I'm working on a DIY project for my bathroom floor and there's a bunch of old adhesive and leftover material from the previous flooring making a mess. I know that pulling up the old boards would be ideal, but they seem glued down to the subfloor and I can't pry them up. Is it a good idea to just sand off all this junk with an orbital sander before putting down the new tiles?
2 Answers
Sanding might not be the safest route, especially if your house is older. Some of that adhesive could potentially contain harmful substances like asbestos. It’s best to test and ensure you're not sanding anything risky.
I recommend scraping or chiseling off the old stuff first and then using an orbital sander for the remaining bits. If you can, consider renting a floor sander to make the job easier. And definitely wear a respirator while you're at it. Also, check your floor for flatness; it looks a bit uneven in the photo.
I just checked it with a level, and it seems mostly flat, but I did notice some bowing. Maybe I should get a stronger scraper for better results.
I had the materials tested before, and this bathroom is safe. The basement had some issues, but this area should be fine.