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Help:Painting over asphalt mastic

remodfiend | Posted in General Discussion on April 15, 2007 05:01am

Guys, I have a real problem here.  I just pulled up about 300 sq ft of 9×9 resilent tile from my basement floor.  The tile was put directly over the concrete floor many years ago with asphalt mastic.  I tried removing the mastic with Bean – e doo but after just removing 50 sq ft, it was one of the messiest job I have ever done. 

Is there any primer or paint that can be used directly on the aspalt mastic?  I want to paint the basement floor, but sure as heck don’t want to remove the asphalt mastic.

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  1. Tomrocks21212 | Apr 15, 2007 08:19am | #1

    Since the 9x9s have about a 99.9% chance of being ACMs, there's a fair likelihood that the mastic is as well. Just for safety, I'd advise having it tested and abated by an experienced company. Mastic's usually fairly safe (don't cut it, drill through it, burn it, or abrade it, though) and should be encapsulable. Not sure about getting paint to stick. If it is ACM, I think you'd want something more durable than paint.

  2. stevent1 | Apr 15, 2007 12:32pm | #2

    Sounds like asbestos to me. Can the floor be skimmed with SLC?

    Chuck S

    live, work, build, ...better with wood
  3. IronHelix | Apr 15, 2007 01:52pm | #3

    I won't ask what you did with the tile you removed!

    EPA would love to know!

    As far as your question...I see and smell an orange-citrus based solvent being used for removal of old style cut back adhesive. It is water based so the clean up is withwater and it leaves the concrete quite clean.

    Looks clean enough to paint, but I mostly see new vct or sheet goods applied over the abated areas.

    I would not attempt to paint or slim coat over the asphalt tile adhesive, it needs to be stripped away.

    .............Iron Helix

    1. remodfiend | Apr 15, 2007 04:06pm | #4

      As usual, the hard way (stripping the asphalt mastic) is the right way.  It doesn't look like there is any way to paint directly over the asphalt and get paint to stick.  Thanks to everyone that replied and as always, I am grateful for all of the help you guys have given me.

      1. User avater
        MarkH | Apr 15, 2007 04:53pm | #5

        Try a primer that will stick to the mastic. No oil base, as it will allow the mastic to bleed through.  I'm not too sure there is a good product for that, but maybe. Do a test patch for adhesion.

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