Covering Asbestos Tile With Laminate

So after much reading on asbestos tile and due to my limited budget i ve decided to just cover them with traffic master floating laminate flooring but everyone i ve talked to has said they won t install the flooring with the asbestos tiles.

Covering asbestos tile with laminate.

The asbestos floor tile identification articles in this series illustrate that with the combination of design appearance and an idea of floor tile age many asbestos containing floor tiles or sheet flooring products can be reliably identified even before confirmation by a test by a certified asbestos testing laboratory. If your tiles are in perfect condition it s true that they could be removed but doing. One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. The most common tiles that are positive are ones that measure 9 x 9.

With any voids filled a glued laminate will prevent any problems with asbestos. While those are the most common asbestos containing floor tiles many other tiles and floor coverings can be positive as well. If the floor is true linoleum damage does not present a danger of asbestos inhalation. If the tiles in question are crumbling torn drilled sawn or sanded you ll definitely want to consult with a professional who can help gauge risk and offer recommendations for reducing asbestos exposure the epa is among the best resources available to help educate on risks and abatement techniques.

The old tiles are relatively thin around 1 8 inch thick so installing new flooring on top. Mastic that is black is also a tell tale sign. You want to avoid cutting drilling sanding or doing anything that abrades the old tile. I would fill the voids with self leveling mix 600 is quite a large area to do the entire floor and would be quite expensive.

Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles. If asbestos tiles are covered with carpeting or a floating floor made of wood bamboo cork linoleum or vinyl along with the appropriate vapor. If possible cover it with another layer of flooring. One of the best ways to deal with asbestos tile is to leave it in place and cover it with new flooring.

Asbestos only becomes an issue if particles become airborne. You would need to level the floor for laminate. If you aren t removing the old floor you may be creating a new floor that is too thick for doors to open and shut or for thresholds to have clearance. If the existing floor is in good shape the cheapest easiest solution is to cover it.

Many tiles in older homes do contain asbestos and there is no way to tell just by looking. In many homes the fiber insulation is painted to encapsulate the asbestos as long as it is left intact and covered to will be safe. Laminate flooring or luxury vinyl tiles are two good options because they float on the existing floor and don t need to be glued or nailed.