Q Our house was built in 1950 and has what I think is asbestos tile in the basement. We'd like to put in an in-floor heating system with ceramic tile on top. Is it OK to put electric in-floor heat on top of the asbestos tile?

A With asbestos-containing flooring, you have two choices: Remove it, or -- the better choice -- leave it as is and install new flooring over it.

Laying the heating elements directly on the existing asbestos tile should work well. (Asbestos initially was chosen as a floor covering solution because of its durability and heat resistance.) Just be sure the substrate is smooth, free of debris and intact, so the thinset can adhere.

As with any project, follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation of the tile, or refer to the TCA handbook (put out by the Tile Council of North America, it's available at stores that sell tile, in bookstores or online.)

In addition, be sure to check with the mortar and grout manufacturers to find the right material for bonding to your asbestos-containing tiles. The manufacturers of tile cement (thinset) have developed special formulations for setting tile that are designed to bond well to specific surfaces. However, as with all tile installations, the entire substrate below the tile is important, not just the layer to which the tile is bonded.

For heating, consider Nuheat or SunTouch mats.

Information from Scott Cook of warmyourfloor.com

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies. Fixit appears daily except on Fridays.