50's kitchen floor help - TilersForums.com

[tribalstu]

hi my sister has asked me to tile her floor so my brother in-law has removed all the old floor tiles.Now whats been left is a brown screed around an inch thick I've never had to tile to a substrate like that before and it looks quite smooth so I'm unsure whats the best stuff to use to get a key on it.

 

[Old Mod]

Any images?
Doesn't look like this does it?

 

[WetSaw]

He said it was smooth...

 

[Old Mod]

He said it was smooth...

The MOMENT I saw the email with your name on it I KNEW I'd shot myself in the bloody foot!
Grrrrr!

 

[Old Mod]

Let me ask a different question,
does it have the same colouring?
More red than brown?
This is typically laid to a depth of around an inch!

Is that better Paul? Haha

 

[tribalstu]

Yeah that's very much what it looks like

 

[Old Mod]

If it is, it's called magnesite and has to come up. It was banned in the 70's
Not only does it suck up moisture like sponge, it can contain asbestos.
You'll probably have to apply a liquid dpm of some description and start from there.

Survey Safe :: Magnesite floor screeds - http://www.surveysafe.co.uk/index.php?p=article-magnesite-floor-screeds

 

[SJPurdy]

, it can contain asbestos.

TAKE CARE!

 

[tribalstu]

Oh great this don't sound good i just read that you cannot apply any dpm as it reacts with it so it's looking like the only option is to take it up
thanks for your help by the way much appreciated.

 

[Old Mod]

Yeah as I said above, it HAS to come up.
It's not difficult,typically it pretty much falls apart compared to a regular type screed.