Covering Asbestos Tile Floor

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Covering asbestos tile floor.

If floor tiles were installed between 1920 and 1960 there s a good chance they contain asbestos because most flooring tiles manufactured during this period did. Vinyl tiles with asbestos are all 12 12 or 9 9 tiles with 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. You have lot of options when it comes to covering asbestos tiles and it only is a health risk when the floors asbestos particles come airborne.

In many cases installing a new floor over the tiles encapsulates the asbestos fibers and is an acceptable way to manage the material. If the tiles in question are crumbling torn drilled sawn or sanded you ll definitely want to consult with a professional who can help gauge risk and offer recommendations for reducing asbestos exposure the epa is among the best resources available to help educate on risks and abatement techniques. If you aren t removing the old floor you may be creating a new floor that is too thick for doors to open and shut or for thresholds to have clearance. 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. If your tiles are in perfect condition it s true that they could be removed but doing. One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. In floor tiles asbestos is used primarily for its insulation properties and its ability to resist fire.

Just like tom hd116 stated encapsulation and enclosure is really the best thing a homeowner can get sort of a professional abatement company to remove the tiles. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. That said it can be difficult to get a level surface for the new floor especially if the old tiles have chipped away. Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles.

You could also cover the tiles with new vinyl flooring linoleum or even ceramic tiles. In addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.