Testing for Asbestos Contaminated Floor Tiles

If you have an older home that includes certain typesof flooring such as asphalt tiles, vinyl and even sheet vinyl, it may have beeninstalled using asbestos. It may surprise many to learn that asbestos has beenused for 100's of years in many cultures. It was used due to its strength,durability, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Unfortunately, during the industrial revolution,asbestos became very popular and, at the time, was thought to be a goodmaterial for use building new homes and businesses. Of course, by the 1980's,the link between asbestos and mesothelioma was no longer able to be challengedby the makers. It was clear that asbestos was not the safe, durable productthat had been advertised.

Of course, the use of asbestos fell sharply, but manyhomes and businesses were left with asbestos walls, ceilings and flooring.

What if My Tile Floor Tests Positive for Asbestos?

Tile flooring that was installed between the 1950'sand through the early 1980's may contain asbestos. If the tiles are in goodshape, tightly intact and there is no reason to remove them. You cannot becomecontaminated by asbestos simply by walking on a tiled flooring in whichasbestos was used. Generally, you cannot tell if the tile was installed usingasbestos just by visually looking at it.

Asbestos becomes dangerous when you disturb it, bypulling up the tile and placing new tile or flooring. The dust and fumes canget into your lungs, and you may become sick several years later. Many peoplemay have replaced their floor tiles without even realizing that they containedasbestos, which means that they took no precautions when replacing theflooring.

Many people who are exposed to asbestos when it isdisturbed, by actions such as changing tiles, may be at risk for developingmesothelioma, a serious asbestos related cancer. Now that the health concernsregarding asbestos have been exposed, it is vital to avoid removing tile inyour home if it was installed before 1980. Instead, you will want to have ittested by a professional to see if asbestos is present. If asbestos is present,then you have to decide with the help of the professional the best course ofaction. If the tile is loose and chipped, replacing it may be the best option.

You do not want to take on the removal process on yourown. You will need to hire a professional to come in and change out the tile sothat they do so without causing risk to you and your family.

Final Thoughts

Many people who have been unknowingly exposed toasbestos have become ill years later with several different kinds of cancers,breathing issues and heart problems.

Identifying the Dangers of Asbestos in Floor Tiles

Asbestos in floor tiles are usually safe and even legal to keep in homes, unless they get disturbed in any way. As long as it remain in good condition, harmful asbestos fibers will never be released into the air to pose any health threat. But if you are planning to remodel your house and give its tiles a new look, it is best to consult with professionals first before even attempting to remove the floor tiles on your own.

Asbestos in Floor Tiles

For houses that have been built before 1985, a home asbestos test is a must. The dangers that an asbestos contamination poses to your family's health are numerous, and keeping on the safe side is always your best choice. Just as with asbestos in textured ceiling and in any other materials suspected of asbestos content, analysis should only be done by a qualified asbestos testing laboratory. A sample for this analysis should also be taken by a highly trained professional to prevent asbestos from contaminating the air inside your house.

A test for asbestos can lessen, if not completely eliminate the dangers of asbestos contamination in your home. Although it has been banned from use, some old houses may still have asbestos-containing materials built into it. Asbestos in tiles will not pose a threat unless the flooring gets cracked or damaged in any way. When this happens, attempting to fix or remove the damaged floor tile may not be a good idea. Again, a professional should be consulted to handle this problem.

Various environmental elements like heat, weathering, water and aging can weaken and make the tiles friable and more susceptible to damage. Friable floor tiles that are in danger of crumbling and becoming pulverized should be isolated and managed immediately. Floorings that are possibly asbestos containing should never be fixed or removed without proper precautions. Types that potentially contain asbestos include:

• asphalt-based floor tiles

• vinyl floor tiles

• sheet linoleum

• other older flooring materials glued down by mastic laced with asbestos

Asbestos testing in homes will keep your family safe from the health risks posed by asbestos inhalation. Lung diseases that include asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer can be prevented by proper management of asbestos content.

If you prefer to take a sample of the flooring on your own to send to an accredited laboratory, be advised on how to do it right. Taking a flooring sample for asbestos testing is best done by a sharp knife. Scraping the surface of the tile may not be enough as it is ideal to get a square inch sample that has the mastic used to glue it to the floor.

Replacing asbestos floor tiles is not easy and attempts at removing them should be consulted with a professional first. Asbestos in floor tiles when released by any type of disturbance may lead to long-term indoor air contamination. Professionals may disapprove of removing the floor tiles, especially when they are fairly intact. However, renovations can be done by installing a new layer of flooring over the ones that have asbestos content.

The Many Varieties Of Asbestos

Did you know that there is more than one type of asbestos? Many people are unaware of this and are basically shocked when they do learn about it. As it is, there is simply not enough information out there for people to really get all of the guidance that they need. The more you know about asbestos, including the various types that are out there, the safer you and your loved ones will be.

The Many Varieties Of Asbestos

You need to first understand that there are two separate families of asbestos. Within those two separate families are different kinds of asbestos. The two separate asbestos families are Amphibole and Serpentine. The main difference between the two families would be the structure of the mineral crystals. The mineral fibers that are in the Amphibole family of asbestos is sort of chain-like. The mineral fibers of the Serpentine family is more of layered sheets.

Within the Amphibole family, there is four different types of asbestos. These types are known as Amosite, Crocidolite, Actinolite and Anthophllite. You will find that Amosite is also known as "brown asbestos" and it is commonly found in the South Africian mines. Then you have the Crocidolite, which is sometimes referred to as "blue asbestos". This type of asbestos can be found in Canada, South Africa, the former Soviet Union and Austria. Actinolite is a rarer form of asbestos but still one to be cautious of because of the danger it presents.

As far as what you will find in the United States, you have Chrysotile, from the Serpentine family. This particular asbestos actually presents roughly 95% of all of the cases of asbestos in the U.S.

No matter which exact form of asbestos you are looking at, it is extremely dangerous. The asbestos fibers are very durable and should be approached with caution. These fibers are fire and heat resistant and they become airborne easier. Once these fibers are in the air, they can be trapped there for a long time. Even once the fibers settle, they are easily able to be stirred back up. When the asbestos fibers make it into the air and into the lungs of a person, serious damage is caused. However, the effects of the asbestos is usually not present for many years. In some cases, problems from the asbestos exposure may not surface for 40 years.

As you can imagine, this is a quiet, yet very deadly mineral that you have to be cautious of and that might just be harder to do than you think. This is because asbestos was used in hundreds of various materials that were used in the construction of homes for many years. If you have asbestos behind the wall you are probably fine. However, should you ever need to remodel or have a broken wall, you may be at risk for asbestos exposure and you will want to seek immediate help. Talk to professionals that are experienced in the proper removal of asbestos. If you are unsure as to whether or not your home contains asbestos, contact a professionally trained company to test your home. This is not something that you are going to want to wait on if you suspect that there may be asbestos in your home.

Tips For Safety and Health

Home renovation is definitely a must especially for houses which are considered historic and traditional. Home owners who find joy in purchasing 30-year old houses or even older ought to know significant components of their valuable investment when it comes to home upgrade. Lead and asbestos are two of the most prominent contents found in properties that have withstood time and age. It is of utmost importance to look out for these two salient components in the house and know their implications in your health and quality of your home.

For instance, it is imperative to know what lead and asbestos are in order to know how to deal with them in the course of your home remodeling project. Asbestos is known to be a common and widely used insulation material for broilers and furnaces in older homes. This is due to its fire-resistant features and durability that made it a reliable and preferred material for houses. Asbestos is likewise used for roofing system, floors and wall sidings among others. However in the succeeding years after its popularity in the construction industry, it has been banned due to its threat on the health and wellness of the human body. Therefore, if you have purchased a historic property, it is important that you check your foundations and check for asbestos materials in your home.

Renovating your house ought to be taken with utmost care and caution especially if you doubt that you have asbestos flooring or walls in the house. Never touch a single tile or wall without checking your local building authority and securing permit for the said major construction. This is because asbestos is not at all harmful when it stays intact, however when cracks or breaks are in the surface, it is sure to send out hazardous asbestos dusts. These elements are the ones preferred to be of fatal threat to those exposed to air containing the dusts. Furthermore, asbestos materials are definitely not recyclable, which means that it is not wise to reuse them especially when found damaged or broken.

The best thing to do is to secure a permit from local authorities and hire a licensed asbestos abatement specialist for the removal of your asbestos-contained home. These experts have substantial knowledge and training to properly do the removal of these materials without the threat of damaging them and increase the chances of emitting asbestos dust that is extremely dangerous when taken into the body.

Another component in traditional homes is the use of lead for the painting and surface coverage of walls both in home interior and exterior. Lead-based paints are common yet hazardous to health. These are known to trigger cases of nervous breakdown, hearing loss and IQ degradation among others. It is definitely harmful especially for young children who have weak immune system. Hence, upgrading your home with lead paint also needs abatement specialist to do the job of removing the paint without scraping or sanding the surface.

Checking your home for lead and asbestos especially during home renovation is essentially important. It definitely guarantees your health for a productive and reliable real estate investment.

What is Asbestos and Where Has it Commonly Been Used

Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral, and it is mined in a number of countries across the world.  Historically, it has been a popular mineral to use in construction due to the fact that it is durable, flexible, resistant to chemical attack, an excellent insulator and able to withstand high temperatures.  Even the name itself comes from the Greek language where it means 'un-extinguishable'.

In the UK, asbestos has been used since the industrial revolution when it was first used as insulation.  Since then, it has been used in various applications such as fire retardant coatings, bricks, pipe lagging and lining of boilers.  

What is Asbestos and Where Has it Commonly Been Used

There are three main forms of asbestos that occur naturally.  The first is known as 'chrysotile', or white asbestos, and is by far the most commonly used type.   It was usually mixed with cement to form corrugated roof sheets, or used to make flat sheets for walls and floors.  Extremely flexible, it can be spun and woven like cloth which made it ideal as pipe insulation or even fireproof clothing.  Considered to be dangerous to health, it was banned from the UK in 1999.  It is estimated that this type accounts for up to 95% of all asbestos found in buildings. 

The second type of asbestos is called 'amosite', or brown asbestos.  In buildings it is most commonly found covering steel as fire protection or in walls as sound proofing.  This type of asbestos is also considered harmful, and the import of amosite was banned in 1986.

The third form of asbestos is called 'crocidolite', or blue asbestos.  It is a harder and less flexible form than the other types, but it is extremely strong and has a high acid resistance.  It is considered to be the most dangerous of all asbestos types, and its use was strictly controlled from 1969 until it was finally banned in 1986.

It is essential that when asbestos it is found it is removed and disposed of correctly by a professional, licensed asbestos removal company, as the removal process can expose you to health risks if the correct procedures are not followed.

As asbestos has been used for over a century, it has been included in thousands of products.  The list below gives some of the common uses for asbestos containing products so that you know what to be careful of when carrying out alterations to a property.  While asbestos is generally safe if left alone, any damage can lead to the release of fibres which are dangerous to health.

Roof tiles and panels - asbestos is commonly found mixed with concrete to make either flat or corrugated panels.  They are often seen as the roofs or walls of outbuildings and garages.

Roofing felt - asbestos can be found combined with bitumen in the felt often found covering flat roofs, where it gives flexibility and insulation.  Some bitumen products containing asbestos were also used to make guttering.

Lagging - adding asbestos to cloth allowed it to be used to lag pipework and prevent heat loss or frost damage.  Similar material was also used for fire blankets and some protective clothing.

Sound proofing - sprayed asbestos can often be found in under floors and in ceiling voids where it acts to prevent noise pollution.

Electrical insulation - Asbestos paper has been used to wrap electrical cabling and as the back of fuse boxes because of its non-flammable properties.

Spray coating - spraying asbestos on structural components of buildings provides protections against damage from heat and cold.

Loose packing - wall and ceiling cavities in older buildings may contain asbestos as it was frequently used as insulation.

Door linings - a flat sheet of asbestos under door panels provides resistance in the event of fire.

While this list gives you an idea of what to look for, it is not complete and if you are in any doubt a qualified asbestos surveyor should be contacted for advice.  They will be able to assess the situation and advise you accordingly.  If in any doubt ask a professional asbestos removal company to undertake an asbestos survey so that you are certain of what you dealing with before you start removing anything that could significantly harm your health.