Can you cover up asbestos floor tiles?

Tom Silva replies: The advice you received is correct: The best way to deal with old asbestos floor tiles is to cover them up. That’s enough to prevent the damage and wear that can release fibers into the air; no sealer is needed. You could also cover the tiles with new vinyl flooring, linoleum, or even ceramic tiles.

How do you cover old asbestos floor tiles?

Install ceramic tile over asbestos. You can tile directly over asbestos with new tile, including ceramic tile. Take care to choose a tile whose thickness is not going to create a problem, and choose a tile that is rated for floor use. Use a Portland cement-based adhesive to adhere the new tiles to the old.

Is it safe to cover asbestos tile with carpet?

Yes, you can carpet over asbestos floor tiles, provided they are in good condition. When undamaged, they are not a danger and can be left in place. To apply carpet, be sure only to use glue and no nails, not risk piercing the older tile and causing fibers to become airborne.

Is it safe to leave asbestos tiles in place?

Asbestos is safe and legal to remain in homes or public buildings as long as the asbestos materials are in good condition and the asbestos can not be released into the air. Generally the safest approach is to leave such flooring alone and to cover it with a coating or with another layer of flooring.

What can I cover asbestos tiles with?

New vinyl, laminate flooring, hardwood, engineered floating flooring, and carpeting can all be successfully installed over asbestos tiles. Even ceramic, slate, and stone tiles can be installed on top, as long as a fiber-cement backer is installed first.

Can you epoxy over asbestos tile?

Epoxy itself isn’t an adequate sealer for black mastic, but you can certainly seal asbestos black mastic rather than removing Asbestos Black Mastic. Once the sealer has been applied to the mastic and dries, epoxy or paint can then be safely applied.

How do you deal with asbestos flooring?

Use a hammer and putty knife to work under the edges of the tile and pop it loose. Once the first tile is removed, work the putty knife at a 45 degree angle to gently pop the remaining tiles loose. Avoid breaking tiles during removal to keep asbestos from getting into the air.

Can I paint over old asbestos floor tiles?

Yes, you can paint over asbestos tiles since it makes them easy to clean and maintain. Doing this is also the safest way to seal and protect the material. What’s best about asbestos is how it’s fire and heat-resistant.

How do you cover black mastic?

Can You Seal or Paint Black Mastic?

1. Property owners can safely seal black mastic and then cover it with paint, epoxy, or their flooring material of choice.
2. To remove the black mastic, contractors must keep the material wet to reduce the risk of releasing airborne particles.

Can you paint over asbestos tile?

What can I use to cover asbestos tiles?

Encapsulation with a sealant is probably the easiest way to go. Purchase a good sealant that is made for vinyl flooring as asbestos tile is a type of vinyl flooring material. Make sure that you have a full face respirator, gloves and any other recommended personal protective equipment.

Can you epoxy over black mastic?