Author Topic: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance  (Read 3063 times)

chasesfish

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Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« on: February 22, 2014, 05:17:41 PM »
I recently closed on my new residence and project, a 1949 cottage that was improved in the early 90's.

My first task was to tear up two layers of linoleum, revealing the nice original oak hardwoods.   I'm trying to figure out how best to remove this black tar adhesive and a cardboard like residue sitting on the boards.   I'm going to have a professional come in to refinish, but I think I need to get more up before asking them to sand it.

Here's a picture (I have the sellers to thank for the pink broom, they didn't clean their garbage out).

Milspecstache

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2014, 10:20:55 PM »
I could be wrong but if the stuff is sufficiently dry/solid, it should come right up when sanding.  Definitely the pro will be able to tell you, though.

Weedy Acres

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2014, 06:53:47 AM »
I used a wallpaper steamer to get off much worse black adhesive from several floors when restoring them last year. 

More photos and details here, if you're interested: http://littlebeau.weebly.com/kitchen.html
See kitchen and both bedroom tabs, as they all had different black stuff.

chasesfish

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2014, 07:37:22 PM »
The hardwood refinishing guy brought up the A word and said he'd recommend not sanding it.  Going to drop backer board on it and tile it to encapsulate any issues.

Milspecstache

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2014, 11:32:11 PM »
Took me a few minutes to decipher the A word but I think I got it.  Very, very bad.  Smart move on going with tile!

chasesfish

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2014, 05:20:55 AM »
Yes, I think I've disturbed enough as is.  Now I need to backerboard one half of the kitchen, move all the appliances to that side, then backerboard and seal everything.

Live and learn on this stuff.

Weedy Acres

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2014, 06:39:19 AM »
First of all, don't let the prospect of asbestos scare you off.  It's only when it's airborne in little particles that it's dangerous.  Sanding would definitely cause problems.  But steaming will not, which is why I did it that way.  Not that I had known asbestos, but

Secondly, you can get it tested for like $20.  If you're worried, then do that before you freak out.  Lots of old adhesive does not have asbestos in it.  If it doesn't, then you can safely sand away and restore your beautiful hardwood. 

Lots of people freak out at the mention of the A word, but it's really nothing close to the end of the world.  Here are a couple links that discuss it:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/oldhouse/msg071137227654.html
http://ths.gardenweb.com/search/nph-ind.cgi?term=asbestos&forum=flooring&forum_name=Flooring

Be informed and make your own decision.

chasesfish

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2014, 04:54:37 PM »
I actually sent it in and got it tested, we're clean.  very good feeling!

I keep looking at the kitchen and am still going to tile it.  It just makes us feel a lot better doing it ourselves then eating the cost for a remediation company. 

Weedy Acres

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Re: Removing remaining ahesive / backerboard substance
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2014, 02:51:08 PM »
That's great you had no asbestos!

Are you going to put down ceramic/porcelain tile?  If you're not removing the cabinets first, that will likely be problematic as it'll raise the floor, making appliances not fit back under the cabinets properly.  Also, make sure you've got a sturdy subfloor.  Here's a good resource to make sure you've got your bases covered: http://www.johnbridge.com/articles/floors/tile-floors/

And a calculator to see if you've got sufficient joist support (often a problem in older houses): http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/deflecto.pl

If you're an experienced tiler, you probably know all this.  But I'd hate for you to go to a ton of work and end up with cracking tiles a few months down the road.