Asbestos has historically been associated with the risk of different respiratory health issues that develop from the inhalation of asbestos particles into the lungs. The good news, though, is that floor tiles that are composed of asbestos will not release any toxic substance into the air unless they are manipulated in such a way that causes them to fragment or crumble. Read on to learn more about how you can safely put Vinyl Plank Flooring over Asbestos Tile by following appropriate safety protocols and standards as set out by your local housing and building authorities.
Can You Put Vinyl Plank Flooring Over Asbestos Tile
It is possible to put Vinyl Plank Flooring over Asbestos Tile in your home. This is probably the best and safest method to deal with the presence of asbestos tiles. First, follow the steps below to determine if you have Asbestos Tile in your home.
If you want to know if you can put vinyl plank flooring over asbestos tile, first determine if you do have asbestos tile to deal with. If you are living in a home that was built between the years 1960 and 1960, the odds are they probably are made from asbestos.
Conversely, if the floors were installed between the years 1960 and 1980, they most likely did not contain asbestos but there is a small possibility that they did contain asbestos.
In addition, check to see if the tiles you are evaluating are sized 9 x 9 inches, 12 x 12 inches, or 18 x 18 inches square. If the tiles are these sizes, and certainly if they are 9 x 9-inch squares, they could certainly contain asbestos as these were the most popular sizes for asbestos containing tile squares from the days before asbestos-containing tiles were banned.
Another way to check for the presence of asbestos in your floor tiles is to look and see if the tiles appear to be greasy or stained or discolored. Since asphalt is one of the main components of asbestos containing tiles, it tends to decompose, which causes the tiles to look stained, discolored, or abnormal looking.
Lastly, if some of the floor tiles that you are evaluating have loosened up and you are able to see what appears to be thick and black adhesive on the flooring, there is a good possibility that the floor tiles do indeed contain asbestos as the glue that was usually used at that time contained asphalt, even if the tiles themselves did not contain any asbestos.
Should You Put Vinyl Plank Flooring Over Asbestos Tile
If you are trying to find the best way to deal with asbestos tile in your home, one of your best options is certainly to put vinyl plank flooring over the asbestos tile. Since the asbestos tiles are usually quite thin, adding vinyl plank tiles over them will not significantly increase the height of the flooring.
If you want to know if you should put vinyl plank flooring over asbestos tile, the answer is that you certainly can install vinyl plank flooring over asbestos tile. Be sure, though, to install a fiber cement backer first.
By using vinyl plank flooring to cover the underlying asbestos tile, you will be able to prevent further deterioration of the asbestos tile through normal wear and tear and avoid other random damage from walking directly on it that can result in the release of toxic asbestos fibers into the air.
In addition, when applying vinyl plank flooring over the asbestos tile, you will not need to apply any additional sealant on top of the asbestos tile.
Proper Handling and Disclaimer Needed (Let the Experts Do It)
When you are dealing with the proper handling of asbestos tiles, depending on the state where you live, homeowners are permitted to remove asbestos tiles if they follow the appropriate protocols and provide the appropriate disclaimers.
If you want to ensure the proper handling of asbestos tile in your home, it is probably best to hire a properly licensed asbestos removal certified contractor to take out the old asbestos tiles.
The median cost for the professional removal of asbestos tiles is approximately between six and ten dollars per square foot.
How to Put Vinyl Plank Flooring Over Asbestos Tile
To put vinyl plank flooring over asbestos tile, you will need to follow the proper protocols and procedures as specified by your local building authorities or housing authorities, as well as all local rules governing the disposal of hazardous and potentially toxic materials.
If you want to know how to put vinyl plank flooring over asbestos tile, you will need to closely follow the following requirements. These include wearing a certified respirator, professional level goggles that form an effective seal around your eyes and a tight-fitting hat.
Also, be sure to wear any old clothes that you don’t really care for and that you will willingly and easily dispose of after working with the asbestos tiles.
Make sure to turn off your Air Conditioning or Heating Units and then shut all of the doors and windows to essentially seal off the room involved in your renovation of the asbestos-containing tiles.
Go ahead and use plastic drop cloths and tape them over all doors, all floor registers and all the return air vents.
Then, use a handheld sprayer pump containing water and be sure to spray down the floor to ensure that any residual asbestos particles loosened up with the removal of the asbestos tiles will not get stirred up and sent airborne with the potential of your or your loved ones inhaling them.
When you are prying up the asbestos-laden tiles from the floor, make sure that you are using a stainless-steel floor scraper to pry up the asbestos tiles one by one.
When you are attempting to dispose of the asbestos tiles, you must use a certified asbestos disposal bag and be sure to seal them up following directions as specified by governmental regulations.
As you clean up the repair scene, be sure to clean up any small remaining particles of old adhesive by keeping the floor wet with water and then sweeping them up and into an appropriate asbestos disposal bag.
Finally, use a wet mop to mop up the entire floor you worked on carefully and fully. Then, make sure to dispose of the mophead in a sealed disposal bag and replace it with a brand new mophead.
Additionally, rinse the bucket that was used with the mop thoroughly and let it dry fully before attempting to use it again on another project.
Check out our Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Cost calculator to estimate your project.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on February 17, 2022.