How to Tell If You Have Asbestos Tiles

Asbestos is a dangerous material that has been linked to cancer. Asbestos was banned in the 1970s, but homes built before then can still have asbestos tiles in them. You need to have asbestos professionally tested for and removed, since it is a highly dangerous substance, especially in powder form that can be inhaled into the lungs. If you suspect that your home has asbestos tiles in it, look for these warning signs and then contact a professional testing and removal company to get it out of your home.

Consider the age of your home. If your home was built between 1900 and 1970 you should have your home tested, as there is a chance that it could contain asbestos tiles. You're most likely to find it in insulation, ceiling tiles and flooring. Homes built between 1930 and 1950 are at the greatest risk of containing asbestos.

Look for signs of wear on the tiles. Tiles in good condition carry little risk for asbestos contamination, but if you notice tiles that are cracked and emitting a powdery substance, call a removal professional right away.

Consider the size of the tiles and measure them. Asbestos tiles were commonly 9-by-9 inches and if you note that your tiles are that size, you should be wary of their asbestos content.

Contact a testing facility to come and take a sample of the material to discern chemically whether or not it is asbestos. Only a test can confirm if a material is truly asbestos. While you can look for warning signs, you can be sure with a lab test.

Tips & Warnings

Never handle a material that you believe to contain asbestos until you've had it tested.

How to Seal Asbestos Tiles

If you have an older home, your old tile flooring may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a tough, durable fiber known to cause a variety of respiratory ailments and diseases such as cancer. Floor remodeling jobs in the home may require a professional asbestos removal company if the asbestos-based tile is chipped, crumbling or otherwise damaged. However, if it is intact, you can seal the tiles yourself to prevent future asbestos exposure. After sealing the asbestos tiles, you can install a new floor on top of the old one.

1. Use the hammer and pry bar to remove the baseboards along the floor in the area that has the asbestos tile. Pry the baseboards away from the wall gently to prevent splintering so you can use them again. Removing the boards allows better application of the embossing leveler. 
2. Prepare the asbestos tile flooring by wet mopping it to ensure all dirt and debris is removed. If there are any oily areas, use a degreasing cleanser on the floor then rinse with water. Allow the floor to dry slightly, until just moist to the touch. 
3. Mix the embossing leveler (purchased at most paint, flooring or hardware stores) with water, according to manufacturer's instructions in one of the large buckets. Use the wood paint stirrer stick to mix the leveler compound to a smooth consistency. 
4. Fill remaining bucket with water. This water bucket will serve as a rinsing receptacle for the metal trowel during the leveler compound application process. 
5. Pour the mixed embossing leveler compound on the asbestos tile flooring. 
6. Use the metal trowel to smooth the leveler compound across the asbestos floor tile. You have a short amount of time to work with the embossing leveler before it starts to set or cure, so trowel quickly. You want this underlayment to form a thin, level layer over the tile, creating a sealed surface in which no asbestos fibers can escape. 
7. Rinse the metal trowel in the water bucket every few minutes to prevent a buildup of the leveler compound on the metal surface. 
8. Allow the embossing leveler compound to dry for at least two hours. Check manufacturer's instructions for more approximate drying times. During the drying process, do not walk on the floor surface. Once cured, you can use the hammer to re-install the base boards. 
9. Hold the trowel at a 45 degree angle as this will provide optimal, quick spreading of the embossing leveler. Have someone help you during the embossing leveler spreading process since the mixed compound cures so fast. If you are doing the job yourself, consider mixing one small batch at a time so you do not waste any compound that cures and hardens before you can spread it on the asbestos tile floor. 
10. Do not apply the embossing leveler on asbestos tile flooring that encounters a lot of moisture as the leveler compound may not cure correctly. Call an asbestos removal professional if your asbestos tile flooring is chipped or crumbling. This creates asbestos fiber dust that can easily be ingested, causing a variety of ailments.

How to Remove Asbestos Insulation From the Pipes

Years after researchers revealed asbestos to be life-threatening, knowing how to remove asbestos insulation from pipes remains a sought-after skill. Asbestos insulates pipes and ceilings in older homes and buildings and requires careful, cautious removal. Ideally, the work should be done by a professional, but individuals who follow strict rules and safety procedures can also remove asbestos insulation from pipes.

Preparation and Removal of Asbestos Insulation from Pipes

Remove all furniture. Close and seal windows and vents. Turn off all heating or air-conditioning units. Shut off electrical power. Use an outside circuit if lighting is needed. Detach any light fixtures and wrap exposed wires with electrical tape. Post warning signs to ward off onlookers or unexpected visitors. These steps will help minimize exposure and asbestos contamination, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Build the containment area around the asbestos-insulated pipes by attaching the plastic sheeting to the floors and walls with duct tape. Allow plenty of overlap (6 to 12 inches). Seal all seams with duct tape. Lay a second layer of plastic on the floor. Overlap the sheets but do not seal them with tape.

Build an air lock (or isolation area) between the containment area and the other parts of the house or building to serve as a decontamination area where workers can get out of their contaminated coveralls and dispose of them properly. Use an adjacent room as the airlock, being sure to cover the entryway with two sheets of plastic with slits down the middle to serve as a "door."

Mix a few drops of the detergent with a few gallons of water in the tank sprayer. Soak the asbestos with the detergent and water, allowing the solution to penetrate the surface completely. Wait about 20 minutes and scrape off some of the material to check for saturation. Spray the area again if the solution has not thoroughly soaked the asbestos, advises the Utah DEQ.

Scrape the asbestos into approved disposal bags with a putty knife. Ensure that it is thoroughly damp. Spread the encapsulant over the pipe surfaces that the asbestos covered to seal them, preventing further contamination from residual asbestos.

Zip up the containment bags and seal them with duct tape. Seal large amounts of asbestos (and the plastic sheeting, when finished) inside 55-gallon drums. Mark all containers or bags as containing asbestos. Spray the plastic sheets in the containment area. Remove the plastic, starting at the point furthest from the exit. Bag and seal the plastic. Spray yourself inside the airlock. Spray the airlock walls. Remove your coveralls and equipment, starting with your boots. Bag and seal your workclothes and the remaining plastic.

Remove Asbestos Flooring Adhesive

asbestos adhesive

Asbestos adhesive was used for asphalt flooring tiles and vinyl or linoleum sheet tile because it strengthened the flooring and made it more durable. It was also resistant to moisture, oil grease heat alkalis and acids. But then asbestos was found to be a health hazard. Newly laid floors with asbestos adhesives are not hazardous, but as water and/or weathering weakens the floors the asbestos crumbles and fibers are released in the air. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesathelioma cancer, and environmental experts and health professionals warn against the usage of asbestos adhesives for flooring.

How to Remove Asbestos Flooring Adhesive

Prepare the floor for removing asbestos adhesive. Switch off all heating and air-conditioning appliances that will aid air circulation. Cover all vents and openings with polythene sheets and secure with duct tape. Seal all small ducts fissures or openings with duct tape. Cover doorways with polythene sheeting. Experts recommend that the floor should be flooded with warm water for two days for optimum effects. This is because wet asbestos adhesive will not release unhealthy fibers into the air. If a two-day flooding is difficult a 30 minute flooding will do the job.

Wear a disposable work suit, gloves, boots, and eye protection. Also, be armed with heavy-duty polythene bags and duct tape and tools will help keep you safe from inhaling asbestos fibers. Take the mop, disposal towels, chemical solvent and scraper with you for the job. Check with the manufacturer if the chemical solvent you plan on using will work on asbestos adhesive. The chemical solvent should not be abrasive because any abrasive action will throw asbestos fibers into the air.

Apply the chemical solvent or amended water gently as required to the asbestos adhesive. Gentle rubbing with disposable towels or mopping should easily clean away the wet adhesive. Stubborn spots should be removed with gentle scraping. Do not grind or sand the adhesive because these actions release the asbestos fibers into the air.

Clean up and dispose of the asbestos. Cleaning up is the most important and difficult part in removing asbestos adhesive from the floor. Wipe all surfaces with a damp disposable towel. Rinse the cloth or towel and change the water at least twice. Wipe all the polythene sheeting where asbestos fibers could have settled. Put all the polythene sheets in heavy-duty waste bags and seal them with duct tape. Put the mop heads and disposable towels in disposable bags and seal them with tape. Inspect all surfaces for dust and wipe with damp disposable towel to get rid of any asbestos fiber deposit. Wash all the tools thoroughly. Wash any exposed skin thoroughly.

Clean and put disposable work suit in waste bag and seal. Wipe all other clothing with damp towel put all used towels in waste bag and seal. Take a shower to remove any possible fiber on your body.

Dispose of all waste. Disposing of the waste bags is the final part of removing asbestos flooring adhesives. The local EPA office will guide you about disposing the waste bags. You can either dispose of them at landfills that accept asbestos waste or you can inform your local waste hauler for a special waste pickup. There are also licensed contractors who will take asbestos waste for disposal.

Asbestos ceiling tiles

Asbestos ceiling tiles

Asbestos ceiling tiles were commonly used in homes and buildings before the 1970s. Asbestos is a fiber that was once used in "acoustic" ceilings which were also called "drop" or "suspended" ceilings. Before the carcinogenic affects of asbestos were known; many people were unfortunately exposed to these fibers since they were often used in numerous different materials including roofing and ceiling products.

Asbestos is only dangerous if the material is airborne; therefore, contaminated ceiling tiles are only harmful if damaged. If you would like to remove these tiles from your ceiling, it is best to have a licensed contractor complete the job for you. If you decide to remove the tiles yourself, you will need to proceed with extreme care and caution.

How to remove asbestos ceiling tiles

1. To remove asbestos ceiling tiles, you will first need to dress properly. Wear a tyvek suit, safety glasses, and an approved respirator. This protective clothing can be purchased either online or at a local store. You don't want any asbestos contaminated materials to get on your skin, in your eyes, or into your lungs. 
2. Turn off any heating and air circulation systems to avoid the chances of any asbestos in the ceiling tiles from becoming airborne. 
3. Place a tarp directly underneath where you will be working and set up a ladder. 
4. Add 2 teaspoons of dishwasher detergent to 1 gallon of water. Pour some of this mixture into a spray bottle and start by spraying one of the asbestos ceiling tiles with this detergent water. This will help to keep the fibers from becoming airborne if you were to break any of the tiles. 
5. Carefully remove the ceiling tiles one by one. You will need to avoid breaking or tearing the tile since this can cause the asbestos to become airborne. As you remove each tile, place them directly into a yellow asbestos bag. Once the bag is full of tiles, seal it completely with duct tape and then place it into a 6 mil polyethylene bag. 
6. Once you've finished removing the tiles, place the tarp from under your project into one of the asbestos bags to be disposed of. 
7. Properly dispose of the asbestos ceiling tiles by following the regulations set by your state.

Seal The Asbestos Tiles

Asbestos Tiles

If you have an older home, your old tile flooring may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a tough, durable fiber known to cause a variety of respiratory ailments and diseases such as cancer. Floor remodeling jobs in the home may require a professional asbestos removal company if the asbestos-based tile is chipped, crumbling or otherwise damaged. However, if it is intact, you can seal the tiles yourself to prevent future asbestos exposure. After sealing the asbestos tiles, you can install a new floor on top of the old one.

How to Seal Asbestos Tiles

1. Use the hammer and pry bar to remove the baseboards along the floor in the area that has the asbestos tile. Pry the baseboards away from the wall gently to prevent splintering so you can use them again. Removing the boards allows better application of the embossing leveler. 
2.  Prepare the asbestos tile flooring by wet mopping it to ensure all dirt and debris is removed. If there are any oily areas, use a degreasing cleanser on the floor then rinse with water. Allow the floor to dry slightly, until just moist to the touch. 
3. Mix the embossing leveler (purchased at most paint, flooring or hardware stores) with water, according to manufacturer's instructions in one of the large buckets. Use the wood paint stirrer stick to mix the leveler compound to a smooth consistency. 
4. Fill remaining bucket with water. This water bucket will serve as a rinsing receptacle for the metal trowel during the leveler compound application process. 
5. Pour the mixed embossing leveler compound on the asbestos tile flooring. 
6. Use the metal trowel to smooth the leveler compound across the asbestos floor tile. You have a short amount of time to work with the embossing leveler before it starts to set or cure, so trowel quickly. You want this underlayment to form a thin, level layer over the tile, creating a sealed surface in which no asbestos fibers can escape. 
7. Rinse the metal trowel in the water bucket every few minutes to prevent a buildup of the leveler compound on the metal surface 
8. Allow the embossing leveler compound to dry for at least two hours. Check manufacturer's instructions for more approximate drying times. During the drying process, do not walk on the floor surface. Once cured, you can use the hammer to re-install the base boards.

How to Diagnose Asbestos Poisoning

A number of people exhibit symptoms of asbestos poisoning or its deadly cousin, mesothelioma, after years of working in manufacturing jobs or careers dealing with various forms of friable asbestos. Although it is a natural mineral fiber, breathing in the tiny particles from asbestos dust results in the fibers adhering to the lining of the lungs and greatly increases the risk of lung disease and cancer. Mesothelioma is the name given to malignant cancers started by asbestos poisoning,

Instructions

Search your job history for repeated exposure to friable asbestos. For asbestos to be a poison, it must be in a breathable form. Friable asbestos easily crumbles and the tiny featherweight particles quickly disperse in the air. Some examples of friable asbestos are blown-in insulation around pipes, acoustical ceiling panels and wallboard and joint compound manufactured before 1978. Although now banned in this form, many homes still contain this dangerous textile.

Compare your symptoms to your work history if you suffered exposure to friable insulation on an ongoing basis. Keep in mind that you may not suffer the ill side effects for many years.

Consider asbestos disease as an explanation for medical symptoms that include difficulty drawing a full breath or exhaling fully, along with a chronic cough. This is a common first symptom of asbestos poisoning but since it also mimics many other respiratory diseases, it may go undiagnosed until other symptoms appear.

Pay attention if others mention that you sound a little hoarse. In the early stages the hoarseness may come and go but it will gradually worsen if the cause is asbestos poisoning.

Suspect asbestos poisoning if the above symptoms appear within 20 years of prolonged exposure to friable asbestos and medications for respiratory infections and flu symptoms have not cleared up the problem. In addition, coughing up blood, weight loss or chest pain, suggests the asbestos disease may have developed into mesothelioma.

Schedule an appointment with a physician who is familiar with testing for asbestos poisoning and the cancers related to the disease. The doctor will record your work history and will order pulmonary function tests as well as chest x-rays. If he suspects an asbestos disease or mesothelioma, he will likely order a Computerized Tomography Scan (CT scan) to make an accurate diagnosis.