Is this asbestos

bri007

Hi all,

I’m doing some renovations and came across some old tiles and glue underneath them that appear to look like asbestos.

Not sure but would anyone have an idea by looking at them from pictures attached?

It’s not big area just the hallway into the house, roughly 4 foot wide by 8th length.

bri007

See pictures attached

bri007 wrote: »

Hi all,

I’m doing some renovations and came across some old tiles and glue underneath them that appear to look like asbestos.

Not sure but would anyone have an idea by looking at them from pictures attached?

It’s not big area just the hallway into the house, roughly 4 foot wide by 8th length.

bri007

Pictures

bri007 wrote: »

See pictures attached

bri007

Pictures

bri007 wrote: »

See pictures attached

listermint

Looks like old linoleum to me with old bitumen type adhesive

Littlehorny

I heard before that some of those old style vinyl type floor tiles do contain asbestos alright.
Up till the 70's I think they used asbestos in loads of building products.
There is companies that will come out and check those tiles for you.

bri007

It breaks up as I move the tile. The glue is black looking. Should I get an expert to do a asbestos survey?

Littlehorny

I would be less worried about the glue than the tile itself containing asbestos. we had a company come in and do an asbestos survey in the place where I work and the rep said asbestos was used in everything years ago, even paper gaskets that seal old plumbing fittings contained it.
Maybe you know someone from the building game who could have a look at them?

bri007

Thanks for the reply.

I don’t really know anyone that would look at it for me.

I was looking up online for a asbestos survey, I used one before on a house we were looking at buying last year so might try them again. It’s expensive though!

Just wasn’t expecting it in this house. Not sure what to do now with it.

Littlehorny wrote: »

I would be less worried about the glue than the tile itself containing asbestos. we had a company come in and do an asbestos survey in the place where I work and the rep said asbestos was used in everything years ago, even paper gaskets that seal old plumbing fittings contained it.
Maybe you know someone from the building game who could have a look at them?

bri007

Yeah I was half thinking that myself.... just hard to know for sure

listermint wrote: »

Looks like old linoleum to me with old bitumen type adhesive

Deagol

The rule with asbestos is; if in doubt, leave it alone and get expert opinion.

However, looking at the pictures I'd be fairly sure those are just lino with bitumen floor binding.

monkeynuz

They look like Marley tiles to me, some of the older ones contained asbestos, also I believe the adhesive could contain asbestos also.

bri007

Is it costly to get the tiles and glue removed? The size of the area affected is roughly 5ft width by 7ft length.

Some of the tiles got damaged as I pulled up the carpet due to nails driven in through carpet onto the tile.

Would this be dangerous for us as we had no masks on and we didn’t know those tiles were beneath.

Corca Baiscinn

OP hope you dont mind if I hijack your thread especially as boardsies have given you your own answer. Your question reminded me that for ages I've been meaning to ask the very same, "Is this asbestos?"! In my case it's the material on the roof of the boiler house, built c 1975, oil boiler since replaced in a different location. The ceiling never concerned us one way or another until one time the boiler flue became dislodged and black smoke covered the ceiling. Ever since whenever I take down an item from the top shelf there (now used for storage) its covered in black sooty residue and the ceiling material is loose.

I'm wondering if the ceiling could be asbestos. Was it used as a fire-retardant surface back in the day? If it is, obviously removing it is a different kettle of fish than if its not. We weren't the first owners of the house so no documentation or planning files.

1 photo shows the debris that falls and the other 2 the ceiling surface with and without flash.

whizbang

Asbestos has a silvery shiny appearance, a bit like fibrous talcum powder.
Although its rare to see pure asbestos, it was used in loads of stuff.

I wouldn't be too concerned about those tiles, If in doubt use a mask, damp the dust and hoover very thoroughly afterwards.

Those ceilings are wood fibre cement boards, nothing to worry about.

Corca Baiscinn

whizbang wrote: »

Asbestos has a silvery shiny appearance, a bit like fibrous talcum powder.
Although its rare to see pure asbestos, it was used in loads of stuff.

I wouldn't be too concerned about those tiles, If in doubt use a mask, damp the dust and hoover very thoroughly afterwards.

Those ceilings are wood fibre cement boards, nothing to worry about.

Thanks a million whzbang! That's a relief!

bri007

I’ve an expert calling out this week to survey the whole house I will keep you all posted.

I’m Hoping for the best... fingers crossed it’s not too bad!

Czhornet

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

OP hope you dont mind if I hijack your thread especially as boardsies have given you your own answer. Your question reminded me that for ages I've been meaning to ask the very same, "Is this asbestos?"! In my case it's the material on the roof of the boiler house, built c 1975, oil boiler since replaced in a different location. The ceiling never concerned us one way or another until one time the boiler flue became dislodged and black smoke covered the ceiling. Ever since whenever I take down an item from the top shelf there (now used for storage) its covered in black sooty residue and the ceiling material is loose.

I'm wondering if the ceiling could be asbestos. Was it used as a fire-retardant surface back in the day? If it is, obviously removing it is a different kettle of fish than if its not. We weren't the first owners of the house so no documentation or planning files.

1 photo shows the debris that falls and the other 2 the ceiling surface with and without flash.

Thats not asbestos, more of an osb board for the roof

recedite

Neither looks like asbestos to me.

The roof is a woodfibre cement board. So the fibres in it are cellulose not asbestos.
BTW only the dust off asbestos is harmful. So while the old rule "if in doubt leave it alone" is valid, the other rule " if in doubt, damp it down with water and feck it out" also has its place.