Removing Floor Tiles Containing Asbestos

Common in homes built in the 20th century black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile linoleum and other flooring materials.

Removing floor tiles containing asbestos.

The asbestos floor tile identification articles in this series illustrate that with the combination of design appearance and an idea of floor tile age many asbestos containing floor tiles or sheet flooring products can be reliably identified even before confirmation by a test by a certified asbestos testing laboratory. The flooring tiles are 9 inch 12 inch or 18 inch squares. Many older homes have asbestos tiles for flooring. 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.

Nonfriable materials are those in which the asbestos is locked and cannot become airborne. As time goes by and more homes are remodeled fewer homes contain asbestos tiles. If the tiles were installed between 1960 and 1980 there s a slight chance they contain asbestos. In floor tiles asbestos is used primarily for its insulation properties and its ability to resist fire in addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.

But if you have a home built before the mid 20th century there is a good chance that the floor tiles contain asbestos. Removal is usually the most expensive method and unless required by state or local regulations should be the last option considered in most situations. A23 removing asbestos containing floor tiles and mastic spray water under the tiles to suppress dust as you lift them gently avoiding breakage cleaning and disposal where you have removed only a few tiles use damp rags to clean the floor. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around.

But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Asbestos in floor tiles. If removing the tiles is legal.

Removing asbestos containing floor tiles should be considered a last resort. 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 the main concern surrounding this question is that black mastic often contains asbestos. Resilient flooring is a nonfriable asbestos containing material as long as it s in good condition and as such no immediate action is necessary. This is because removal poses the greatest risk of fiber release.

However removal may be required when remodeling.