Removed Karndean-type flooring but floorboards covered in concrete screed - is this salvageable?

[SwedishEdith]

Really wanted to strip the floorboards but it's a mess. Is there an easy way of doing this or should be save ourselves the hassle and get something like engineered wood?

[PigletJohn]

not keen on concrete screed over floorboards, I fear it would crack. Has yours cracked? How thick is it?

What is your target floor finish?

[SwedishEdith]

Target finish is (was?) bare boards to sand and then wax/oil/paint whatever.

The screed is leftover from the Karndean which was there so, yes, that is very cracked. Unless you meant the boards? I'm just wondering if we're wasting our time trying to remove it as it'll just be too hard to get the floor in a good enough state to sand.

[PigletJohn]

I've never tried, but if it is a cement-based screed, it will probably come off with a metal scraper. If it is cracked I can't see that it will be a good base for any other type of floor and you might have to take the old boards up to get rid of it.

[SwedishEdith]

When you say "it" do you mean the floor(boards)? I think they're fine. Don't think we could face replacing the boards - this was meant to be a quick project . Thanks.

[ApplesTheHare]

No chance unless you replace the floorboards unfortunately. We did our Karndean ourselves and you have to put loads of screed down.

[SwedishEdith]

Thanks - how depressing. Might have been better to paint the Karndean!