Flooring options on resilient tile?

[jemorgan28]

I am a recent first time home owner. I bought a small 2 bed 1 bath slab on grade CMU exterior home in Wisconsin, built in 1936. Home is in excellent condition, but the floors have something to be desired. Floors have a "marble" appearance, but they are something called "resilient tile" and the inspector says there is probably asbestos underneath.

I am looking to put new flooring in but don't want the expense/hassle of asbestos abatement. What types of flooring options do I have available? Can I put ceramic tile in the kitchen right over the other floor? Can I install hardwood, engineered wood, floating wood? What about cork or bamboo?

Thanks for your time!

[giddonah]

I'm pretty sure you can do whatever you want. As long as you don't disturb the asbestos, you can cover it up (which as you've seen was done there). Simply adding another layer to that isn't a problem other than the height of the floor will keep increasing. If you are one layer away from the asbestos, then I would just floor over it with something thin. If there are a couple layers, I'd get down to one, and start there. Also, with multiple layers, you might start finding soft spots in the floor.

[jproffer]

For ceramic, it depends on how "flexible" the floor covering, subfloor, and joists are. You need a L360 or better ( :roll: I think). Let us know what size, type, and condition joists you have...what thickness plywood subfloor...and what's on top of that...list each layer if you know. The more info the better.

Other than ceramic, I'd say you would be safe with almost anything else. The "floating" floor you mentioned would be no problem. Hardwood should be OK. Vinyl, lino, el-cheapo stick on tiles if you so desire (I don't know why you would..but :D ), all should be OK.

Post back if you want to pursue the ceramic issue further.

[jemorgan28]

Subfloor is Concrete slab, no basement. Only thing between me and the slab is a black tar substance and the 1/8" thick tiles. Just concerned about the mastic (sp) adhering to a semi-glossy surface as opposed to directly onto concrete. Not worried about floor height, we have 9' ceilings.

Thanks for replying.