advise on min/max rises & going etc. I also wonder if you intend the concrete to be your finish or to tile over concrete? As also mentioned earlier, please indicate where the DPC is?

Sorry for the delay in replying...

As it stands I spent a little time with a club hammer and cold chisel to try to remove as many of these tile/slabs as I could, and that wasn't very successful, the only ones that came off were ones that were already loose or cracked. Managed to rent out a small jackhammer for very cheap and they came off much easier but mostly broke up into bits.

I originally had the aim to concrete it back to the level/profile it was, and possibly then tile on top at some point after. Having looked at many of the local houses surrounding this one I am happy to leave it concrete. It's by the sea and many of the front steps in this area are done in a rustic kind of sea/country cottage way, and have rough cement/concrete steps out front. I did see some stone inset ones which I would have liked to do but i'm happy to just get it concrete at this stage. I measured how high the steps were and marked on the brick the height of top step/platform was before I removed anything.

The DPC was under the top step right at the door, I will take a few photos soon and put them up today.

Currently chucking it down here so i'm not working on them today, there is plenty of access at the back door so it's no hindrance but as soon as the weather turns I will be back on it!

[Jvincent]

So the sun came out briefly, took some photos

[Jvincent]

Waiting on good weather to start any concreting.

I have left the Damp proof membrane as it is at the moment. So after making sure there is no holes or anything in it, I would guess I can concrete right on it?

Going to start to build a form for the concrete soon :)

[davyp1]

Waiting on good weather to start any concreting.

I have left the Damp proof membrane as it is at the moment. So after making sure there is no holes or anything in it, I would guess I can concrete right on it?

Going to start to build a form for the concrete soon :)

Having seen your latest photo's I am under the impression that the House DPC is situated below the top step!
This is not acceptable, the level of the top step should be 2 Brick courses below the top step surface (ie: 150mm)

davyp1