Floor Prep Questions

Robie

I'm underway on my second tile job.This is a concrete slab in a family room. The floor has 3-4 feet of 6" ceramic tiles around the perimeter with 6" wooden parquet tiles in the middle (165 sq. ft.)
I took off the parquet today with a cold chisel and that went pretty well. I'll be installing 12" ceramic tiles in place of the parquet on the diagonal.
I'm wondering about the adhesive used for the parquet. Should a floor scraper be sufficient to get the old adhesive up or should I spend $60/gal. for adhesive remover? Bottom line...does the concrete have to be perfectly clean of old adhesive before continuing? I'm planning on a 3/8" notched trowel.
Also, what Thinset would you recommend?
Any other helpful tips and ideas are most appreciated.
Thanks.
Rob

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rservices

I'm sure their are plenty of pro's here but, check out john bridges tile forum great help

ccoffer

Believe it or not, the fastest way to get the stuff up is with a 4 inch Personna wall scraper. Being right down on the floor will give you a degree of leverage you cannot get with a standing scraper. With only 165 feet to clean up, you should be able to get the area clean as a whistle in less than thirty minutes.

Removers are more trouble and time than they are worth for small projects.

As far as which thinset to use, you might as well just buy the cheap unmodified stuff. As long as you get 100 percent coverage, you will be fine. Many folks cling to the notion that thinsets with dry-spray polymers are necessary to ensure the bond strength required. It is a false notion.

Durabond D-5 is as good as any. If you have an insatiable desire to use modified stuff, just buy a bottle of additive and mix it with the D-5.(or equivalent)

Floorwizard

Don't forget an anti-fracture membrane before the tile.

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Robie

What a nightmare!
I started out this morning with the 4" scraper and a new pack of blades. This stuff will not budge. About all I was able to do was get the ridge off the adhesive left from the notched trowel. After about 3 hours of both the scraper and a sharpened floor scraper, I decided it was time for the adhesive remover. I think spit would have done just as well, without the mess. I "experimented" on about 30 sq. ft. and most of the adhesive is still intact after 2 applications. I've spent all day and am still no further ahead. I cleaned up my mess and came home.
I'm assuming the next step is a sander. I tried my belt sander with 80 grit and that didn't touch it. What kind of sander do I rent, paper grit, etc and what kind of a mess is this going to make? Of course the house is filled with crystal and antiques!!!
Again, thanks!
Rob

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If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

Donedat

Since your sanding glue off of concrete, just one of the tilt-style floor sanders with the roughest grit they'll sell ya. Just ask for a drum sander for hardwood floors. The rentals usually work well for sanding glue.

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adams,b

If it is like what you are saying, just Hard disc it with 20 grit vaccum it up and go with it. Or you could milk it or prime it and float over the entire floor. Either way, you dont want any specs that will touch the bottom side of your tile when you set it.

Robie

Rented a sander...useless. Got ahold of a floor grinder with carbide blades. No more glue.

__________________

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson