Asbestos in Old House Question -- How to Resolve (subfloor, vacuum cleaner, plank)

[Hopes]

The only carpeting remaining in our house was the stairs and the upstairs hallway. We tore it out about a month ago. I'm a big concerned about the upstairs hallway. The floor is black from whatever held down old tiles. I'm sure the tiles were asbestos. They were torn out about 35 years ago. The carpeting has been there for 20 years.

I think the black stuff that adhered the tile to the floor is asbestos too. It's flaking. There are little flakes of it being tracked into the bathroom and probably all over the house. My research indicates it's likely asphaltic cutback adhesive. It used to be mixed with asbestos. The way to remove it is via cutback adhesive remover.

I can see that being a disaster to remove from an old wood floor.

--- Remove with cutback adhesive remover.

--- Try to cut out and remove subfloor and replace it.

--- Lay a new subfloor over the old subfloor.

--- Wet down, clean up as best as possible, reinstall carpeting.

I've already called the carpet company. The guy is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate to carpet the stairs and the hallway. I just want to make this go away ASAP. Once it's contained in the carpeting again, it's okay.

I guess the quickest and easiest solution is to wet it down, cleaning it up, and laying a new subfloor over the old one prior to installing the carpet would be the best solution that disturbs the least particles and secures the asbestos in place for the next time a carpet is removed.

Any ideas? I know a few of you have dealt with asbestos and don't think it's a big deal.

[MrWillys]

Originally Posted by Hopes

The only carpeting remaining in our house was the stairs and the upstairs hallway. We tore it out about a month ago. I'm a big concerned about the upstairs hallway. The floor is black from whatever held down old tiles. I'm sure the tiles were asbestos. They were torn out about 35 years ago. The carpeting has been there for 20 years.

I think the black stuff that adhered the tile to the floor is asbestos too. It's flaking. There are little flakes of it being tracked into the bathroom and probably all over the house. My research indicates it's likely asphaltic cutback adhesive. It used to be mixed with asbestos. The way to remove it is via cutback adhesive remover.

I can see that being a disaster to remove from an old wood floor.

--- Remove with cutback adhesive remover.

--- Try to cut out and remove subfloor and replace it.

--- Lay a new subfloor over the old subfloor.

--- Wet down, clean up as best as possible, reinstall carpeting.

I've already called the carpet company. The guy is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate to carpet the stairs and the hallway. I just want to make this go away ASAP. Once it's contained in the carpeting again, it's okay.

I guess the quickest and easiest solution is to wet it down, cleaning it up, and laying a new subfloor over the old one prior to installing the carpet would be the best solution that disturbs the least particles and secures the asbestos in place for the next time a carpet is removed.

Any ideas? I know a few of you have dealt with asbestos and don't think it's a big deal.

My Professional response is to contact an abatement contractor and have it removed using all OSHA CFR 1926. My personal response is keep it wet to minimize friable exposure and assume your short time exposure is minimal to the PEL ( permissible exposure limits ) over a lifetime exposure limits. You may see this once in a lifetime vs a daily exposure the law is meant to protect. Hopefully this makes sense, and if not please feel free to spend thousands.

[RayinAK]

The only way to tell if the mastic has asbestos is to have it tested. Go to one of the local labs, ask for a small plastic container used for that purpose, and scrape a sample (put it in the container) for the lab to test under a microscope. It should not cost very much.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by MrWillys

My personal response is keep it wet to minimize friable exposure.

I understand you mean to keep it wet while we do whatever we do. Which way do you think is best? Keep it wet and tear out the subfloor? Keep it wet and put a new subfloor over it? I just read online that not all asbestos can be removed with a solvent and should be removed by wetting and scraping. This area is small---about 40 sf. It seems removing the wood would be easier than scraping.

Originally Posted by MrWillys

Hopefully this makes sense, and if not please feel free to spend thousands.

It absolutely makes sense.

Originally Posted by RayinAK

The only way to tell if the mastic has asbestos is to have it tested. Go to one of the local labs, ask for a small plastic container used for that purpose, and scrape a sample (put it in the container) for the lab to test under a microscope. It should not cost very much.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'd like to do this because I'm concerned for my husband. He lived here with it exposed for 15 years prior to it being carpeted before I moved into the house 20+ years ago. How do I find a lab? What does the lab do if it tests positive? Do they report it somewhere?

[TheHausMaus]

They will take the subfloor out. You do not want to scrape it as that is when you get exposure issues.

I would look for a licensed professional in your area that will send a sample for the test (not a home kit) and can then remove the subfloor if the test is positive.

The asbestos issue is really to protect the workers who may encounter it on a daily basis in home remodeling, by inhaling fibers. If it has only deteriorated recently, I would just take care of it as soon as you can.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by TheHausMaus

They will take the subfloor out. You do not want to scrape it as that is when you get exposure issues.

I would look for a licensed professional in your area that will send a sample for the test (not a home kit) and can then remove the subfloor if the test is positive.

I will be sending a sample to a lab. We can remove the subfloor ourselves. At this point we've already been exposed. We can wear the masks, etc. Guess what? With my luck the damn subfloor is probably glued down with an asbestos adhesive too!

Originally Posted by TheHausMaus

The asbestos issue is really to protect the workers who may encounter it on a daily basis in home remodeling, by inhaling fibers. If it has only deteriorated recently, I would just take care of it as soon as you can.

I'm definitely taking care of this ASAP. I understand it's more of an issue for workers. My problem is my husband has lived in this house for over 35 years. It was gutted when he moved into it. The only thing that was already done was the kitchen. He SLOWLY resorted the rest of the house over many years. I just asked him when the tiles were removed. He said to install the carpeting 22 years ago.

I just asked him the condition of the tiles at the time he removed them. He said they were all cracked and broken. That means my husband lived in this house for over 15 years with exposed broken asbestos tiles prior to the carpeting being installed. I have no idea what the condition of the adhesive was at that time, but it's seriously flaking. I doubt the carpeting has protected the family from flaking asbestos.

[JR_C]

The solution I've read about (but haven't needed to use) is to lay down a folded towel on the glue, and pour boiling water on the towel. Let it sit for a little while, and then scrape up the softened/loosened glue. Repeat as necessary. If it's a floor worth saving, use plastic scrapers, so that you don't gouge the wood.

Being exposed to the glue on the floor. (even for years at a time) isn't something I'd worry about.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by JR_C

The solution I've read about (but haven't needed to use) is to lay down a folded towel on the glue, and pour boiling water on the towel. Let it sit for a little while, and then scrape up the softened/loosened glue. Repeat as necessary. If it's a floor worth saving, use plastic scrapers, so that you don't gouge the wood.

Thanks for sharing the boiling water tip. I'll research that. I don't care about gouging the wood. The subfloor isn't worth saving, but I think it's wise to not try to remove it. If I try to tear out that subfloor, I'll likely find more asbestos adhering it to the original pine plank subfloor.

Originally Posted by JR_C

Being exposed to the glue on the floor. (even for years at a time) isn't something I'd worry about.

My husband wasn't only exposed to the glue on the floor. He was exposed to the cracked asbestos tiles for over 15 years in addition to ripping them out 20 years ago and then when he tore out the carpet recently. I agree being exposed to the glue isn't too worrisome over just that past few months, but this is severely degraded and flaking everywhere. We tracked it into the bathroom. Until I start scraping it, I'm going to clean up the floors and cover that entire hallway with inexpensive throw rugs (that can be thrown away) to prevent us from kicking it up and tracking it all over the house. I stupidly used a broom up there a week ago and probably kicked up a lot of it, but I'm glad I didn't use the vacuum cleaner.

Once we get the lab results back, I'll buy the masks and scrapers and start working on this if it's asbestos. His lifetime exposure is too great. I don't want him doing it. I feel I need to be the one removing this. I just hope it's not too hard to remove via scraping.

[harry chickpea]

I just don't understand this type of thinking. Pragmatically, you can run around in circles all day long worrying about past exposure, but there is nothing that can be done about that and the stress of worrying is likely MORE damaging than just moving forward. A quick and easy temp solution might be a roll of six mil plastic and masking tape.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I just don't understand this type of thinking. Pragmatically, you can run around in circles all day long worrying about past exposure, but there is nothing that can be done about that and the stress of worrying is likely MORE damaging than just moving forward. A quick and easy temp solution might be a roll of six mil plastic and masking tape.

I'm not worrying about past exposure except from the standpoint of not wanting my husband to have further exposure via removing the asbestos. I'll remove it myself to protect him from too much exposure. I like your quick and easy temp solution until we can get it tested and removed if necessary. Thanks!