Asbestos vinyl tiles are mostly used for flooring in the homes. However, with the growing awareness about the harmful effects of asbestos, people are removing the asbestos vinyl tiles from their homes and other buildings. You can either hire a professional company for removing the asbestos tiles or do it yourself with the help of some simple tips mentioned herein. However, you have to follow certain safety precautions to avoid asbestos exposure to you and your family during and after the removal process.
Precautions for removing asbestos vinyl tiles are necessary because exposure to Asbestos dust is dangerous. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral and can break into to tiny light particles polluting the air especially when it is dry. Hence care should be taken for the proper removal of tiles from the floors. Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious diseases such as asbestosis, respiratory problems and some types of cancers.
Removal of asbestos vinyl tiles is easier and safer than the sheeting. Tiles are safer to remove than the sheeting because the asbestos is embedded and held together by a vinyl resin in tiles.
Safety Precautions for Removing Asbestos Vinyl Tiles:
- Keep all the tools and protective clothing in the room before starting the removal procedure.
- Take precautions not to break the tiles while removing
- Use warm water to soften the adhesive and to prevent asbestos particles from floating in the air
- Never sand the tiles or the glue because sanding may release dangerous quantities of asbestos dust into the air.
- The safe way to remove the asbestos vinyl tiles and the glue is to wet them with warm water and popping them up with a floor scraper.
- If the tiles are glued to a layer of underlayment, you can remove large sections of the tiles and underlayment to reduce the amount of asbestos released in the air.
- Specialists in asbestos abatement opine that it is much safer to remove large chunks of floor than smaller pieces.
- Keep wetting the removed material with water to prevent release of asbestos fibers.
- Store and seal all the removed material in containers and seal them with duct tapes.
- Clean the floor and surrounding surface with water.
- Dispose of the protective clothing and removed material in containers with adequate asbestos labeling.
- Consult the landfill personnel before disposing of the asbestos containing materials.
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.
