Question
Hi Sean,  We have a cement slab for our front entry.  It is currently faced with blue green flagstones that I hate.  Can the flagstone be removed(i.e. pried, hammered, chipped off) and the slab then refaced with a different material?  The slab itself is in good condition with no chips or cracks.  What steps would I need to take to prepare the slab for a new facing?
Thanks,
Carole, Alpharetta, GA

Answer
The simple answer is yes. As long as the slab is in relatively good shape it should be fine to re-apply a new veneer of some other stone/tile/ etc.

The best thing to do is chisel away the old mortar as best you can then wash it down with a muriatic acid. You can buy this product by the gallon at any pool supply store or sometimes Home Depot/Lowes, etc. Always be careful with Acid, make sure you dilute it with water. Apply the acid to the water. 50/50 is good. Make sure you have a mask or the area is very well ventilated. Follow instructions on bottle. Use all plastic pump sprayer as acid will react with metal. Be sure when you are finished that you thoroughly wash the mortar several times to ensure acid is neutralized.

That is about the best thing you can do to prepare the surface for new mortar or other materials. But honestly that is not a "must do". You could just thoroughly clean the old mortar with water.

When you start the new work be sure to dampen (not soak) the old slab and any remaining mortar you were not able to remove.

Best of Luck.

Sean J Murphy
Sean J Murphy, LA,ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my blogs and articles on landscape topics like this on my websites.
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://amenityarchitects.com