Linoleum And Asbestos
Asbestos – alternatives to removal.?
I am renovating a townhome. The kitchen and bathroom have linoleum floors which are lifting and need to be replaced. Unfortunately, both have asbestos, making removal expensive. Does anyone have suggestions for alternatives to removing the linoleum, such as putting a new floor directly onto the old linoleum? (Give details if you want to score big points.) The total flooring is about 85 square feet.
First, understand that I am not an asbestos expert — I am not in any way certified to deal with it. I have dealt with it in several properties that I own and I have done a great deal of research in the process. Take this for what it is worth.
Asbestos has taken the role of the latest “big scary monster”, but the situation really isn’t that bad. Working in an asbestos mine or in a commercial environment with a lot of dust would be bad, but many cases are not as catastrophic as they are made out to be. There are some places that asbestos in a building is a major problem, but not this one.
Asbestos in linoleum and mastic is usually non-friable — there are not a lot of asbestos fibers floating around, they are sealed inside the product. Also, the asbestos content is usually low. The process of removal does not create a great deal of dust.
If the asbestos is only in the linoleum, abatement is a relatively easy job. If it is in the mastic (the glue) it is more difficult because all of the glue must be removed in order for a licensed contractor to say the job is completed. That part takes a lot of work.
In most locations, you can legally do the work on property that you own without being licensed. Check with your local health department. With proper precautions I would do this on my own without any concerns.
As an alternative, price with several abatement contractors and let them know you are price shopping. It will be more expensive simply because the contractor has to be licensed, but again this should be a simple job.
If you really must cover it up, I would think toward ceramic over a cement board backer. The cement backer will be mechanically fastened through the linoleum to the subfloor, so the lifting should not be a problem. Also, the cement backer will for the most part seal the asbestos and mitigate that concern. If you ever want to remove the tile, however, you will have a problem as the asbestos will still be there and it will be more friable than it is now.
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