Should I Remove Asbestos Floor Tiles

Photo by russell kaye i m told that the old vinyl floor tiles in the basement of our 1950 house contain asbestos and that i should not try to remove the tiles but cover them with wall to wall carpeting.

Should i remove asbestos floor tiles.

Common in homes built in the 20th century black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile linoleum and other flooring materials. When it comes to asbestos in your flooring or house in general you as the home owner can remove it how every you wish i however being a professional flooring installer can get fined for doing it for you. We begin by suggesting that you should not remove asbestos containing floor tile unless it is really necessary. Asbestos has been proven to cause a life threatening condition called mesothelioma.

Many tile contractors will not even consider the removal of the tile. When you remove that floor covering to make way for new flooring you may encounter the mastic and wonder whether it is safe to remove. Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air. That said it can be difficult to get a level surface for the new floor especially if the old tiles have chipped away.

You must wear coveralls dust mask goggles gloves and boots. When you are dealing with asbestos you can either remove it with an abatement or manage it in place. Cover old asbestos tile with new tile or a floating floor. Step 3 preparing the asbestos flooring for removal.

Can i put a new floor on top of asbestos tiles. In many cases installing a new floor over the tiles encapsulates the asbestos fibers and is an acceptable way to manage the material. Remember that breaking asbestos tiles poses a serious risk of releasing asbestos fibres into the air and having them spread to other rooms in your house. Asbestos is a toxic mineral american manufacturers once mixed into many building materials.

Step 2 wearing your protective gear. Wet the floor with water and a spray bottle or a hose in order to keep the dust particles from floating on the air. Removing it is often not an option since the adhesive and dust are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of by a hazardous waste team. Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed.

Asbestos found in the vinyl floor tiles at the toh tv project house means a state licensed and well protected abatement crew must do the removal. Remove asbestos containing material carefully. As with asbestos containing products in general the asbestos hazard at a building may be greater from disturbing asbestos containing materials acm than if they were left alone or covered up. In order to remove them safely you must break every tile into dozens of pieces.

Old asbestos tiles can make a home appear dated. What makes asbestos flooring dangerous. It is impossible to remove asbestos tiles intact. This is to keep you from getting hurt and from breathing any asbestos particles.