Covering/sealing in possible asbestos vinyl tiles?

[oldmanbrows]

I was wondering about best eco friendly (voc free) and breathable seal to paint over some horrible old Vinyl tiles, some are cracking and loose at the edges.

I was considering and Epoxy BS 2000 Primer
http://www.remmers.co.uk/Product-catalogue.159+M50ebd09fe3e.0.html

But was told it probably won't bond

or Masonry Silicate paint, but similar story with that too.

We will be putting a membrane/underlay and wood floor over the top of all this. I just want to ensure that dust & particles from any potential asbestos does not make it's way through.

 

[MatthewC]

Hi there, welcome.

I'm a bit puzzled (as ever): do your vinyl tiles really have asbestos in them? If so, surely it is part of the vinyl mix and so where do you think the dust would come from?

What's under the vinyl tiles? Why don't you just lift them carefully and dispose of them appropriately?

Matthew

 

[Zebra]

I had those. From the sixties. I had some asbestos people in for another thing, so I asked them. What they said was that yes they do have asbestos in them, but it is a small amount, and won't harm you to lift them. However, you should make sure to dispose of them in the correct way. I bagged them up myself and they took them, but I also believe that the council will take some asbestos, well bagged and sealed, from domestic premises, by prior arrangement. Perhaps check with your local council.

Sorry I can't give more info on exactly why the asbestos disposal people said it wouldn't be harmful to lift them, I can't remember. I do remember they lifted cleanly, and snapped cleanly, and the whole process really didn't make any dust.

Edit: having said that, of course you must make your own decision on whether you consider such a thing safe, and I wouldn't want to encourage you to do something which might contain an element of risk, however small. I just got on and did it, but then perhaps my attitude to risk is sometimes a little cavalier, except where lions are concerned...

 

[plasticpigeon]

What other asbestos issues did you have Zebra?

 

[Flyfisher]

Hi there, welcome.

I'm a bit puzzled (as ever): do your vinyl tiles really have asbestos in them? If so, surely it is part of the vinyl mix and so where do you think the dust would come from?

What's under the vinyl tiles? Why don't you just lift them carefully and dispose of them appropriately?

Matthew

Lots of useful HSE information online about asbestos in the home here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/building.htm

How to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a23.pdf

I'm basically with Zebra on this. No need to panic but take sensible precautions when removing such materials - keep things damp/wet to minimise/eliminate dust and wear an FFP3-rated mask.

An old builder once told me they used to routinely remove asbestos and would simply dig a deep hole to bury it, especially if they could put it underneath new footings or thick slabs, but the more fibrous forms |(pipe lagging etc) are now a 'licenced' material and it's illegal for unlicenced operators to touch it. He also advised that although it's quite cheap to test for asbestos, it needs careful consideration because if found positive for the 'licenced' materials then the status is notifiable and the property becomes identified as containing hazardous materials. I'm not entirely sure about that last bit, but that's what I was told and I can just imagine the problems if HSE discover that your attic is full of asbestos-lagged pipes and orders expensive removal treatment by properly licenced operators.

But, from what I've read, the 'asbestos cement' type roofing materials and pre-1980s artex ceilings are safe enough if you don't start drilling or cutting and something as simply as painting will safely immobilise the fibres.

 

[Zebra]

What other asbestos issues did you have Zebra?

I had a register plate in the fireplace (the fireplace is huge, big enough to stand up in and stretch out your arms) which was "the bad stuff" and cost me £1000 to have a registered contractor come in and remove - plastic tunnel, shower cubicle outside, all that.
I also had some rubble-filled voids which had fragments of asbestos in. My sister helped me, we kept it wet, wore dust masks, and took it out.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Well done, how did you know it was asbestos, did the survey flag it up? I am worried about stuff like that in my house. But thankfully I haven't seen anything suspicious yet, and the fibres in my plaster are not asbestos thankfully.

 

[oldmanbrows]

Good to hear all your thoughts - thank you

I was informed that not only the tiles but also the glue used to affix them may have asbestos in them, particularly anything pre 1980 - which these are. so it may be easier to leave them as is.

They are already breaking apart particularly at the edges, and seem brittle so there is a chance that they may break up more under the flooring we put down. but maybe that is a minimal concern given what you are saying.

I'm not tempted to lift them all up, the glue underneath looks like a horrible black gunk and still fairly tacky. The other issue is there is fair amount of salt coming up through the concrete floor slab and that is trying to creep out from under some of the tiles. so it would be tricky wetting down (as is instructed in safety guidelines) as I would be dissolving all that back into the floor! ahh so much to consider with these old properties

 

[Zebra]

I didn't have a survey. The house was in a state. I took my chances.
No, I poked, and thought hmmmm. So I phoned the asbestos company, they said if there was a bit of it that would come off easily to send it to them, and they'd analyse it for free, in order to quote for the work.

 

[Feltwell]

I wouldn't stress too much about asbestos in the home, if sensible precautions are taken. The link that Flyfisher posted up above should be reassuring to most - the HSE giving guidance as to how you can remove tiles yourself, they are about as risk-averse as you can get and even they say you can DIY with sensible precautions!

The truly nasty types of asbestos - blue & brown - which absolutely should not be touched by anyone except professionals, tend to be in industrial or commercial environments in insulation mostly. In the home, items like asbestos cement roof tiles or sheets, old artex, old vinyl tiles etc can either be left alone or if removed done so with care as per the HSE notes. Main thing is not to kick up dust, you get the occasional eejit who decides to try power sanding old artex off for instance.....

I was quoted £1500 just for an asbestos skip to take the wall sheets and roof tiles from my old garage, that's without the contractor costs to actually take the garage down. In the end I bought a really good trailer for £800 (which I still have), spent about £40 on 2 sets of disposable overalls and the correct respirators, followed the HSE guidelines and took it all down myself, wrapping all the sheets and tiles up in 2 layers of warehousing stretch wrap, like an industrial cling film. I used one set of overalls when taking the garage down, bagged them up at the end - then took all the sheets to the tip and used a fresh set of overalls & mask to unload the trailer, just in case, and it meant no chance of contaminating the inside of the car. The council takes asbestos for free so long as I booked in with them in advance, and the whole job only took a day.