skip to main content

we just bought old house with asbestos tile

9 years ago

hello :) we just bought old house and inspector told us 'down stairs flooring has asbestos'i want cover it up but I am worry about baseboards ' does any prob if I took baseboards off and cover the asbestos tile floor and put new sideboard or just don't touch anything and cover up?or do I need mask or anything to do this work? thank a lot s if anyone have done this and give me info ....

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

kudzu9
9 years ago
Pulling off the baseboard molding is not going to release any fibers. As long as you aren't doing something destructive, like sanding the top of the old floors, you'll be just fine. It's good to be concerned about this, but it's not a hazard now and won't be unless you do something to damage it. Covering in-place, asbestos-containing material is a standard and accepted practice which environmental agencies are fine with. It is generally the easiest and least expensive method of dealing with such materials.
sheloveslayouts
9 years ago
I don't think they can tell by just looking at them, can they? Did he take a sample of the tile and adhesive to a lab?

They suspected our 1968 house had abestos tile throughout the basement, but we took a sample to a lab and they said the tile was asbestos free and the black adhesive had 4% asbestos, which is really no big deal as long as you're not sanding it or scraping it and making it airborn.

We covered it with carpet in the family room and guest room and sheet vinyl in the bathroom and laundry room.
Related Discussions
New VCT over old (possibly asbestos) w/ some tiles missing
Q
Comments (4)
Don't listen to the suggestions of removing them yourself. There is considerably more involved with asbestos removal legally than wearing a dust mask and hanging a sheet of plastic. Area quarantine, air filtration, area and air sample testing, respirator/mask with approved filters for abestos removal, not to mention packaging, handling, transportation, and removal to a approved facility are all but a few of the federal removal guidelines abatement contractors must adhere to. Whether or not some may feel the federal laws are overkill is irrelevent. If at all possible, clad over the flooring if you dont want to deal with the legalities and removal restictions, as cladding over, or encapsulating, is the prefered method for dealing with Asbestos In The Home. If it is a concerete substrate, this can be done with shooting/screwing/nailing underlayment/plywood or with a self leveling compound. If a wood substrate, plywood layer should do the trick. If you can't find a local laboratory near you, you can buy a asbestos home test kit at a local big box retaielr or online and send it in for results through the mail.
...See More
Help! We just bought a house.
Q
Comments (34)
We just closed on the FL house. We camped out in the house on blow up beds for 4 days. Now we are back in NY awaiting news of a closing on this house. Contracts are signed. Whew. I like the space in the FL kitchen. We bought a fridge, the same one as we have here in NY. Then we will get an induction stove and a new dishwasher and then stop and see how it goes. We might spray the cabinets a color, install pull outs and new knobs and get new counters. We can't do a whole new kitchen. The pantry is big so I am going to keep my dishes and pots and pans in one side of the pantry and food in the other. That will be easy access. No bending. No stretching. I would also like a new sink. This is a double and I prefer a large single. Thanks for all the encouragement. Incidentally. The realtor said that the rainforest green sold the house.
...See More
Please help! Asbestos tile and baby in house
Q
Comments (5)
I worked in asbestos regulation and remediation for many years, and I saw a lot of situations where homeowners had created a health risk with asbestos-containing materials and didn't realize it until the project was done. What you described has not done any significant harm, and you should quit worrying. It's good you are environmentally aware, but you are also panicking over the word "asbestos" without the scientific and risk assessment knowledge to evaluate this for what it is, which is not a concern. No one has zero exposure to asbestos: there are minute, but measurable, amounts floating around in the air from many sources. If I brought monitoring equipment into your home and tested, any result I got would be indistinguishable from the normal background level in the area you live. We all get exposures to many toxic compounds, materials, and chemicals without being aware of it. This was just an instance where you were aware enough to recognize a potential risk and you stopped before anything bad happened. So, feel good about this, rather than worry. :-) If you ever do remove it, you should get a licensed abatement team in. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving it in place and covering it over as you described. Often, this is the best and most practical course of action with regard to managing asbestos.
...See More
Just bought a new house....
Q
Comments (35)
@sambah006 and @fori I think the person that we brought it from was probably depressed. Every time we came to view the house he was there. He sat on the back steps will we were doing the home inspection with 2 of his dogs. He hadn’t packed up anything and we were the second conttact on the home. It was a crazy experience and I’m glad that we are in there now fixing up the place!
...See More
sheloveslayouts
9 years ago
Are the baseboards you want to remove, tile?
nurhacker
Original Author
9 years ago
no I just wonder if I remove the baseboard 'does any damage on asbestos tile 'I ll cover up the asbestos tile with seramic tile :)
nurhacker
Original Author
9 years ago
and thank you kudzu 9 answered to my concern :)
kudzu9
9 years ago
nurhacker-
You're not going to have a problem just pulling off old baseboards, even if the floor gets scraped. The asbestos in the tiles is tightly embedded and you don't get significant fiber release unless you do something unwise like sand it.

My main concern is that you are now mentioning putting ceramic tile over the asbestos tile. Some people do it, but it is not advisable in my opinion and that of others, because you may have problems later with the ceramic tiles coming loose. If you want to put down ceramic tiles, your best option is to nail or screw down underlayment first if the existing subfloor is wood. If the old tile is on concrete, then you would have to pay an abatement company to come in and do a safe removal, and that could be expensive. If the tiles are well-adhered to the floor, putting down seamless flooring on top is the most practical and inexpensive option.

Related Stories

LIGHTING So You Bought a Cave: 7 Ways to Open Your Home to Light

By Alison Hodgson

Make the most of the natural light your house does have — and learn to appreciate some shadows, too

LIFE Age Is Just a Number: Houzzers’ Homes Old and New

By Mitchell Parker

Hear the stories behind homes ages 1 to 171, then share yours

REMODELING GUIDES The Hidden Problems in Old Houses

By Matt Clawson

Before snatching up an old home, get to know what you’re in for by understanding the potential horrors that lurk below the surface

BASEMENTS Room of the Day: Swank Basement Redo for a 100-Year-Old Row House

By Annie Thornton

A downtown Knoxville basement goes from low-ceilinged cave to welcoming guest retreat

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: Unusual Mixes of Old and New in Texas

Modern touches done in surprising ways give a traditional Austin house a whole new personality

BATHROOM DESIGN Out With the Old Tile: 8 Steps to Prep for Demolition

By By Any Design Ltd.

This isn't a light DIY project: You'll need heavy-duty tools and plenty of protection for your home and yourself

REMODELING GUIDES Old is New: Cement Tile Makes a Comeback

Get Ideas for Using Colorful Moorish-Inspired Tile at Home

Houzz Interview: Jennifer's Old Painted Cottage

DREAM SPACES Just a Few Things for the Dream-Home Wish List

A sunken hot tub, dedicated game room, tree house, hidden wine cellar and more. Which of these home luxuries would you like best?

EXTERIORS The Joyful Exterior: How to Give Your Home Just the Right Touch of Blue

By Jennifer Ott Design

Here are ways to add blue to the outside of your house — and 8 palettes to try

Sponsored

71 Reviews

Loudoun County's Trusted Kitchen & Bath Designers | Best of Houzz

More Discussions

Help with dining room to bedroom conversion

26

Our 1963 Red Brick Ranch - BEFORE/AFTER

12

Who makes/sells integrated solid surface (Corian) sinks?

13

Kitchen sink depth for my 24 inch deep ikea cabinet

2

Classic quartz countertops for white and blue kitchens

7