Asbestos testing services

[75gmck25]

I have tile in my shop/basement area that was installed in the 1940's and much of it is not in very good shape. It pops off the floor quite easily, but leaves a black adhesive residue that would make it difficult to get a new floor to lay down evenly. I have been told that both the tile and the adhesive from this vintage may have asbestos, but I would like to confirm.

Most asbestos testing I've found online are services that want to come out on site and then do the remediation job for you. In my case I just want it tested for now. If it is asbestos and remediation is costly I may just pour self-leveling cement on top to seal and level, and then put sheet vinyl or tile on top of that.

Anyone know of a company that I can just send samples to for testing?

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[n8n]

Gosh darnit, I used a company just like you described maybe 3 years ago for a job up near Langley (there was no asbestos where we had to cut into duct insulation thankfully) but I've since left there and I can't remember who it was. Cost about $500 IIRC. If I remember the name I'll let you know, but in the meantime, there is someone who will do what you want locally.

I have to admit to just "doing it" when confronted with a similar issue in the place I owned in Falls Church. WH leaked and flooded laundry room, old tile was peeling already and the hot water bath finished it off, I just scraped it up and used HD floor stripper to remove the adhesive (window open, fan on!) from the cement. I left that floor unfinished afterwards as it was much nicer than the old, crappy, painted over tile!

 

[75gmck25]

Thanks for the info. $500 sounds like more than I was expecting if it was just the testing, but its better to be safe.

The tile pops off easily with a wide scraper, often in one complete 12"x12" piece, so I am not that worried about particles being released into the air. The adhesive is also fairly easy to scrape off by hand, but if I smooth out the whole floor it would be easier to use something motor-powered to remove the adhesive. However, that's the point where I worry about releasing fibers into the air and I want to know what I'm dealing with.

You did give me one good idea about using HD floor stripper, since that should not release any fiber or debris from the adhesive. My understanding of the danger of asbestos is that you don't want to breath the fibers, but if its suspended in liquid I don't think there is any risk of breathing it in.

Thanks again,

Bruce

 

[n8n]

Exactly. Keep it wet while you're scrubbing, plastic off the area so it doesn't travel into the rest of the house, and keep negative pressure on the room. That's pretty much the standard remediation practice anyway. It did take the stripper, water, and a lot of scrub brush work to lift the old adhesive on mine. If you had/could borrow a floor polsiher with a brush on it that would make large areas much easier. The adhesive tended to re-congeal if I didn't wipe it up after it was loosened but before the stripper evaporated.

 

[404]

ASFIK asbestos tiles were 9 by 9 inch or something else strange and non standard.

 

[SMKS]

Western Analytical. I just used them and they did a great job. It's $30 for the first sample and $20 for each additional sample. In your case, you'd need the tile and adhesive tested, which would cost $50.

http://www.asbestostesting.com/


They're incredibly fast. They email you the results the same day the samples arrive, in most cases.

What you're talking about are VCT tiles. The adhesive is often referred to as cutback. It's very common that tiles and adhesive of that age contain asbestos. Get it tested and be careful about removal if they contain asbestos.

ASFIK asbestos tiles were 9 by 9 inch or something else strange and non standard.

This is not a hard-and-fast rule. Testing is an affordable, smart option in pretty much any case when there's a question about asbestos.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

How much tile are you removing?

 

[404]

SMKS You are right about the testing.