We had some old tile removed from our basement floor in preparation for putting down carpeting, and now there's a terrible smell which I assume is from the adhesive residue. We've been advised not to try to get the adhesive out - it's probably asbestos (the tile turned out to be - had to do some major damage control!), and we're told it'll be a major deal to get rid of it safely. (Told this by the guy we would have had to pay to do it, so I trust his answer!) But the smell is terrible, and I doubt a carpet will seal it in, which means we have to do something before we can have that long-awaited carpeting installed. So far, the only recommendation we got was to paint the floor - possibly with KILZ. Being very new to this, and having already messed up with the tile, I'd like to get some corroboration that it's a good idea and will work - or to hear other recommendations.
Thanks!

The person who told you "We've been advised not to try to get the adhesive out - it's probably asbestos " did he ask if the tile was asbestos? Chances are very slim you have asbestos adhesive under nonasbestos tile, did they wear space suits when removing the tile? How did they get the tile up? Call off your carpet installer until this is figured out. You can buy a test kit at most hardware stores, consider that.

We did test the tile - after it was pulled up, because we had no idea tile could be asbestos, and apparently neither did the handyman who does this all the time - and have since had an asbestos abatement company come deal with that.
So, what do I do about this smell??

You need to get the floor down to concrete and the seal it with any kind of sealer cool seal kilz thopmsons or any floor sealer but you may need to do several coats to get the dersirered results I do forecloser clean outs when we encounter this problem we strip the floor to concrete then spray with blech then pressure wash then when dry paint aleast 3 coats walll to wall with desired sealing material

Agree, that's where I was heading. It needs to be scraped to bare concrete which can be a real task. "and have since had an asbestos abatement company come deal with that" what did the abatement company say about the tile and the mastic? You can use an attachment for a reciprocationg saw called a Spider scrapr to speed up an all day job. Spyder Scraper 6in I am fine with KILZ and the bleech but most places I have worked power washing is not going to work inside a finished living space

The abatement company said to leave the mastic alone, and paint over it for the smell.

Did they test the mastic, was there asbestos?

I think the assumption is that the mastic has asbestos- it was tested together (piece of tile with mastic on it) by one lab, and I don't see separate results for tile and mastic - just results for the whole tile/mastic sample. But my understanding is that with 9x9 tile and black mastic, it's virtually a sure thing. (See how educated I'm getting - if only anyone had mentioned this before we had the tile scraped out!)
I just want to get rid of this smell!
(I did call the abatement people back, and they'll send me an estimate tomorrow on scraping out the mastic - I don't trust our DIY skills, especially with asbestos concerns. But I hate to even think how much it's going to cost, on top of what we've already paid!)

Size of the tile means little and assuming anything with asbestos doesn't make sense. My assumption, if I were to make one, is that there is no asbestos in the mastic , otherwise the abatement company would be chomping at the bite to do a job for you. You need to really pin them done on the topic if there is asbestos in the mastic. Like you suspect, no matter who scarpes it off, you will still need to seal the floor with Kilz.Not trying to encourage a DIY project here but mastic does not pose much of a threat, not easily friable. Most folks who get sick from asbestos were the people who mined it or refined it. Rarely would a DIY project expose you to any dangerous level. Key word is rarely, not never. Good luck, check back with us as this moves forward

If there is asbestos in mastic it can be capsuled with a special paint. This can be a DIU project. U will need protective clothing and a HEPA filter mask.

Vacuum floor with HEPA filtered vac. Then paint floor following directions on paint can. This should remove odor from room. After painting, use an exhaust fan in window blowing out and window open at other end of room to bring in fresh air.

Chuck

Seems like most foks are missing the poinbt that carpeting over old mastic will cause lumpy carpeting, the floor is not flat. If it is too costly to take up the mastic then seal it and cover it with 2" ridgid foam insulation board. Basement floor are cold to begin with and the insulation foan will give you a flat, warm surface