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In This Article
What Your Need to Know
Asbestos , a rut - resistant sinewy silicate mineral , was a coarse element in construction materials due to its live , durable nature — until the 1980s , anyway , when it was banned due to the find of considerable associatedhealth endangerment . But its ban from production did n’t needs mean that all products , including floor tiles , had been rive out of homes or even completely withdraw from shelves . For this reason , many homeowner sit unsuspectingly on materials that can be particularly risky when unearthed during removal and redevelopment .
If you live in an sr. home and are concerned that your you may have asbestos story tiles , keep read . We ’ll fill you in on asbestos hazards and explain how to determine its presence , as well as what you could do to keep your family secure .
Health Issues Caused by Asbestos
fit in to theEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA ) , asbestos fibers pose a wellness risk when they are friable , meaning the cloth can crumble and release the fibers into the air . When asbestos fibre are inhaled , they lodge in the lungs and do not break down , which can lead to sickness . The primary disease related to asbestos exposure are :
Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and gravel a health jeopardy unless they are disturbed . sandpaper , sawing , boring , or tearing the tile out , however , can secrete fibers into the air where they can be inhaled , so precaution should be taken to not disturb them . If you must remove them for a remodel , be sure to follow one of the safe remotion method described below .
Identifying Asbestos Floor Tiles
The definitive way of life to find out if tiles incorporate asbestos is to have them tested . you may either engage an asbestos remediation expert or obtain a trial outfit — for which you ’ll murder a flooring sample to mail to an asbestos - testing lab . Asbestos testing outfit are available in DIY stores and online for between $ 10 and $ 45 , but be aware that you may be charged an additional $ 25 to $ 40 fee to process the sampling at the laboratory . kit come with instructions on how to collect the sample and include disposable glove and a rubble masquerade to wear during collection .
Before taking a sample of your flooring tiles , call your local building authority . Some vicinity curtail asbestos testing to license asbestos remedy expert . Professional testing can run $ 350 to $ 800 , bet on whether other materials in your home are tested at the same clip .
In addition to testing , other factors signal that your knock down tiles may turn back asbestos , including :
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Living With Asbestos Tile
One of the good ways to deal with asbestos tile is to get out it in position and plow it with unexampled flooring . The honest-to-god tiles are relatively lean , around 1/8 - inch thick , so put in new flooring on top will not appreciably evoke the height of the floor . novel vinyl group , laminate floor , hardwood , organise floating flooring , and carpet can all be successfully install over asbestos tile . Even ceramic , slate , and stone tile can be installed on top , as long as a fiber - cement backer is put in first .
take note : If you install unexampled flooring over the tiles , be sure to notify your real estate factor when you sell your family . This will give the vendee a capitulum ’s up so they do n’t start tear out the tile should they wish to install fresh flooring .
Removal Options
The only instances where you ca n’t go out asbestos floor tiles in place is if you think to refinish the wood floor beneath or otherwise trouble the tile during a remodel . Aside from that , some homeowner simply are n’t well-fixed have asbestos tiles stay even if they pose no wellness peril .
Whilesome states and communities prohibitthe removal of asbestos flooring , many areas do permit homeowners to do so . The safe removal pick is to have an asbestos remediation contractile organ hit the old tiles at a price of between $ 6 and $ 10 per substantial foot , depending on where you exist , the condition of the tile , and whether local regulation require extra stride to protect the rest of the house .
DIY removal is tawdry because no British Labour Party costs are demand . You ’ll pay up $ 3 to $ 5 per asbestos disposition bag , which is commend for safe disposal . A single 15 - gallon poly - bag , designed for asbestos disposal , will hold approximately 20 square feet of demolished floor roofing tile and associated dust . You may also have to pay a hazardous waste disposition fee , which ramble from $ 35 to $ 75 or more , depending on the facility .
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Tips for DIY Removal
If take away the tile is sound in your community of interests , and you choose to do the work yourself , your local building authority or wild waste public utility will often provide a inclination of procedure to trace . Safe demolition of asbestos story tiles should ask you to :
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