Help is needed please! We want to remove some nasty looking melamine floor tiles in the hallway of our edwardian semi. We know there is an original tiled floor under there, the problem we have is how to get the melamine tiles up. They were stuck down with what looks like a black sticky adhesive (bitumen?), and are stuck fast. I have also heard that some 60's melamine tiles contain asbestos - any truth in this?. Thanks, JAMES
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Lime
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Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is an effective method of removing tiles laid with bitumen.
The dry ice is placed upon a tile and the bitumen freezes, becomes brittles and lifts/breaks away easily.
The dry ice is placed upon a tile and the bitumen freezes, becomes brittles and lifts/breaks away easily.
Feltwell
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Very clever! I would never have thought of that one.
One of these and aching arms is how I've removed old vinyl tiles in the past:-
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=133757&Referrer=froogle
James, asbestos is a possibility but don't panic - there is asbestos and there is asbestos, if you know what I mean. The really nasty types tend to only be found in commercial buildings. In most cases the lesser types can be removed yourself with the right precautions - I took down an old asbesos garage but only after reading all the HSE advice, buying the right grade of dust mask, etc etc.
HSE website contains lots of good information, including:-
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a23.pdf
Check your local authority website, mine provides an asbestos skip free of charge at one particular landfill site, but you have to book an appointment to use it and everything that goes in the skip must be double bagged.
One of these and aching arms is how I've removed old vinyl tiles in the past:-
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=133757&Referrer=froogle
James, asbestos is a possibility but don't panic - there is asbestos and there is asbestos, if you know what I mean. The really nasty types tend to only be found in commercial buildings. In most cases the lesser types can be removed yourself with the right precautions - I took down an old asbesos garage but only after reading all the HSE advice, buying the right grade of dust mask, etc etc.
HSE website contains lots of good information, including:-
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a23.pdf
Check your local authority website, mine provides an asbestos skip free of charge at one particular landfill site, but you have to book an appointment to use it and everything that goes in the skip must be double bagged.
Ixia
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We used a steamer to soften the black glue and then used a scraper to get the tiles up. Downside was the prevoius owner had a dog that had peed all over the house and the soil pipe had leaked into the kitchen. The warmed up smell was less than divine. Don't be tempted to use a heat gun, even on a low setting, to remove the remaining glue residue, we tried this and the fumes made my legs give way - twas v. frightening.
Re. the asbestos, get a sample tested. We had to that with our vermiculite loft insulation. Can't remember how much it cost exactly, but I know it wasn't too pricey.
Re. the asbestos, get a sample tested. We had to that with our vermiculite loft insulation. Can't remember how much it cost exactly, but I know it wasn't too pricey.