[OffroadOutlaw]

Hello all! So we recently bought an old school house built in the 50's and we are looking at reflooring our basement. We aren't sure if we want to go carpet or some type of harder flooring like engineered. The basement had carpet garage style carpet but currently has ?glued? down linoleum tile on top of the foundation followed by a lot of carpet glue. We have started removing this glue by scraping it off to reveal the tile, doing what I think is the right way to prep it for something such as a floating engineered if we decide to go that route. It's a PITA(see pics). We are just looking to prep it for new flooring, one way or the other, and have it look halfway decent until we can afford it. It's going to be awhile. What I'm looking for is suggestions on how to prep this for different types of flooring and whether I'm wasting my time or not. Cheers!

 

[dj3]

Stop what you're doing and start reading about it, since floor adhesive from the 50s most likely contain asbestos.
To verify if your glue contains it or not, send a sample to a lab (asbestos test kit).

 

[OffroadOutlaw]

The thing is I don't know when the floor was put down let alone the carpet on top of it. However I do appreciate your concern and will take that into consideration if I end up removing it but to be honest, I'm already about a quarter of the way done and will probably finish it out myself as well. I'm not necessarily looking to remove the tile too as long as the prerequisites for the new flooring are met, whatever they may be. Now disregarding the above, what am I looking at as far as prep work? Do I need to remove the glue if a floating floor is installed? Thanks in advance!

 

[rusty baker]

The thing is I don't know when the floor was put down let alone the carpet on top of it. However I do appreciate your concern and will take that into consideration if I end up removing it but to be honest, I'm already about a quarter of the way done and will probably finish it out myself as well. I'm not necessarily looking to remove the tile too as long as the prerequisites for the new flooring are met, whatever they may be. Now disregarding the above, what am I looking at as far as prep work? Do I need to remove the glue if a floating floor is installed? Thanks in advance!

As long as the glue is smooth and not sticky. If it is sticky, you can sprinkle baby powder out and sweep it all over the floor. Sweep up the excess and that will take care of the sticky.

 

[OffroadOutlaw]

It isn't "sticky" perse but it is very grippy. Wouldn't this affect a floating floor not being able to move around?

 

[XY SOLVER]

dj3 is right! scraping it could subject you to asbestos fibers.
Thats a job for a professional being that it is below grade. You will need to do moisture tests to find out the condition of your concrete...
If it's temporary, slap some cheap, floating, waterproof vinyl plank over it till you can get it done right.

 

[rusty baker]

It isn't "sticky" perse but it is very grippy. Wouldn't this affect a floating floor not being able to move around?

Baby powder or corn starch or even a powder floor filler sprinkled on and swept in, should take care of the issue.

 

[ron45]

Rent one of these and take everything down to the concrete off.
Save yourself time and body aches.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/...ProductName=PRO-Floor-Stripper&modelNbr=FCS16


If your worried about asbestos wet the floor down first and keep it moist. Put the material in heavy duty 3 mil. contractor bags.

 

[OffroadOutlaw]

Didn't even know they made such a thing personally, but it doesn't surprise me. What about if the concrete has a little hill in it? Could I just take it down level again? Assuming I would need to in order for the new floor to lay flat and not have squeaks. If so what would I use? Is there anything I need to do to prep the concrete? I appreciate all the help so far gentlemen!

 

[OffroadOutlaw]

Bump.

 

[Missouri Bound]

Stop what you're doing and start reading about it, since floor adhesive from the 50s most likely contain asbestos.
.

And judging from your photos those are 9" X 9" tiles which is a good indicator that they most likely contain asbestos as well.
You have two choices, encapsulate or call an asbestos abatement company.