Floor question, what is this?

[Shawnzaod]

Going to be laying new living room floor soon, old floor needs repair / filling in few places.
Concrete slab is covered in this black material, what is it??

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• Shawnzaod
• 2 Oct 2016

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• Shawnzaod
• 2 Oct 2016

 

[Newboy]

It's probably asphalt

 

[Shawnzaod]

Used for what ?
Just to raise level of floor or does it serve a purpose?

Thanks

 

[Newboy]

It acts as a damp proofing layer

 

[Shawnzaod]

OK thanks for the help

 

[Steve]

The edges look very similar to what I've got which is magnesite. But mine is red. As is most. Just odd that it looks the same round the edges. Unfinished. In fact the cross section loOKs like it too. If it's cracked and raised in places then it probably is magnesite and ought to be removed. Though I'm leaving ours alone for now. Google it.

 

[chappers]

Magnesite is electrically conductive so can be tested with a multimeter. Either way if it's asphalt or magnesite and it's breaking up it's going to need replacing.

 

[Shawnzaod]

Can it be replaced with plastic DPM ?

 

[Steve]

Put my spirit level on it yesterday and it stuck to it, so turns out it's magnetic or ferrous too.