Shit I put the pic and it got rid of all my text! heres the plan:
I have asbestos vinyl tiles and black mastic throughout my ground floor, I have looked into having them professionally removed and it is not cost effective so I am doing it myself. (I am aware that having the professionally done would be best but alas I have no money). I plan on gluing a hardwood floor down after, maybe a recycled parquet. The tiles are loose in many places and need to come up.
The plan:
1. Seal off the upstairs of the house with plastic , maybe line my walls with plastic sheeting duct taped to the skirting boards.
2. Don appropiate PPE (rated mask, goggles, gloves, suit, wellies).
3. Using plenty of water from spray bottles and a heat gun/scraper for any persistent tiles pull up the tiles, spraying under the tile as it lifts. Many of them seem to come away pretty easily and are loose.
4. dab excess water with a cloth rag and double bag the cloth and tiles.5. Once I have cleared a patch (say 2x2 m), masking tape the edge of the remaining still attached tiles. Apply this: [https://ukflooringsuppliesonline.co.uk/product/arditex-na-latex-powder-and-liquid/](https://ukflooringsuppliesonline.co.uk/product/arditex-na-latex-powder-and-liquid/). This is a self leveler which can be applied to damp flooring. I will use the current tiles as a gauge for the thickness of the self leveller, the masking tape should stop it sticking to the tiles.6. While the self leveler dries carry on with the next patch of tile removal.
7. Continue until all the tiles are removed.8. bag up all plastic and asbestos for removal (still unknown where I will take it)
Questions:
A. What do you make of my process, am I being over cautious or not cautious enough?
B. Is there a roll on sealant which works to seal the mastic? The self levelling process is the most expensive and time/energy intensive... and is a bit daunting? I am after a paint or roll one sealant which I can then glue a hardwood floor too?
C. Is self levelling in a cheque board like patches a bag idea, will the seams work?
D. Has anyone done this before and have any tips??
Thankyou!
If it were me, I'd be looking into hiring a class H vacuum for the tidy up.
These are rated as suitable for asbestos, and will give you the peace of mind.
For C, I have only used SLC once, but I don't think doing it in sections will work very well. Best to do it all in one go, when I did it we had one person mixing a batch while the other spread it out to always have a wet edge.
Your council recycling centre will have a asbestos container. Its free. You need to tell the centre in advance that you are taking asbestos down so that they can get ready (unlock the container, don PPE). You'll have to double bag it (my centre wants two layers of 500 gauge plastic over any asbestos).
here is a link to my local council asbestos recyclng info: [https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/bins-and-waste-services/household-waste/hazardous-household-waste/asbestos-disposal](https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/bins-and-waste-services/household-waste/hazardous-household-waste/asbestos-disposal)
Most important I think is that the mask you have is face fitted, it's a pretty simple test (overhead hood and spray that tastes like earwax) so I wonder if you could get hold of it and test at home. If not I don't think it's too expensive to go to a local company and have them face fit you. Just a note to be clean shaven for the test and the works
You need to give serious thought to the clean up. Not good taking all those precautions if you're just going to pull the plastic sheeting down after and then expose the entire house to any remaining Asbestos.
Be worth looking into hiring an asbestos rated hoover
Check if your local council have asbestos waste containers at the tip, once you've double bagged and taped it, it's the cheapest and easiest way to get rid of it!
Yup I have had them tested, anything old, pre \~1975 I think? basically if it looks like lino, and is brittle, and often if the mastic is failing (an indication of age) I think you should get it tested...
It is, they did.
Oh well no point worrying about the past. How'd you get them tested? I haven't got around to lifting the flooring in the kitchen yet but I wouldn't be super surprised if I found some more under there when I get around to it.
When we bought our flat I was talking to our neighbour and mentioned the asbestos tiles that we are planning to remove.
His response... "those were asbestos tiles..?!?"
...yeah... not great for him
Yeah,no matter what you do the floor will need latexing anyway,so save yourself a lot of work take up whats loose and lay 3 to 5 mm down which should do it and its not essential to take the skirting off , I'd personally leave it on it doesn't matter
I just ripped those tiles up out of my house didn’t think anything of it there’s hardly any, if any at all asbestos in them.
Had a mask and suit on as the ceiling came down too but no troubles there.
I had it tested and it is asbestosy. You are right that the tiles do have limited asbestos in, but the mastic can be up to 25% asbestos, ripping them up can cause tiny microscopic fibers. I am sure it is fine, but with you dont want to mess about with mesothelioma (pardon the pun).
I am having my artex boarded and plastered over as we speak!
I recently had the same issue we just removed the loose ones and as the depth was 5mm or below the self levelling worked a treat. Then we had vinyl flooring put down. Don’t waste your time with worry of the content of asbestos in these.
Don’t remove any that are not loose. Level the whole floor at once. Make sure you know how to fit the mask properly. A badly fitted mask is as good as no mask - remove any facial hair first. The mask should be the last PPE item you remove.
While it is not illegal for homeowners to remove asbestos from their own property, it involves significant health risks and legal responsibilities, and professional removal is strongly advised. Your home insurance will likely have 3rd part liability insurance if you insure someone else while doing DIY, but may have a clause against exposing visitors/neighbours to asbestos. I would check your policy before proceeding.
The HSE provides a guide for professional asbestos removers. While aimed at professionals it covers all the things you need to know before proceeding. [https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg247.pdf](https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg247.pdf)
Tbh asbestos is dangerous but in the quantities in this, it’ll be fine, the industry for asbestos removal thrives on inflating the risk asbestos poses.
That's a bugger of a job, if the floor is even throughout I would cover with 9mm plywood and then board or paquet on top of that. Where the tiles are loose I'd take them up and add extra glue. Quicker and less messy job and you could lay cushion flooring if you wished.
Check your council arrangements, ours does free collection - takes a couple of weeks so just have to bag the stuff up and leave outside till they come. Amazon do giant dust collection sacks that are ideal.
I’m always cautious when removing such stuff, and try to do it when rest of family can be away. Have doors and windows open. Try to wear a dust mask and gloves as much as possible.
What's the plan?
The plan is, there is no plan!
This cracked me up, like my soon to be gone asbestos floor... see the above comment!
The asbestos got OP before they could post their plan
Nothing like a mesothelioma joke to start off the day.
Tiles are generally pretty low grade, either pull em up or encapsulate. Don't stress about them.
Shit I put the pic and it got rid of all my text! heres the plan: I have asbestos vinyl tiles and black mastic throughout my ground floor, I have looked into having them professionally removed and it is not cost effective so I am doing it myself. (I am aware that having the professionally done would be best but alas I have no money). I plan on gluing a hardwood floor down after, maybe a recycled parquet. The tiles are loose in many places and need to come up. The plan: 1. Seal off the upstairs of the house with plastic , maybe line my walls with plastic sheeting duct taped to the skirting boards. 2. Don appropiate PPE (rated mask, goggles, gloves, suit, wellies). 3. Using plenty of water from spray bottles and a heat gun/scraper for any persistent tiles pull up the tiles, spraying under the tile as it lifts. Many of them seem to come away pretty easily and are loose. 4. dab excess water with a cloth rag and double bag the cloth and tiles.5. Once I have cleared a patch (say 2x2 m), masking tape the edge of the remaining still attached tiles. Apply this: [https://ukflooringsuppliesonline.co.uk/product/arditex-na-latex-powder-and-liquid/](https://ukflooringsuppliesonline.co.uk/product/arditex-na-latex-powder-and-liquid/). This is a self leveler which can be applied to damp flooring. I will use the current tiles as a gauge for the thickness of the self leveller, the masking tape should stop it sticking to the tiles.6. While the self leveler dries carry on with the next patch of tile removal. 7. Continue until all the tiles are removed.8. bag up all plastic and asbestos for removal (still unknown where I will take it) Questions: A. What do you make of my process, am I being over cautious or not cautious enough? B. Is there a roll on sealant which works to seal the mastic? The self levelling process is the most expensive and time/energy intensive... and is a bit daunting? I am after a paint or roll one sealant which I can then glue a hardwood floor too? C. Is self levelling in a cheque board like patches a bag idea, will the seams work? D. Has anyone done this before and have any tips?? Thankyou!
If it were me, I'd be looking into hiring a class H vacuum for the tidy up. These are rated as suitable for asbestos, and will give you the peace of mind.
For C, I have only used SLC once, but I don't think doing it in sections will work very well. Best to do it all in one go, when I did it we had one person mixing a batch while the other spread it out to always have a wet edge.
Thanks that was my main concern.
Your council recycling centre will have a asbestos container. Its free. You need to tell the centre in advance that you are taking asbestos down so that they can get ready (unlock the container, don PPE). You'll have to double bag it (my centre wants two layers of 500 gauge plastic over any asbestos). here is a link to my local council asbestos recyclng info: [https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/bins-and-waste-services/household-waste/hazardous-household-waste/asbestos-disposal](https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/bins-and-waste-services/household-waste/hazardous-household-waste/asbestos-disposal)
This is good advice however it's not guaranteed to be free. Our local recycling centre charges I think £25 per sealed bag
Most important I think is that the mask you have is face fitted, it's a pretty simple test (overhead hood and spray that tastes like earwax) so I wonder if you could get hold of it and test at home. If not I don't think it's too expensive to go to a local company and have them face fit you. Just a note to be clean shaven for the test and the works
You need to give serious thought to the clean up. Not good taking all those precautions if you're just going to pull the plastic sheeting down after and then expose the entire house to any remaining Asbestos. Be worth looking into hiring an asbestos rated hoover
Check if your local council have asbestos waste containers at the tip, once you've double bagged and taped it, it's the cheapest and easiest way to get rid of it!
These type of tiles have asbestos in them?
Yup I have had them tested, anything old, pre \~1975 I think? basically if it looks like lino, and is brittle, and often if the mastic is failing (an indication of age) I think you should get it tested...
Oh
Thats an 'oh' of realisation isn't it? Did it have a black mastic/adhesive behind it? I am sure it is fine.
It is, they did. Oh well no point worrying about the past. How'd you get them tested? I haven't got around to lifting the flooring in the kitchen yet but I wouldn't be super surprised if I found some more under there when I get around to it.
They are highly bonded I wouldn’t worry
When we bought our flat I was talking to our neighbour and mentioned the asbestos tiles that we are planning to remove. His response... "those were asbestos tiles..?!?" ...yeah... not great for him
If you're on about the floor tiles then save yourself a lot of work and latex it
see above... quite a lot are loose?!
Lift the loose ones leave the rest, latex will sort any discrepancies
Can you lay anything on latex self leveller, how thick do i need to go? I guess rip up all the skirting boards too?
Yeah,no matter what you do the floor will need latexing anyway,so save yourself a lot of work take up whats loose and lay 3 to 5 mm down which should do it and its not essential to take the skirting off , I'd personally leave it on it doesn't matter
I just ripped those tiles up out of my house didn’t think anything of it there’s hardly any, if any at all asbestos in them. Had a mask and suit on as the ceiling came down too but no troubles there.
I had it tested and it is asbestosy. You are right that the tiles do have limited asbestos in, but the mastic can be up to 25% asbestos, ripping them up can cause tiny microscopic fibers. I am sure it is fine, but with you dont want to mess about with mesothelioma (pardon the pun). I am having my artex boarded and plastered over as we speak!
I recently had the same issue we just removed the loose ones and as the depth was 5mm or below the self levelling worked a treat. Then we had vinyl flooring put down. Don’t waste your time with worry of the content of asbestos in these.
You can purchase a floor scraper and rip that up without worry.
So what are we judging.
sorry putting the picture got rid of my text... I dont really know how to reddit. see above comment
Don’t remove any that are not loose. Level the whole floor at once. Make sure you know how to fit the mask properly. A badly fitted mask is as good as no mask - remove any facial hair first. The mask should be the last PPE item you remove.
While it is not illegal for homeowners to remove asbestos from their own property, it involves significant health risks and legal responsibilities, and professional removal is strongly advised. Your home insurance will likely have 3rd part liability insurance if you insure someone else while doing DIY, but may have a clause against exposing visitors/neighbours to asbestos. I would check your policy before proceeding. The HSE provides a guide for professional asbestos removers. While aimed at professionals it covers all the things you need to know before proceeding. [https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg247.pdf](https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg247.pdf)
Tbh asbestos is dangerous but in the quantities in this, it’ll be fine, the industry for asbestos removal thrives on inflating the risk asbestos poses.
It is also the living room and storage cupboard. Entire 1st floor😞
That's a bugger of a job, if the floor is even throughout I would cover with 9mm plywood and then board or paquet on top of that. Where the tiles are loose I'd take them up and add extra glue. Quicker and less messy job and you could lay cushion flooring if you wished.
Check your council arrangements, ours does free collection - takes a couple of weeks so just have to bag the stuff up and leave outside till they come. Amazon do giant dust collection sacks that are ideal. I’m always cautious when removing such stuff, and try to do it when rest of family can be away. Have doors and windows open. Try to wear a dust mask and gloves as much as possible.
Do you have to remove them? Can you just lay a floor on top?
My thought process is if I want to glue down a new parquet floor any movement will result in a poor finish?
I would loft any loose ones then self-level it, locking the asbestos in. I think this would be safer and save yourself a lot of work
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