How to Remove Asbestos Tile Safely

Living in an older home has its perks, including added charm, character, and history. It can also mean that your flooring contains asbestos. The good news is that, if you have experience with asbestos tile removal, this is a task you can complete on your own with the proper equipment, tools, and supplies. Just make sure to check whether your state prohibits self-removal of asbestos before you get started. 

Asbestos exposure can cause cancer, so if the asbestos tile covers a large portion of your home, then your best course of action is to call a local asbestos remediation company to remove the flooring. But if you do have experience dealing with dangerous materials and feel confident tackling the removal and safe disposal of asbestos tile on your own, follow this step-by-step guide to do it like the pros.

Why Remove Asbestos Tile or Flooring?

There are many reasons why you may need or choose to remove asbestos tile or other flooring. Removing damaged flooring to prevent exposure, removing it before remodeling so that it does not become a hazard, or removing it because you are uncomfortable living in a home with asbestos are all valid reasons. But removal is not the only option; you may also want to consider encapsulating or covering asbestos tiles that are in good condition.

Encapsulation, which includes covering existing asbestos tile that is in good condition with new non-asbestos tile, helps prevent damage and will keep you safe. That is because, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos-containing construction materials are usually only dangerous when they are damaged, allowing asbestos fibers to escape and become airborne, where they can make their way into people’s lungs. In fact, the removal process is inherently dangerous, as it is likely to disturb asbestos fibers. So, encapsulation can be safer than removal and is often less expensive while giving your home a fresh look.

Before you move forward with any plans, learn about your municipality’s local asbestos laws. You may be required to do professional testing, hire for professional removal, apply for an asbestos removal permit, or follow certain disposal laws to avoid stiff fines and penalties.

Should You Remove Asbestos Tile Yourself? 

No, you should not remove asbestos tile on your own. The point of removing it from homes is to prevent exposure and illness, so you do not want the removal process itself to create more exposure. For that reason, it is usually smart to let local tile contractors or asbestos experts do the job. They have the equipment and the know-how to do it safely and efficiently.

If, however, you are a dedicated DIYer with experience removing asbestos safely, and you love a challenging project and are willing to take all of the steps and precautions to do the job properly, it is possible to remove asbestos tiles yourself. Keep in mind, though, that professionals do this work every day, and they have all of the necessary safety equipment and experience to do it quickly, correctly, and safely. Unless you are a professional yourself, take the safe route and call an expert.

How to Identify Asbestos Tile Flooring 

If your home was built before 1990, there is a good chance that you have asbestos in your flooring, insulation, or other construction materials, unless they have been replaced in recent years. Because exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to disease, it is smart always to treat tile and other building materials as if they contain asbestos until you know for sure.

The only way you can know whether your tiles do or do not contain asbestos is to have them tested. While DIY tests are available online and in home improvement stores, many require sending the material off for lab testing at an additional cost. Many jurisdictions also require professional testing and processing, so consider simply calling a professional in the first place to save yourself some time.

There are some key things to look for when wondering how to tell if you have asbestos tile: 

• Age: Be suspicious of tiles made before 1990, especially between 1950 and 1980.

• Size: Popular sizes for asbestos tiles were 9” x 9”, 12” x 12”, and 18” x 18”. Most were also thicker than non-asbestos tiles.

• Color changes: Asphalt was used to manufacture asbestos floor tiles. As they age, the oil may begin to discolor or fade out of the tiles. Look for oily spots or blotchy and faded appearance.

• Black adhesive underneath: Black mastic or black cutback adhesive was a common adhesive used on asbestos tiles. It is asphalt-based and may contain asbestos itself, even if the tiles it is adhering to do not.

• Manufacturer: Many popular manufacturers of tile flooring during the asbestos era, including Armstrong, Kentile, Sears-Roebuck, Amtico, Congoleum, GAF, Montgomery Ward, American Biltrite, and Everwear, made asbestos tiles. If your flooring was made between 1950 and the late 1980s by any of these companies, have it tested.

How to Prepare for Asbestos Tile Removal

To ensure a successful DIY asbestos tile removal project, thorough preparation is essential. Assess the workspace carefully before using a scraper on the floors. Move furniture and decor to another location to prevent contamination. For items that cannot be relocated, cover them with polyethylene and duct tape. Ensure that heating and air conditioning systems are turned off and cover vents with poly sheeting to avoid asbestos exposure during the removal process.

Sealing off the workspace is a critical step to avoid contamination. Cover all doorways and openings with polyethylene, securing the seal with duct tape. An entry and exit should exist, so have a floor-to-ceiling slit in one doorway to be used for limited access. Once tile removal begins, minimize traffic in and out of the workspace to prevent asbestos fibers from spreading throughout the home. 

6 Steps to Safely Remove Asbestos Tile 

Any project working with asbestos should be completed with extreme caution. Diligently follow these steps to not only effectively remove the tile but also ensure the safety of yourself and your household.

1. Put on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The first and most important step is to put on the proper safety equipment to prevent coming into contact with any asbestos. A respirator, old clothing, disposable work suit, gloves, and protective eyewear are essential to ensuring your safety throughout the removal process. If you inhale asbestos fibers, it can lead to illnesses such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, so this is a step that you do not want to skip.

2. Remove Tile Flooring

Next, wet the floor with a spray bottle. This helps prevent asbestos particles from being released into the air. When a thin layer of moisture covers your work area, use a hammer and a putty knife to get underneath a tile and pry it loose. After removing your first tile, keep your putty knife at a 45-degree angle to remove the remaining tiles. Try your best to keep the tiles from breaking, which can lead to more asbestos getting into the air. Bag the removed tiles as you go, keeping the work area as clean and dust-free as possible. This will prevent you from slipping, breaking removed tiles, and spreading asbestos fibers.

Remember that some tile adhesives and paper backing also contain asbestos, so treat those materials as if they, too, are carcinogenic. Keep them damp, try to keep pieces as whole as possible, and bag them carefully as you work.

3. Remove Tile Sheeting

Once you have removed all of the tiles, you will likely find floor sheeting underneath. To remove the sheeting, take your utility knife and slice the sheeting into sections about six inches wide. Next, use a razor scraper or putty knife to pull up the sheeting. Continue to use your spray bottle to wet the sheeting as you go, which will help it to lift more easily.

Again, since this sheeting and the adhesives remaining on it may contain asbestos, treat it as if contaminated. Work carefully to prevent dust or fibers from becoming airborne.

4. Store the Tile

Remove all tile and other construction waste, and place it into contractor-grade waste bags. Then, put the bags in cardboard boxes and seal them with duct tape. This will keep the tile from protruding and potentially releasing asbestos into the air. Once you seal your boxes, wipe them down with antibacterial wipes as an added precaution and carefully dispose of the wipes. 

5. Clean Up the Work Area

Dampen your disposable towels and remove any dirt or debris from the project area. You will also need to wipe down the polyethylene sheeting before teardown and disposal. It is important to change towels frequently so you are not spreading dust and dirt. Once the work area is clean, wipe down your tools as well. 

Next, remove the poly sheeting and all used and leftover towels and place them in waste bags. If you are completely through with the cleanup, take off your safety equipment and put it in another waste bag. Seal the bags with duct tape and place them in a box or disposal bin. Take a thorough shower to remove asbestos from your hair, nails, and body. 

6. Dispose of the Waste

You cannot throw out asbestos waste with your regular trash. Instead, contact your local waste hauler or landfill to see if they accept asbestos waste and whether they can pick it up or you need to dump it yourself. You can also look into asbestos removal and disposal near you to get an accurate quote.

How Much Does Asbestos Tile Removal Cost? 

If you hire a professional, prepare to pay for permits, testing, labor, disposal, equipment fees, and more. While asbestos tile removal costs vary greatly depending on your location and the specifics of your job, you are usually looking at an average of $50 to $100 for a permit, $250 to $900 for testing, $5 to $20 per square foot of flooring, $100 to $250 per person per hour for labor, $500 or more for setup and teardown, $500 and more for materials and equipment, and disposal fees of $20 to $60 per cubic yard of waste.

All of this together can add up to $1,000 to $6,000, with the national average for asbestos removal falling around $2,200. You should also factor into your budget the new tile installation cost to replace the flooring you are tearing out.

DIY Asbestos Tile Removal vs. Hiring a Pro

It is safest to hire a professional to remove asbestos tile and any other asbestos-containing materials. Professionals have been trained and certified in asbestos removal, so you can trust them to do the job correctly and safely. They have the right equipment—including HEPA filtration systems—to remove asbestos completely and in the safest way. 

Removing asbestos tile can be messy, time-consuming, and dangerous to your health. Although you may save anywhere from $75 to $200 per hour in labor costs if you remove asbestos tile yourself, your final savings may actually not be that much. When you consider what you will have to spend to rent or buy the proper equipment—including respirators, HEPA filters and vacuums, plastic sheeting, personal protective equipment—and pay for disposal and other fees, the cost of doing the job yourself can skyrocket. 

Add to that the fact that it will likely take you much longer to do the work compared to a pro, it is probably worth the added expense simply to hire a local asbestos removal company, especially if you do not have previous experience or are uncomfortable taking all of the precautions to keep yourself and others safe. Hiring a professional may cost more upfront, but it can save you time, energy, and the risk of ingesting fibers that can lead to serious illness.

Melissa Graham contributed to this piece.