Bathroom floor redo

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I pulled up three layers of old vinyl flooring in my bathroom. I’m left with a mess of Glued down black tar? paper. The sub floor appears to be in good shape. No weak spots, no rot. Can I just floor over it? Level it? Or must I scrape all that mess up? I‘m open to peel and stick or mosaic tile. TYIA!

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Comments (4)

SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
How old is the home? If this house was built BEFORE the mid-80's it is *possible the black stuff contains asbestos (and possible one or more layers of the tiles contain asbestos).

The 'easiest' thing to do is lay a new layer of plywood down (1/2" ply would be fine) and then lay your floor over that. Leave this black stuff alone. So long as it remains untouched it is safe. So covering it up with new plywood is a great way of leaving it alone AND giving you a new surface to lay a new floor over.

Remember to screw the new plywood down...NO GLUE. No nails. Screw the ply down and go over top. You should be fine.
anniemac830 thanked SJ McCarthy
anniemac830
Original Author
6 years ago
Built in ‘69. But unsure if the vinyl floors are original. The walls are tiled to the floor with

4x4 ceramic tiles. They are original. The last row of tile Meeting the floor has a curved edge. Almost an L shape. The plywood would butt up against that edge. If I use tile on the floor I suppose I could butt the new tile up to the flat surface Of existing tiles and “lose” the curved portion. Sound do-able? TYIA
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SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
Yep. Sounds like there is some form of asbestos present in your situation. A home built in the 60's is almost guaranteed to have asbestos in MULTIPLE ITEMS. Asbestos was officially 'banned' in 1982 but the BUILDING SUPPLIERS were given almost a decade to get rid of their 'excess stock'. Which means houses built as late as 1987 have traces of asbestos in them. And don't get me going about lead based paint! Regulations for lead based paint came into effect in 1978!

Your home is smack dab in the middle of the HEIGHT of these two issues. If you do ANY MORE renos PLEASE OH PLEASE test the surfaces/walls/ceiling/insulation products for asbestos and or lead. Again, these are harmless so long as they are left alone undistrubed....it is the demolition of older homes that brings about the harmful spores of asbestos and the issues with lead based paint.

As for the plywood abutting the tile cap....we won't know until we see your photos.
anniemac830 thanked SJ McCarthy
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
first things first, a tile assembly requires a verified structural deflection rating and properly installed plywood of the right type and method. please dont just start slapping stuff down over A mess if your intending to tile
anniemac830 thanked Mint tile Minneapolis