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Old floor found, or prep before new flooring.

A trained abatement firm should handle suspect material, and a flooring contractor should do the testing and prep.

Customers put it like this

  • found old tile under the carpet
  • black glue on the slab
  • is the slab ready for flooring?
  • can we go over the old floor?
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Stop first if

  • Old vinyl, asphalt tile or black adhesive is about to be scraped, sanded or ground.Stop. Leave it undisturbed until it has been tested. Call a trained abatement firm if needed.
  • Paint from before 1978 may be disturbed.Stop. Do not sand or scrape until it has been tested.
  • The slab is or may be post-tensioned, or holds tubing or conduit.Do not drill, cut or core until the layout is known.
01

Ask on the call

6

Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.

  1. How old is the building?
  2. What did you find, and has anyone scraped or sanded it?
  3. What new flooring and adhesive are planned?
  4. Is the slab on the ground, and is the heat or air running?
  5. Do you have a dated moisture report?
  6. Is the slab post-tensioned or heated?
02

Bring

5
  • pH strips and distilled water
  • RH probe kit for a trained tech
  • Long straightedge
  • Flashlight
  • Phone for photos
03

Check on site

6
  1. Screen the old covering and adhesive before anything is disturbed.
  2. Identify the substrate at an edge: slab film, panel stamps or existing covering.
  3. Review any moisture report for date, site conditions and test method.
  4. Match limits to the exact covering and adhesive pair.
  5. Run bond test panels where films or paint are in doubt.
  6. Check flatness with a straightedge from the high points.
04

Keep on the record

4
  • Photos of what was found
  • Build date and layer stack
  • Moisture and pH readings with dates
  • Bond test results

General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.