Asbestos in bathroom tiles query????

[Badbusboy]

Hello again all, long time lurker/member.

I'm taking an old bungalow(1968 built) to bits and found some concerning floor tiles under two layers of lino. I was wondering if they contained or likely to contain asbestos given the age of them There's no bitumous/black glue - looks like evostick but tacky as hell. My other half seems to think that lack of bitumous glue means it's Ok for me to take up. Any ways which would indicate safer or not? They're very thin about 1mm thick. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[Climber]

There is no sure way to tell without having a reputable company do a test. However, they look EXACTLY the same as ones that have tested positive for us in the past.

 

[clift_d]

Safest bet without testing is to assume that they do contain asbestos. 1968 is certainly well within the time frame for floor tiles like that containing asbestos as a filler material.

 

[Badbusboy]

Safest bet without testing is to assume that they do contain asbestos. 1968 is certainly well within the time frame for floor tiles like that containing asbestos as a filler material.

Thank you Climber and Cliff, that's what was concerning me - I think testing would be a good idea then

 

[minimutly]

I would buy some disposable coveralls, a 3m dust mask and isolate the area. Then rip them up and dispose of a suspected asbestos, double bagged etc. Even spray some water on the floor if you can.
Probably riding roughshod over all the current regs, but this really is a low risk surely.

 

[dave h 2]

Those are the self adhesive DIY ones and probably date from when the kitchen was extended into the floorboarded area.
Wallpaper paste is used to prevent asbestos fibres wandering off.
Try a hot air gun, it may stop the tile breaking when you shovel them off.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Treat like they main contain asbestos.
Or get a check done.
Or cover with a self levering compound.

 

[Misterg]

Only way to *know* is to test, but even if it comes back positive, the removal of them isn't licensed or notifiable (unless they have asbestos paper backing), anyway.

[Edit to add:] There's a very good chance that they do contain asbestos.

Removal process is covered by the HSE 'Asbestos Essentials' note A23:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a23.pdf

Asbestos Essentials home page (where there is further guidance):

Asbestos essentials - HSE

www.hse.gov.uk

 

[Pete.]

They may do, they may not. even if they do they would be right near the bottom of the risk pyramid for asbestos products with very low fibre release. I bet they would score ambient on an air test even if you ran the pump the whole while you were lifting them.

If they were mine in my home I would just scrape them up, bag them and bin them in the council tip asbestos receptacle.

 

[Mark 5]

Hello again all, long time lurker/member.

I'm taking an old bungalow(1968 built) to bits and found some concerning floor tiles under two layers of lino. I was wondering if they contained or likely to contain asbestos given the age of them There's no bitumous/black glue - looks like evostick but tacky as hell. My other half seems to think that lack of bitumous glue means it's Ok for me to take up. Any ways which would indicate safer or not? They're very thin about 1mm thick. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Hi,

Yes those tiles, the adhesive contains asbestos.

You are right in being wary but consider.

All types of asbestos is hazardous to health, all of it but usually over long term exposure to it and then only when asbestos particles are in the air, being inhaled as was very common in yesterday years and no PPE.

Your floor tiles ain't that, the asbestos particles are embedded/contained/held together in its adhesive, few particles are going to be flying around you.

While some advice and warnings is rightly justified there is so much scare mongering on the subject.

The odds of you of being that unlucky, to have any ill effect years after you removing it all, well, the odds.

Nonetheless, caution, if just for peace of mind, is best practiced.

IMO you can remove those tiles yourself, they should chip up easily enough.

The issue for you is getting rid of any remaining adhesive on the floor boards.

What you shouldn't do is sand the floor to achieve this--again you would be unlucky if anything came of it but don't do this.

You could lay Marine Ply straight on top of boards or if not to large an area consider removing boards altogether, replacing and ply on top.

Be wary and cautious, wear protection, a good quality mask, eye protection but don't get to hung up on the dangers of a one time only DIY removal of an asbestos product in your home.

It seems to me many like writing a good scare story and then ker-ching!.

 

[Shedendman]

Do you live out in the sticks?

 

[Badbusboy]

Shedendman - no unfortunately I don't live out in the sticks - why? Would it help? Thank you all very much for the advice - Mark,Pete, Mistereg - I read the sheet - that reassure me too. Dave & Minimutly appreciate the lower level of risk if present. I rang a regional company and asked them when they could attend - they fitted me in this afternoon - result! Will get answer by next friday - I'll let you know -cheers.

 

[brightspark]

They may do, they may not. even if they do they would be right near the bottom of the risk pyramid for asbestos products with very low fibre release. I bet they would score ambient on an air test even if you ran the pump the whole while you were lifting them.

If they were mine in my home I would just scrape them up, bag them and bin them in the council tip asbestos receptacle.

same here shoveled all the tiles up from the daughters house and bagged them . its only if you get a building firm in to do the work they go over the top same as asbestos garage roofs

 

[Shedendman]

Shedendman - no unfortunately I don't live out in the sticks - why? Would it help? Thank you all very much for the advice - Mark,Pete, Mistereg - I read the sheet - that reassure me too. Dave & Minimutly appreciate the lower level of risk if present. I rang a regional company and asked them when they could attend - they fitted me in this afternoon - result! Will get answer by next friday - I'll let you know -cheers.

They'll still end up in some hole in some ground in some land on this planet,do please let us know how much the bill is

 

[Mark 5]

Shedendman - no unfortunately I don't live out in the sticks - why? Would it help? Thank you all very much for the advice - Mark,Pete, Mistereg - I read the sheet - that reassure me too. Dave & Minimutly appreciate the lower level of risk if present. I rang a regional company and asked them when they could attend - they fitted me in this afternoon - result! Will get answer by next friday - I'll let you know -cheers.

Apologies for my cynicism, I bet they did.

 

[brightspark]

testing for asbestos is a licence to print money they charged a thousand quid for removing a 600 x 600 asbestos tile in a false ceiling where i do work

 

[Keithmac]

They look like Marley tiles, I left ours down and floored over the top of it (they were acting as a damp proof coarse on our concrete floor).

 

[MattF]

They look like Marley tiles, I left ours down and floored over the top of it (they were acting as a damp proof coarse on our concrete floor).

Weren't Marley tiles always almost black in colour?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Weten't Marley tiles always almost black in colour?

No.
They bring that up in 2024 Asbestos training course.

 

[keithski122]

same here shoveled all the tiles up from the daughters house and bagged them . its only if you get a building firm in to do the work they go over the top same as asbestos garage roofs

testing for asbestos is a licence to print money they charged a thousand quid for removing a 600 x 600 asbestos tile in a false ceiling where i do work

I had a local waste company take away my asbestos cement garage roof (ten sheets)as I couldn't be bothered to bag it and take it to the tip, also too heavy for my car. Three blokes turned up, didn't go over the top about things just carried out to the front of the house, double bagged it, chucked it in their truck and pushed off. Cost was about £400, all legit with waste tickets.