My kitchen renovation

[Gaz]

Thank you, it's getting there

[Gaz]

Still plenty to do

[Gaz]

I've been taking up the old floor tiles in the hallway and found beautiful old flagstones underneath



Annoyingly at one end they're covered with levelling compound that is bonded so well that I can't remove it without damaging the flagstones

[walpurgis]

If it's epoxy based levelling compound or of any other synthetic base, paint stripper should make it removable. If it's water based, it's likely of an alkaline material and acids like vinegar or loo descaler will loosen it. From the photos, the flags look like sandstone or York stone.

[struth]

Best bet is to lift them and turn them over imo. that stuff doesnt come off well.

[walpurgis]

Best bet is to lift them and turn them over imo. that stuff doesnt come off well.

Could work, but natural stone is often rough finished on back and not necessarily symmetric, so may not fit turned over. I used to lay the stuff.

[struth]

Could work, but natural stone is often rough finished on back and not necessarily symmetric, so may not fit turned over. I used to lay the stuff.

yup agreed.. might be worth a look tho.

[scotty38]

I can't tell from the picture but if the leveling compound is at the front door end, how about creating some kind of wooden threshold area incorporating a door mat or something just to hide it?

[Gaz]

Thanks for the suggestions but sadly, due to time constraints, I'm going with the original plan and tiling over them, much as I hate having to do so.
The levelling compound is cement based and although only a few mm thick I can't remove it without damaging the flagstones.
It's criminal covering them but I only have 3 days off work to get everything finished