Getting Rid Of Asbestos Floor Tiles
You could also cover the tiles with new vinyl flooring linoleum or even ceramic tiles.
Getting rid of asbestos floor tiles. However as a favor to future owners of your house make some note of the fact that asbestos tiles are under the new flooring. Get your asbestos removal quotes. Common in homes built in the 20th century black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile linoleum and other flooring materials. In addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.
The danger is in the hazardous dust that becomes airborne. Dispose of asbestos floor tiles in approved asbestos disposal bags and seal each one as directed. In floor tiles asbestos is used primarily for its insulation properties and its ability to resist fire. Studies have proved there are health hazards from breathing high levels of asbestos but the risks from smaller amounts should never be taken lightly.
Armstrong produced the excelon tile series beginning with a plastic asbestos floor tile series in 1954 referring to the product as vinyl plastic asbestos floor tiles beginning in 1955 and vinyl asbestos tiles from 1957 to 1980. But asbestos removal isn t as cut and dried as it may seem. Asbestos in floor tiles. The cost of removing asbestos is around 50 per square metre.
But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. Vinyl tiles with asbestos are all 12 12 or 9 9 tiles with asbestos. Your house will be safer and it can also increase the value. Asbestos has been linked to asbestosis and mesothelioma lung diseases caused by breathing asbestos fibers.
Step 3 preparing the asbestos flooring for removal. Use a steel floor scraper to pry up the asbestos tiles one at a time. Next start lifting the asbestos vinyl tiles and with the scraper keep on separating the tile from the floor. That way no one will be endangered years from now when they start to rip up the new flooring and find asbestos tiles beneath.
This is to keep you from getting hurt and from breathing any asbestos particles. Asbestosis irritates and scars the lung tissues while the more dangerous mesothelioma causes a type of cancer that is often fatal. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. With the threat removed you will not have to be careful or mind hazardous material.
Resilient sheet flooring containing asbestos was also produced finding wide use as early as 1968. The cost of asbestos removal is far greater than encapsulation but it is well worth the investment. Asbestos floor tiles become a problem when they are damaged or broken during removal and become fibrous. Finding asbestos within the home is a dreaded event for most homeowners.