Replacing floor tile in 45 y.o. home

[mm]

The same friend is buying a home built in the 60's and the floor of the rumpus room is missing 2 or 3 nine-inch floor tiles. Black with whitish streaks, popular pattern then, asbestos tiles??.

Two questions.

A) The builder provided a 35 year supply of rumpus, but the previous owners used it all. Where can he get more for the rumpus room?

B) I doubt he can find matching tiles, so is it possible to remove 2 or 3 from a closet or corner, and would a heat gun make the adhesive softer in order to remove the tiles? (To use them in the center of the room.) Is there any way to remove 2 or 3 existing tiles without breaking them?

Thanks

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Sun 03 Aug 2008 10:49:59p, mm told us...

Use the heat gun judiciously, along with a putty knife. Often the tile will come up with a bit of effort and gentle prodding. Be careful of the heat gun. If it's too close or too hot, it can cause the tile to blister.