Vinyl floor/carpet tile removal

[ktambascio]

In preparing for our upcoming basement bathroom addition, I took my floor scraper and popped off about 5-6 12" grey vinyl tiles (they look like the everyday commercial ones). There was a black and beige glue bonding them to the concrete floor. After 5-6 (they all came up in one piece) it dawned on me that I wasn't thinking about asbestos potential. I'm not too worried about the tiles since they all seem to be popping up in one piece, so in theory I'm not releasing any fibers. I don't know about the glue though.

I was planning to get one of those mail-in test kits that they sell at the Borg. Half of the bathroom will be on what is now these 12" vinyl tiles, and half is on carpet. Under the carpet is a yellowish glue.

What's the best way to remove this glue from the concrete? Is there anything you can pour over it to put ceramic tile on top? Since it's a new bathroom, we will be cutting the slab floor so some of the glue will get removed that way.

From googling about this, it looks like the tiles were not manufactured after 1983. I also read that asbestos tiles were typically 9". Not knowing when the previous owner put them down...they look newer than what I would think this floor would look like after 26 years, but I have no way to know for sure.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Kevin

[dgold]

The "glue" is probably mastic. I would think you could probably find a chemical to strip it.

[jadnashua]

If you are going to install tile, you do not want to use a chemical stripper - it can force stuff into the pores and prevent a good bond with the thinset. Many thinsets can be installed over 'cutback' adhesive, but you must scrape off most of it so you can see the concrete underneath.

Check out www.johnbridge.com (http://www.johnbridge.com) for tiling help.

If it contains asbestos, use a spray bottle, keep it damp and scrape it up with a razor scraper. You don't want to grind it or work with it while dry.

[ktambascio]

Jim: I couldn't find any of those test kits at Lowe's or HD, though the website claimed they have them. Looking at the tile more, I don't think it is 26+ years old (asbestos was banned in 1983), so I'm fairly convinced it is not dangerous. In fact, they still sell the same exact Armstrong commercial flooring tiles at HD, as I saw in the store today. The previous owner probably put them down a week or two before putting the house up for sale.

I'm just going to scrape the floor after wetting it down...I only need to clear about 20 square feet out of there to make room. Of course the same mastic is under the carpet, so there will be a lot of scraping.

-Kevin

[hj]

If you are not grinding or sanding the tile, it makes no difference what they are made of.