From: gregfocker@earthlink.net (Greg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house alt.home.repair
Subject: Ceramic Tile / Underlayment idiot
Date: 13 Jul 2003 23:52:44 -0700

In our kitchen, we want to put ceramic tiles on top of cement board
underlayment.

I removed carpet from the kitchen floor (yeah, carpet!).  Underneath
are pieces of original vinyl flooring (partial removal?) and what
appears to be two different types of adhesive (or other material) -
one is black, the other is yellowish.  Both are solid enough where
removal will require lots of muscle.  Below everything is 5/8" plywood
subfloor.  The home was built in 1957.

Is the black stuff possibly mastic?  Asbestos?

Could I leave the existing junk on the floor, use a leveling material
to even out the floor, and screw the underlayment on?  Or should I
scrape it off and try to get down to the plywood subfloor before
putting on the underlayment?  If so, how to remove?

Thanks for any help.