5 years since you last helped me, now I'm back with a basement problem.

[sl7vk]

5 years ago this forum and the members here really helped me with my Kitchen project. I followed the advice to a T, and have been nothing but happy with the results of that project. Here's a link to that thread....

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/...ad.php?t=50525

So I'm not a pro, and it's been a while. After 4 different flooding events in my basement in the past year, coupled with one of my cats penchant for peeing on the floor, we've decided that we are going to lay some stone in our basement.

Since nothing is easy, we'll take the project one room at a time. My wife and I started the demo work this morning, and we found what I can only assume is asbesdos tile, adhered to the concrete with cutback.



After carefully removing the tiles, this cutback stuff is really giving me grief. I've been scraping away at it the last several hours, and the thought of several other larger rooms potentially being covered by the same disgusting stuff really depresses both of us.

Aside from the long stick scraper of death, what other options are out there? We've read that a buffer with mechanical scrapers might be an option? I'm not past doing anything at the moment..... Here's a pick "highlighting" how my work is progressing.






Yes the slightly less black area is the one I've been scraping at for hours.

I'd also like your take on using Ditra on the slab, and over this cutback, or if laying the tiles directly over the slap is a viable option.

Thanks guys!

Thomas

[muskymike]

Hi Thomas, welcome back! Are the tiles 9x9 that you are taking up? If not they might not be asbestos. You can use Versabond over the cutback glue with minimal scraping.

[sl7vk]

Yes, the tiles happened to be 9x9 right on the dot! Lucky me.

There were two sets of tiles.... One set was 9x9 but left that nasty residue, the others were 12x12's and they came up with the glue very clean, and left the concrete almost completely clean. The 12's were harder to get off and took more chiseling, but boy were they globally easier!

Mike, would you use the Versabond and then lay a Ditra, or would you just lay the versabond and tile directly over the slap?

Thanks!

[Davy]

I think Mike is talking about sticking the tiles with Versabond right to the slab. Nothing wrong with putting down a membrane though. Are those white lines expansion joints cut in the slab?

[muskymike]

Yeah Davy is right. IF the slab has any hairline cracks you want to use a membrane on it. Ditra would be fine of Noble CIS. Yes you can use the Versabond to put either membrane down.

[sl7vk]

This place is the best. Amazing the knowledge on hand and so quick to respond!

The lines aren't expansion joints Davy... If I scratch more they are just lines where no gunk was applied? Not sure if they used some kind of grid to lay these wonderful asbestos tiles.

Ok, so I can put Versabond down, and Ditra on top... Excellent!

Mike, when you say minimal scraping.... Are you considering what I've already done minimal scraping? Or more minimal than that

Is Versabond a fortified or non fortified quickset?

Thanks again!

Thomas

[muskymike]

Hi Thomas, by minimal I mean scraping any loose stuff off. Versabond is slightly modified but will stick to the old cutback.

[Davy]

Yep, what Mike said. The Versabond will stick fairly well to it but if the glue is flaking anywhere, the versabond is only bonded as well as the flaking glue.

I would scrape it the way you have the cleanest area and then put down Fracture Free, Redgard or Hydroban as a membrane. They tend to stick well also and then you'll be protected from any future cracks.

[jgleason]

Hi Thomas,
Been a while since you've been here and some things have changed. We'd appreciate it if you simply upload your images using the Manage Attachments option. Images hosted remotely have a tendency to disappear over time and that leaves some empty spots in threads.

[sl7vk]

Joe-

It looks like you've attached my pics. Thanks!

Some forums prefer it, some don't so it's hard to tell. I'll attach future pics, making sure to downsize them.

More scraping today but with a different tool. new tool is sharper and heavier and more effective. I did about as much work in 3 hours as it took me to do in 6 on Sunday. Yeah!

My wife and I ordered our travertine today... 3 to 5 weeks to arrive which actually relieves some pressure, timeline wise.

I'll update some pics shortly... The scraping is going great. Ugggh.... There are parts of my body hurting that I didn't know existed.

Like I said, more pics to come....

thomas

[sl7vk]

I don't think I was fully aware of the scope of this project, but i guess I rarely am.

The scraping has been horrible. How would you guage where I'm at scraping wise?

I'm worried the concrete is sealed with this stuff and isn't absorbing water. Assuming that it is sealed at this stage.... What to do next?

Also, you can see the scope of my problem. The carpeted room represents about 250 sq, and I haven't even started there yet. The problem is that once you scrape up the VCT's, the cutback off gasses and smells terribly of petroleum... As you can see my son's room is downstairs, so that is not good....

I decided to open up a wall while I was at it yesterday, and it really opens up the downstairs and changes the rooms... Oh well, some good has come of this!

[Houston Remodeler]

If the slab doesn't absorb water, scarifying is in order with a right angle grinder and a diamond cup wheel

[sl7vk]

Uggh... 400 sq with an angle grinder is sounding a bit miserable right now....

[Houston Remodeler]

You're scarifying, it goes very very quickly. Basically you move the grinder across the floor as fast as you can. Dust control is the hardest part, not the grinding.

[sl7vk]

I finally found the solution to the mastic problem, and it's made by Bosch. 400 sq feet in 6 hours. Seems like a lot, but man, the poll scrape method would have taken me years.

I'm assuming that I don't need a modified thinset now on this substrate for the Ditra?