What's The Cheapest Way To Cover Asbestos Tiles?

If you have a home that was built 50 to 100 years ago, you might notice certain elements look outdated. Slowly but surely, you are bound to remove and replace old furnishing, wallpapers, and even floor tiles with new ones. Homes built this long ago are likely to have hidden dangers like asbestos lurking within the floor. So when you plan to cover this asbestos in order to upgrade your home’s look, it’s good to know the cheapest way to safely do so.

The cheapest and safest ways to cover asbestos tiles is usually by adding a protective sealant to the asbestos tile floor. Sealing the floor locks the asbestos in place and helps mitigate the risk of exposure. If you want to upgrade the look of the room safely, you can also install a new floor over the existing floor. If you are uncertain about safety measures, always consult a professional.

Once you discover you have tiles with asbestos, you will want to make sure you do all you can to protect your health. You might even be unsure as to whether or not your older home has asbestos tiles, but want to take all the proper risks. This is a wise idea. Best of all, there are cost-effective ways to cover asbestos tile to help greatly lower the risk of asbestos exposure. But first, you should know whether or not your tiles have asbestos, and how these tiles can harm you and your family.

If you move into a home with existing floor tiles, you might wonder how you can tell if they have asbestos or not. If the home was built between 1920 and 1980, and the tiles are from this era, then the odds are high they have asbestos.

You might notice some dark discoloration on the tiles, or a powdery appearance. These are all signs of asbestos. There may, however, not be any visual signs. So the best way to know for sure is to hire a professional inspector to verify whether your tiles (or anything in your home) has asbestos.

This is something you can request before purchasing a home. It is certainly something you should do at some point if you know your home was built between 1920 and1980. It will, if nothing else, provide you and your family with the knowledge you need to keep everyone safe.

If you now know your tiles have asbestos, you most likely want to find a way to safely cover them, and quickly. Sure, you can have them removed. In fact, having your asbestos tile floor professionally removed is the best way to rid your home of asbestos all-together. But asbestos tile removal is costly.

Asbestos, as long as it is not exposed and airborne, causes very low risk. So covering it (when you can’t afford professional removal) may be your safest affordable option. If you want the cheapest way to do this safely, you should apply a sealant to the existing floor. Applying a durable and effective sealant will lock the hazardous asbestos in place, making it difficult to impossible for it to enter the air. This is important because asbestos exposure can cause the following:

To encapsulate the existing asbestos tile, and mitigate the chances of harm, use a strong and durable sealant. You should purchase a reliable and trusted sealant that adheres well to your asbestos tile. Since most asbestos tiles are made of vinyl, your sealant should reflect this.

In almost all cases, it is best to apply two through and thin layers of sealant, rather than one. This ensures ample coverage and further mitigates asbestos exposure. Use a 3/8 inch paint roller to apply these thin layers.

If you are looking for the absolute cheapest option, then simply sealing your asbestos tile using the steps above is the answer. If, however, you are not just looking to cover your floors up for safety, you might consider adding a new floor.

Many people looking to cover asbestos tiles are looking to mitigate the harm caused by asbestos, and also want to get rid of the tacky and dated look of these tiles. After all, if you have asbestos tile, it is from before 1980. So there is a good chance whatever it looks like, it isn’t worth saving.

This is when you would want to opt for an additional floor on top of the tile. In order to do this, simply follow the steps to seal the tile listed above, but don’t add a finishing layer. Instead, you can add a new floor. As long as the floor is flat and smooth, you can add such floors as faux-wood laminate, carpet tiles, or even a new tile floor over your asbestos tile floor.

While the flooring materials can be costly, in the end you are doing two jobs for the price of one. This is something to consider if you know you want to install new floors in the near future anyway.

Do Not Use Floor Sanders. Sanding your asbestos tile will result in all the toxic asbestos entering the air. This is when the substance is most harmful. If such a project needs to happen, hire a professional.

Use a HEPA Vacuum. A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum is the best vacuum to use when cleaning up mess involved in the asbestos tile cleaning process. They are highly effective at capturing even small particles.

Always Wear Proper Protective Equipment. This cannot be stressed enough. Always wear protective goggles, clothing, and most of all, a HEPA filtered respirator. Wear a mask and/or respirator that filters out all the toxic dust.

Know The Laws And Safety Protocols. Before you attempt to cover asbestos tile you need to know all the safety precautions you must take. Research the proper equipment, and exactly what you can and cannot do before embarking on this job.

Hire A Professional When Uncertain. We all want to save money, but not at the cost of our health. Make sure you are making smart decisions. If you feel uncertain about your safety during this project, hire a pro with experience in this department. You shouldn’t start this sort of job without proper knowledge.