Asbestos tiles in 1960's cupboards? (flooring, counters, cabinets, stairs)

[Desertrose34]

We are under contract and had a home inspection yesterday. The house was built in 1960. When you walk down the stairs into the basement at the bottom is a small area of flooring that the inspector said might be asbestos. I have read some online and some threads on this forum about that and have heard not to break or damage, but to cover with carpet or something.

My big concern is the kitchen.

Ok it is a small house with a small galley kitchen.

The cupboards and counters are very old. I kind of think it is original. It has an electric stove and oven and if we buy this house sooner rather then later I will want new cupboards and counters, and a new stove/oven combo.

Looking inside some of the cupboards yesterday, some of them are wood shelves , but some seemed to have those tiles like that flooring downstairs.

I wish I would of taken a picture, but didn't.

The home inspector did say he thinks they may be asbestos in the cupboards, but was not sure.

Has anyone ever heard of this?

My husband seems to think we can safely remove the cupboards from the walls, not break the tiles and be fine.

Any advice?

[Desertrose34]

Kitchen pic.

[WildCard~]

Grew up with asbestos as long as you don't disturb it all is well! I'd call your county building/permitting office and ask what are the requirements for removal! Some places it's against the law to toss asbestos into the landfill if caught hefty fines, asbestos requires a special handling hazmat team to clean it up and dispose of it!

[elhelmete]

Measure the tiles. If they're 9"x9" they're more likely to contain asbestos than 12x12s

Why would the current owner have put tile INSIDE the cabinets?!

Anyhow, having done time in the past in the asbestos racket, tiles like this are probably the absolute least worrisome form of asbestos ever.

[Desertrose34]

Hi thank you for the responses. I called the building permit office and they referred me to the dept of environmental quality. No one answered so I left a message.

[Desertrose34]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Measure the tiles. If they're 9"x9" they're more likely to contain asbestos than 12x12s

Why would the current owner have put tile INSIDE the cabinets?!

Anyhow, having done time in the past in the asbestos racket, tiles like this are probably the absolute least worrisome form of asbestos ever.

They look original. SO I don't think the current owner did it.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by Desertrose34

They look original. SO I don't think the current owner did it.

Are the cabinets laid over the tile floor or are you saying that tiles are being used on top of interior shelves, like a liner?

[Desertrose34]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Are the cabinets laid over the tile floor or are you saying that tiles are being used on top of interior shelves, like a liner?

"Cabinets are made out of wood, older tiles in lining cabinets may contain asbestos" per inspector.

Yeah they are using tiles as lining in some of the cupboards.

[turf3]

I think linoleum in the cabinets is a GREAT idea. Eliminates the need for drawer paper. Easy to clean. If they are still stuck down, just cry "Halleluyah!" and use them.


If there is asbestos in them, then don't grind them up, throw the dust in the air, and breathe it in while simultaneously smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes a day.

[Desertrose34]

I called the building permit place yesterday, they referred me to the Department of Environmental Quality for Mt. I got their machine.

On his lunch break, my husband called the hazmat office. They said to double trash bag any tiles and take it to the dump.

I called the landfill/dump.

The gal there at the dump told me we can remove it, but can't transport it. We have to call Montana waste systems, or another asbestos abatement place. They would provide a container. We have to fill out a profile with the dump and get a manifest for it.

I asked how much would it cost to get the tile tested? She referred me to the Department of Environmental Quality for Mt.

I called the Montana waste systems to inquire about the price. They said the 10 yard container is $505.00 and $4 a day, a 20 yard is $855.

!!!!!

I called the Department of Environmental Quality for Mt and left a message, he called back.

I didn't write down every single thing he said, but the jist was:

We have a residential exemption. We are not commercial. He said that is quite the upcharge and those are for commerical buildings, not a private residence with a few tiles.

He said we could even put it out for a curbside pickup. Or we could take it to the dump ourselves.

He said to call the dump and talk to a manager. And remind them we have a residential exemption.

He said the asbestos floor tiles are a category 1 non fryable which means there is very minimal risk. He said if they are 9 inch by 9 inch tiles they are most likely asbestos, if they are 12 x 12s they still could be, but are less likely.

I asked if we did want to have them tested how much would it cost? $11 to $70 to send to the lab. He said to take a hammer and chisel and get a quarter sized sample, make sure the adhesive is on it as well, and send it in if we wanted to. He said the state always recommends to have professionals remove something, but if it were him, he would do it himself.

I talked to my realtor agent and she doesn't think they are and that the inspector is protecting himself by saying these "may be" asbestos.

I still want to go back out to the house, take a few pictures of the tiles, and take some measurements of the kitchen, dining area, etc.

She is supposed to call me today to go over the report.

So that's where I am at.

:/