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Black tar under basement floor tiles

mkejim | Posted in General Discussion on December 18, 2008 04:22am

Hi all,

   Anyone have any good ideas as to how to remove or cover up the black tar like adhesive that is under the basement floor tiles we want to remove.  Tiles are very old and brittle.  They crack and break up no problem.  Best to retile – what adhesive to use.   Or – How to remove??  Any help will help. Thanks!

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  1. User avater
    dgreen | Dec 18, 2008 04:26pm | #1

    I'm going to feel real stupid if someone knows an easy way. I tried scraping, heat, cold and everything else I could think of. I wound up using a 16 grit disc on an angle grinder.

     

     

    ................................................

    Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
    ~ Denis Diderot

    1. User avater
      xxPaulCPxx | Dec 18, 2008 08:38pm | #10

      See my link above.  With this stuff, it really just melts easily away, to be wiped up with paper towels.

       

      PS - I hope you don't smoke!

      Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!

      Look, just send me to my drawer.  This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.

      1. User avater
        dgreen | Dec 19, 2008 12:34pm | #11

        I wore a respirator and used a vac. with a hepa filter. I wish I'd thought to ask here before I did the floor. I wanted to get to the 1926 vg fir underneath. It's all done with a finish on it now. 

         

        ................................................

        Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

  2. Jebadia | Dec 18, 2008 04:47pm | #2

    mkejim,

    There are chemicals for removal. If you are going to retile you could probably just put your adhesive over the top of the old check with a reputable flooring installer.

    The bad news is the tiles you are removing are 9"x9" and are most likely asbestos. The adhesive underneath is most likely asbestos as well.

    In the abatement field they use the chemical and a floor buffer to scrub that stuff up. It is a messy job and if you can go over the top you are better off. The exposer to asbestos would be minimal on the removal of any of it as it is considered a non friable material and cannot be crushed or pulverized by hand pressure. The mastic/adhesive is near impossible to make friable. The tile needs to break up really badly or be cut with a saw. Poor a little water over the tile when removing.

    Have fun
    Jeb

  3. User avater
    Ted W. | Dec 18, 2008 05:13pm | #3

    You don't have to remove that adhesive, just tile right over it. If you're using thinset (for ceramic, marble, etc..) you'll want a good quality flexible adhesive. For vinyl or composite tile, use whatever is recommended for your application. You can call the manufacturer for recommendations. But tiling over the asphalt adhesive is done all the time.

    See my work at TedsCarpentry.com
    Buy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net

    If you haven't already done so, please update your profile. Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we often look at your profile to see where you are writing from.

    1. Hackinatit | Dec 18, 2008 05:20pm | #4

      In this situation, one really should seal the asphalt with an oil based primer before the tile.

      I just had an occasion to test the bond strength of tile on asphalt and it wasn't very good. Well, it was good for me because the tiles and thinset popped right off the floor with very little effort.A La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.

      1. User avater
        Ted W. | Dec 18, 2008 06:21pm | #6

        That may have to do with the mortar adheive, they probably used the cheap stuff when installing the tile. Luck for you =)

        I did a basement tile floor about 8 months ago, same situation with the brittle tiles and asphalt adhesive. Did a test tile first, as recommended by the manufacturer. Went to pry it up the next day and it wouldn't come up in one piece.

        One thing that is very important, and too often overlooked, is when spreading the thinset you have to use the un-notched edge of the trowel to really score it into the surface, before spreading it with the notched part.See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net

        If you haven't already done so, please update your profile. Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we often look at your profile to see where you are writing from.

  4. DanH | Dec 18, 2008 06:04pm | #5

    Note that both the tile and the adhesive are apt to contain asbestos.

    The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
    1. User avater
      Ted W. | Dec 18, 2008 06:23pm | #7

      I can pretty much guarantee both have asbestos. But it's encapsulated in the material and only a minute amount, if any, would make it into the air. As one poster suggested, the old tile should be wetted before scraping it up. Asbestos is only hazardous if it's airborne.See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net

      If you haven't already done so, please update your profile. Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we often look at your profile to see where you are writing from.

  5. FastEddie | Dec 18, 2008 07:37pm | #8

    Toss a couple of chunks of dry ice on the black mastic and push them around as you work.  They will freeze the goo so that it can be popped off.   Isn't that what used to be called cut-back adhesive?

    "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

    "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  6. User avater
    xxPaulCPxx | Dec 18, 2008 08:36pm | #9

    Here is what you are looking for:

    Asbestos Mastic Remover for Abatix

    Tu stultus es
    Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
    Also a CRX fanatic!

    Look, just send me to my drawer.  This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.

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