Hey guys,
I need to remove some linoleum floor tiles set with asphaltic mastic (circa 1980s, so should be no asbestos worries). They are set on concrete, and I need to get the concrete clean enough to accept a two part epoxy floor coating. I have heard of ‘mastic remover’, but wondering if anyone has had good results, experience, suggestions, etc.
Thanks!
Replies
Wear a REALLY good respirator.
Try goof-off, or industrial grade acetone.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
Sandblasting, but you would need to rent a heavy duty (trailer hitch type) unit. Or you could hire a sandblasting company to do it for you. That would be the best option, as it will guarantee no residue is left behind. Also, it would open the surface so the epoxy coating can get some bite into it.
If you want to remove it chemically, paint thinner should do just fine. Get the odorless kind, tons of rags, shut off any pilot lights and if you smoke, don't. Also, make sure to soak the rags in water so they don't spontaneously combust.
Personally, I'd hire a sandblaster.
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There are walk behind sand blasting machines but expensive to rent and you'll never get it in a basement.
Find a good flooring supplier and get the mastic remover.
There are many different kinds and most are what they call low odor.
A respirator with chemical/organic filters for fumes.
Just because it was put down in the 80's does not mean it isn't asbestos.
Using chemicals you have no worries of creating dust.
Cover the walls with poly about 3' up and anything else you don't want to get full of the mastic slurry. Also where clothes you don't care about.
Use a scrub pad like something cut from a floor buffer. heavy duty 3M and work the chemical in let it sit for about 20 mins add a little extra chemical scrub it again.
Get some contractor bags and fill them part way with cellulose insulation and scoop the muck into them.
Wipe the floor with rags. lots of rags.
Mop up with tsp when you are done and let it dry a couple days before you put the epoxy down.
You may want to mop with tsp a second time after it has dried for a day or so.
Get a paniters razor scraper for spots that are tough.
I was in the asbestos field for many years and have done miles of tile and mastic(literally).
We rarely used a beed blaster because of the dust. You could scrape up a little mastic and have it tested for asbestos if you really want to use the shot blaster.