What is the chance that the premium Cryntel Self-Adhering Vinyl Floor
Tiles I bought at Lowe's will satisfactorily stick if I lay them
directly on top of the old black mastic?
The Cryntel instruction sheet mentions priming concrete subfloors with
Latex Floor Primer. But it also recommends scraping subfloor first to
remove "materials that might prevent adhesion". Like I said, I'm not
wild about scraping the old mastic.
So, what should I do.....try applying the new tiles to the floor as is
(over the old black mastic), or buy some Latex Floor Primer to paint
over the black mastic?
> So, what should I do.....try applying the new tiles to the floor as is
> (over the old black mastic), or buy some Latex Floor Primer to paint
> over the black mastic?
Neither until you prep the floor properly...
--
That advice is as useful to me as tits on a boar hog, and is exactly
the kind of arrogant, snobby BS I hoped I wouldn't receive. Would it
kill you to perhaps elaborate as to HOW to prep the floor properly?
--
aem sends...
Well, you know the answer you're just trying to avoid doing it.
It's either take the old mastic off and smooth the floor down to a clean
surface or cover it w/ a suitable subflooring. One could try one of the
leveling compounds but it's likely more trouble over the entire surface
than simply taking the mastic off would be.
Whatever has to be flat and smooth as any imperfection will telegraph
through a thin tile.
--
Judging from other houses I've seen lately, I must be the only person
in the U.S. who is not a fan of ceramic floor tiles. Never liked it!
But I appreciate your input about putting thinset (or, probably more
appropriate in this case) Armstrong vinyl tile adhesive down over the
black mastic. I had considered relaying the 9x9 tiles I took up,
since 90% of them are intact. It's good to know the thinset will hold
them to the black mastic. That would keep whatever asbestos is down
there in check. Then I could lay the new self-stick vinyl ones on top
of the secure old tiles.....my original plan anyway.
>.snip<
> I'm not wild about trying to scrape it off
> because of the possiblilty that it contains asbestos.
>snip<
Odds are the old tiles were compounded with asbestos, not the mastic.
Easy to test if you care to. Pot a dab on a stainless steel teaspoon
and light it off with your propane torch. The residue will clearly
display the characteristic fiber structure of asbestos if there is
any. An anonymous white powder would likely be limestone, silica, or
clay mineral filler.
Joe
Josh wrote:
-------------------------------------
mockingbird wrote:
> Josh wrote:
> -------------------------------------
Don't scrape because it won't come up anyway! I installed a Roma Stone
18"x18" Saturnia self stick tile. First I took up the old tile (use mask
and gloves and no fans) the mastic was stuck to the concrete. I wiped the
mastic with a low odor mineral spirits which softens the mastic (let it
dry). Note the vinyl would not stick to the mastic. Then I applied a
thinset over the mastic and let it dry. After the thinset was completely
dry I applied (used paint roller) the vinly adhesive primer and let it
dry. I then layed the tile and grouted it. For a diy grandma of 60 the
floor looks absolutey beautiful!
Hope this helped!
-------------------------------------
I had some old linoleum tiles in my basement and they too were coming
loose. I did not have black mastic underneath them but some yellow
snot-colored stuff, so I didn't have the exact same situation. What
got that up was pouring some "floor stripper" bought at the Despot in
a 10 gallon container full strength on the floor then scrubbing and
rinsing with hot water. Had to suck it up with my shop vac as no
floor drain. What a mess! I had a fire extinguisher nearby just on
the off chance that the stuff lit off because it obviously contained a
lot of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons and also kept all the windows
open so as not to get a contact buzz off the stuff.
I'm not looking forward to doing the other half of the basement, as I
expect that the carpet was laid over the same crap, and eventually I
think we want to go to tile and rugs rather than permanent carpet.
nate