Need help with subfloor prep before tiling


  #1  
Old 08-08-16, 06:48 PM
X
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Need help with subfloor prep before tiling

Renovating the bathroom and there was old linoleum we removed. It left the paper backing attached to the subfloor (which you can see in one of the pics). We attempted to remove the paper and found it was attached with a tar like material. We tried adhesive removal for 1/3 of the bathroom and you can see the mess it made.

We are installing ditra heat uncoupling membrane and I know it won't attach to the tar residue. We need a clean subfloor. What can we do? It is probably 1970's material which means asbestos, so no sanding.

Any help is appreciated

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Old 08-08-16, 06:52 PM
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Remove the subfloor and get down to the diagonal planks. Then put down a new subfloor that's adequate for whatever you plan to put down next. Don't know where you are located but you should follow all the applicable laws for removal and disposal. Generally you don't want to remove the original linoleum and expose the tar, you want to cut the subfloor up with a skilsaw (set to the proper depth) and rip up entire chunks while keeping it mainly encaspulated.
 
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Old 08-09-16, 09:16 AM
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What X said plus what's the size, spacing and unsupported span of the floor joists? Ceramic or natural stone tiles?
 
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Old 08-09-16, 10:18 PM
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Thanks everyone. We ripped out the old subfloor and had a new one installed today. Will proceed with tile installation tomorrow. We appreciate your feedback. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't an easier, better route that we were missing before ripping it all out.
 
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Old 08-10-16, 05:44 AM
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Hope you aren't putting tile right on the plywood subfloor.
 
 

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