You start removing your old floor in your old house and work your work do the sub-floor and lo and behold you run into some vinyl tile.
The thought that must come across your mind is whether this is asbestos.
Testing for asbestos is very costly. If the house is old and the tile looks like asbestos you can presume that it is asbestos.
At this time, you should decide whether to remove it or to cover it up.
Removing the asbestos takes time and is very costly. You should hire professional asbestos removers who will ensure not just the tile but the mastic below the tiles are all removed. Then you would have to do an air quality test to ensure there’s no dust in the air — which is critical if you have tenants. Bottom line, the work will be difficult and you will be liable.
The second and probably more prudent option is to cover it up. There’s no requirement to demolish the subfloor all the way to the joist. So you can carefully and safely cover over the tiles with a new subfloor — be careful not to damage any of the tiles while doing so. Treat old tiles as Presumed Asbestos Containing Material (PACM) – especially homes built before 1986.
Install plywood or OSB over the tiles. Oriented-strand boards is made of large flakes of wood compacted together into a sheet — it is very strong and durable.
When doing this ensure your contractors are wearing the proper PPE which includes masks and respirators.
It is safe to have Asbestos inside your house, as long as it is covered. Asbestos is only dangerous if it’s disturbed. So be careful placing the OSB over the tiles and do not ever break or sand the tiles.
Clean everything and use a HEPA vacuum cleaner to ensure all dust is removed. Ensure the space has proper ventilation and ensure all debris is properly bagged and sealed.
