Concrete floor problems

[wayneyboy]

Hi

Hoping someone can help. We live in a 1960s house with concrete floors. With our knowledge back then they didn't put a membrane under the concrete and they used to lay bitumen paint on top of the concrete which may have asbestos in it. The flooring at one point had adhesive tiles which also had asbestos. These were ripped up the previous owner then a few years later the previous owner had a company lay engineered wood flooring on top of the concrete. The preparation they have done, going by what we can see is they put a dpm resin on top of the bitumen then floor glue on top of that and then wooden flooring. We have since ripped up the wooden flooring in preparation for Karndean we are having laid and have found what can be seen in the pictures.

The problem we are having is that we can't get the adhesive of the resin (due to possible asbestos we can't grind it) and we are wondering what are options are?

Can we put a 2 part flooring resin on top of this? Alternatively would we better to ply it all?

Thanks

 

[Old tool guy]

Skim ciat the floor with cementitious floor prep. Self levelling concrete would be an example, but don’t do it that way. You can use the slc product, just mix small batches cuz it sets up quick, and trowel on a thin layer, just enough to cover the bumps.

 

[KenC]

I would rent a power floor scraper intended for that purpose. That should remove 'lumps and bumps' down to the black stuff. That 'paint' is probably not really paint but the original vinyl tile adhesive.

 

[Bunsen Honeydew]

You definitely don't want to grind it, but using a scraper should not get the asbestos airborne. You could dampen the area you are working on as added insurance. The asbestos will remain adhered in whatever it is in now.

 

[JohnC1957]

You mentioned you were having the new floor installed?? If so I would ask them. I don't know what Karndean is? I was a contractor and a project manager for years and I would make sure I had
guidance from the installer company who may have a warranty issue with your prep.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Karndean is a brand/ manufacturer of vinyl flooring.

Kind regards,
Olli