Is It Better To Remove Asbestos Floor Tiles Or Cover

If you suspect your vinyl floor has asbestos but do not want to remove it it is possible to lay a new floor over the old floor as long as the vinyl is not damaged and will not be disturbed in any way that will release asbestos fibers.

Is it better to remove asbestos floor tiles or cover.

When you are dealing with asbestos you can either remove it with an abatement or manage it in place. The old tiles are relatively thin around 1 8 inch thick so installing new flooring on top. Asbestos removal is a hazardous process best undertaken only by a qualified professional. In many cases installing a new floor over the tiles encapsulates the asbestos fibers and is an acceptable way to manage the material.

Workers need protective gear to prevent asbestos exposure and they must follow special procedures to avoid contaminating the whole building. That way no one will be endangered years from now when they start to rip up the new flooring and find asbestos tiles beneath. While asbestos is useful as a binding agent in the manufacture of vinyl and rubber floor coverings it isn t needed to make linoleum tiles or sheet flooring. 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.

Many tile contractors will not even consider the removal of the tile. Remove baseboards as part of your prep too so that you can fully clean your tile. Old asbestos tiles can make a home appear dated. Using concrete to encapsulate asbestos tiles starts by having a clean well washed floor surface.

You could also cover the tiles with new vinyl flooring linoleum or even ceramic tiles. Don t be afraid to wet mop and scrub at the tiles because a clean tile will render better adhesion and a more successful seal. As you can see conducting asbestos tiles removal yourself is very difficult and time consuming. It is always safest to leave asbestos flooring removal to asbestos abatement professionals.

If your floor tiles or sheet flooring are actually linoleum you have less to worry about than if they are another material. Cover old asbestos tile with new tile or a floating floor. Generally the law requires licensed professionals to perform asbestos removal in commercial buildings.