Setting ceramic tile on top of vinyl asbestos tile

I know, I've seen this question asked on a number of forums (the answer is usually NO) but not my specific situation. The area we want to tile is a 12' x 24' family room in our 4-level s;lit-level house. The floor is dry and we've never had a water problem in the room (there is another basement level below it).

After removing wall-to-wall carpet we have the original 1960's 9" x 9" rigid asbestos vinyl tiles. Some of the tiles around the perimeter of the room cracked when we removed the carpet tacking and staples but except for the edges the vinyl tiles are firmly attached to the concrete floor.

So the question is: after filling in the chipped areas with leveling compound can we set ceramic tiles directly on the asbestos vinyl tiles. I don't want to scrape the vinyl tiles for fear of releasing asbestos dust. But maybe a thorough scrubbing or a chemical scrubber would work to prepare the vinyl tiles for setting the ceramic tiles.

If this is a strict DO NOT DO IT idea we were also thinking of painting over the vinyl tiles with using a glaze that would give us a marbled or ceramic look and then add 3 coats of polyurethane. Any experience with floor painting out there? Thanks. Will.

Unless they are removed, it's a big risk tiling over them, probably would fail in time.

Install a floating floor system over them if not removing them, wood, carpet sheet vinyl, whatever.

Thanks Rd. I think the smart thing is to do a vinyl tile treatment. We found this product by Konecto but they're expensive - starting at $4.95 per 16" x 16" tile which is about the price of ceramic. But they really look good on the website and you can get them in a lot of ceramic-type patterns.

Will,

Here's a possibility. It's a FLOATING ceramic tile floor system:

http://www.flooringmarket.com/snapstone/

We did it and its holding well at six years and counting.
Used a thinset with latex addative.

The delima is no one wants to commit to anything or reccomend anything when it come s to asbestos. Assuming you have adequate subfloor thickness and stregnth. I would clean the floor thoroughly to strip off any waxes and dirt. Get a peel and stick membrane for tile. Adhere to the floor and tile it.
Thats what I would do I'm not suggesting that you do it.

We used a thinset over sheet goods that was over 1/4 inch masonite atop 1" t+g flooring. The old floor has asbestos, as does the mastic used to mop it down, and the 30 lb felt beneath it. In a poorly framed house, no cracks or broken grout joints. The VA floor acts as a slip sheet. The tiles were ceramic 12x12

It can be done, but certain conditions have to be met. I saw a big Burlington Coat Factory store being retiled over existing VCT. And it has lasted.

That's nice.

I can only advise the best way to do it, you can tile over carpet for all I care.

If there's ever a risk involved and I can't remove it, I walk away.

Yesterday I deliberately ran through three red lights and a stop sign and nothing happened. A few weeks ago I did the same thing and nothing happened then either. Once, I parked in a handicap spot and I'm not handicapped and a few times I have parked in front of a fire hydrant.

It really makes me feel good to defy reason and rules and then brag about it on the Internet. I FEEL GREAT!

Good for you. Though you should obey the rules of the road. Running red lights endangers not only you but others as well. My point is it CAN be done. RELAX.

EXACTLY my point. It can be done. But should it, does it have a high probability of lasting?

Running red lights endangers not only you but others as well.

Yes, but it CAN be done.

If the vinyl isn't adhered well and a tile pops and cracks, it can become a dangerous situation when heading to the fridge in the middle of the night with bare feet.

What a lawsuit.

Those who tile over vinyl and the underlayments used for it that shouldn't be there are just too damn lazy to do it right and remove it or just don't know any better.

Marco, which category do you fall in?

Sometimes the issue isn't lazy as much as cheap. Some people want to take shortcuts to save a dime. Although it seems it costs more in the long run when this happens.

JimR

Easy big fella. I simply stated that I've seen it done successfully. No need to start comparing urine streams.

I guess I am mis-informed. I was thinking we had an unwritten rule here at FT to state The Book and shy away from shoot-from-the-hip-tactics. To openly say "it can be done" is true but counter productive. Now all the light-weight lurkers will take that information and run with it as if it were gospel.

Hate it when that happens!

Wow guys still seeing who can spit the farthest.
Glad I am in the roofing business for now.

Hey huys remeber this
A ridgid reed breaks in a strong wind.
There ends the lesson, boys.

If you cant lay a floor, SELL HAIL!

- - - and if you can't make in the tile business become a roofer.

It's not a question of who can spit the farthest, it's a matter of doing it right. Being flexible isn't always the answer.

Hey huys remeber this
A ridgid reed breaks in a strong wind.
There ends the lesson, boys.

- - - and so do tile installers that have no backbone.

END of sermon.