Asbestos(?) floor tiles and adhesive

[BenjiS]

I’m in the process of redoing my landing and hall, and after removing the previous owner’s horrible laminate hall floor I found vinyl floor tiles. I was about to start chipping them off, when I though ‘hang on, this is old stuff, what about asbestos.’ These tiles could have been put down any time between 1930 and about 1980 so a high chance the tiles and the adhesive contain asbestos. Someone has already had a go at removing them and given up (probably the previous owner).

I’ve not touched them so far, only covered up with some boards and sheets, but does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? I need to get under the floor to run some new electrical cables, and move the radiator pipes so it does have to be disturbed. In an ideal world I’d like it all gone, so what’s the safest way of doing that? I don’t mind replacing the floorboards if needed. The floor is to be carpeted but that can’t be done over the top, as it’s uneven.

[BenjiS]

I haven’t disturbed them other than take off what was covering them but I’d like to remove them completely so I can get under the floor.

I’ll investigate professional removers. Thanks.

[BenjiS]

dalzo said:

Measure them,if they are a metric size there won't be any asbestos in them

They’re a smidgen over 9in a side or 22.8cm in metric so hard to call.

[BenjiS]

Vipers said:

Why not just leave them there?

I need to get under the floor to move the pipes for the radiator, run some new electric cables, and remove a dead rat!

[BenjiS]

dalzo said:

Yup old 9x9's , they 100% have asbestos in.

as the poster above me, scraper underneath , flip them up trying not to break them (they're only really dangerous if you drill into them,grind them into dust) the scrape a layer of self levelling over the top to kill the adhesive.

Btw once the tiles are lifted the bitumen will activate and go sticky again, its old blackjack adhesive and its nasty stuff to get off hands,carpets etc.

I’m thinking one route may be carefully remove the tiles, then rip out the floorboards and replace, rather than trying to remove the adhesive.

[BenjiS]

wolfracesonic said:

Have the rat sent away to see what killed it; if it was asbestosis the tiles are probably the culprit.

Pretty certain it was the poison I put down! :-)

[BenjiS]

Follow up...

I had a sample of tile and adhesive tested for asbestos, and happily both came back negative.

Thanks to all for the advice though, I’m sure it’ll be useful to someone else in the future.