Removing Asbestos Flooring Adhesive

Prior to the 1980s asbestos vinyl sheet flooring was very popular in homes.

Removing asbestos flooring adhesive. Mastic is a type of glue used to adhere tiles and vinyl flooring to the subfloor. Asbestos removal is a hazardous process best undertaken only by a qualified professional. First the tile itself is taken up either cut pried or chiseled from the floor. If the carpet glue is negative for asbestos but floor tile and or mastic are positive conduct a test pull to determine the likelihood of the floor tile remaining intact or being disturbed during the actual carpet removal.

It was also resistant to moisture oil grease heat alkalis and acids. When you remove that floor covering to make way for new flooring you may encounter the mastic and wonder whether it is safe to remove the main concern surrounding this question is that black mastic often contains asbestos. The safe way to remove the tiles and the glue is with a floor scraper looks like a large putty knife on a shovel handle and warm water. This type of adhesive was asphalt based and most likely contains asbestos whether or not the tiles.

Even if the vinyl flooring is pulled up intact the old adhesive underneath may also contain asbestos. How to remove asbestos tiles safely. Black mastic also known as cutback adhesive was commonly used to glue flooring tiles down. If your building was built before 1980 mastic mixed with asbestos may have been used to seal your tiles to the floor.

Some floor adhesives contain asbestos. Try the search box just below or if you prefer post a question or comment in the comments box below and we will respond promptly. Scrape the residue left after popping up the tiles don t sand it. It is always safest to leave asbestos flooring removal to asbestos abatement professionals.

But then asbestos was found to be a health hazard. Asbestos adhesive was used for asphalt flooring tiles and vinyl or linoleum sheet tile because it strengthened the flooring and made it more durable. If you break the flooring into pieces while removing it you have effectively turned it into a friable material. Common in homes built in the 20th century black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile linoleum and other flooring materials.

Questions answers on procedures for removing asbestos containing floor tiles or other floor coverings or on the use of floor rejuvenators and restorative sealants on vinyl asbestos floor tiles. Hence the same precautions need to be taken with the glue as with the tile. Removing the glue from floors after a tile removal. If you are removing the original vinyl floor from a home prior to 1980 you will need to locate a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to test your floor.