When vinyl asbestos flooring is crumbling or damaged it is considered friable.
Damaged asbestos floor tiles.
Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air.
Encapsulating asbestos is often cheaper and safer than trying to remove it.
Floors with existing exposed asbestos tile that are well maintained and firmly attached to the substrate may remain in service provided that the tiles are free of broken or crumbling material.
Even for these examples of damaged tile flooring we need to answer a few questions before determining that professional removal by an asbestos expert is necessary.
Asbestos in floor tiles.
If the area is remodeled or a new floor covering is to be installed all flooring related asbestos in the affected area is to be properly removed.
That s enough to prevent the damage and wear that can release fibers into the air.
Intact asbestos tiles are not a major risk and can in fact be left in place and covered with other materials such as carpet vinyl linoleum or concrete.
Asbestos floor tiles were manufactured in three sizes.
Examine the condition of the tiles.
Asbestos flooring damage hazard assessment hazard level if asbestos containing floor tiles are damaged.
What is the actual risk level from various types of damage to asphalt asbestos floor tiles vinyl asbestos floor tiles or.
2 you are probably legally required and certainly ethically required to disclose the fact that there is asbestos tile under the new floor when you sell.
In floor tiles asbestos is used primarily for its insulation properties and its ability to resist fire.
In a basement i d suggest a rubber based carpet pad rather than.
The best way to deal with old asbestos floor tiles is to cover them up.
The advice you received is correct.
1 an asbestos abatement contractor is more likely offer removal than encapsulation.
In addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.
Asbestos exposure risk from minor vs.
That said it can be difficult to get a level surface for the new floor especially if the old tiles have chipped away.
In this case it needs to be removed very carefully to avoid asbestos exposure.
But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable.
In many cases installing a new floor over the tiles encapsulates the asbestos fibers and is an acceptable way to manage the material.
Tiles that are disintegrating should be handled with.
No sealer is needed.
The only downsides of that are.
In addition to the page top photo of cracked loose asbestos containing floor tiles the reader below has sent additional examples of damaged asbestos floor tiles.
Carpeting and a suitable pad will do the trick.
Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed.
Is a scratch or cut into an asbestos flooring material dangerous.