How To Test Old Floor Tiles For Asbestos

Use a utility knife to cut sheet flooring into 6 inch wide strips that extend the length of the floor.

How to test old floor tiles for asbestos.

Even if the vinyl flooring is pulled up intact the old adhesive underneath may also contain asbestos. Step 1 examine the tiles closely for decay. Work the putty knife under the end of each strip and pull up the strip gradually. But to test an individual sample of vinyl tile if mailed or dropped off at the facility will cost between 50 and 100.

The asbestos floor tile identification articles in this series illustrate that with the combination of design appearance and an idea of floor tile age many asbestos containing floor tiles or sheet flooring products can be reliably identified even before confirmation by a test by a certified asbestos testing laboratory. This is the most precise but also the most expensive method of determining whether your tiles contain asbestos. You can consult a product catalogue or contact the manufacturer and ask if this particular tile contains asbestos. You should examine the material closely to determine its condition.

Scrape off old mastic. For the lab to come to your house and take the sample you can triple the price. How to remove asbestos tiles safely it is always safest to leave asbestos flooring removal to asbestos abatement professionals. In north america if asphalt or vinyl floor tiles or sheet flooring were made or installed before 1986 treat the floor as presumed to contain asbestos.

To get an entire home tested for asbestos might cost in the hundreds of dollars. Test samples of tiles. Asbestos flooring often has black mastic which is a type of adhesive on the back. To identify a particular asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos floor tile pattern color start in the image group most likely to be the same age as your building.

12 12 acoustic ceiling tile. Pour water on the strip to keep it wet and to prevent asbestos fibers from becoming airborne. The mastic itself usually has asbestos in it. The tiles may have asbestos too.

Local testing labs will test your vinyl tile for reasonable fees. Tape plastic drop cloths over doors floor registers and return air vents. You can t see it if the floor is intact but you can spot the black adhesive if some of the tiles have already popped off the floor.