Contact an asbestos professional to inspect your tile to see if it contains asbestos. You may be able to test the tile yourself with a test kit that you can order online. The asbestos-containing tiles could be thick, stone-like tiles or they could be thin, vinyl tiles.
You can test the tile yourself or hire an asbestos professional to inspect and test the tiles for asbestos. Knowing when your building was built can help you find out when the tiles were installed. Access your building information by searching through public records to find out when it was constructed.
Try cleaning the tile with soap and water and if the discoloration or oil doesn’t seem to come off, it may be because it’s a tile that contains asphalt and asbestos.
Be especially concerned if you’re not sure how old the tiles are or if you believe they were installed before 1980.
Even if the tiles were removed or don’t contain asbestos, the adhesive on the backing could contain it. If you do find old flooring tiles that you think may contain asbestos, stop working immediately and contact an asbestos professional.
Contact your local government or go online to check your local laws regarding asbestos testing.
If you’re in the US, make sure you purchase a test kit that uses lab methods that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Check the packaging to make sure. Asbestos test kits cost around $10. While you may be allowed to do it yourself, it is recommended to contact an accredited asbestos inspector to gather samples to avoid contamination.
Newspaper or towels are not sufficient to contain asbestos fibers.
The sample shouldn’t weigh more than 100 grams (0. 22 lb). Label the plastic bag with the date the sample was taken, the type of tile (if you know it), and where the sample was taken.
Do not attempt to wash and keep the clothing you wore. The fibrous asbestos may not be removed by washing.
Some testing kits allow you to print out postage to mail the sample to them. Make sure you use enough postage to have the sample delivered.
After you mail your sample, you can contact the testing lab to let them know it’s on the way or to confirm that they received it. Some labs give you the option of receiving your results by email, which means you can get them faster than waiting for the mail. Contact them to see if they provide this service.
You could have 1 company test your tiles for asbestos and if asbestos is present, hire another company to remediate your asbestos tile. Choose 2 firms that aren’t connected to each other or hire a separate inspector to help you decide if you should pay a firm certified to remove asbestos from your building. Look online for asbestos removal firms in your area.
Local laws and regulations regarding asbestos removal and disposal can vary, so you need to make sure that the professionals that you hire are following the proper procedures. You can possibly be held liable or risk exposing yourself to asbestos if your contaminated tiles are removed by someone with poor training.
The BBB should have a record of the firm that you can review to help you make your decision. If you see any violations or reports of improper practices, don’t hire them!
The asbestos professional should have the samples tested in a lab to confirm the presence of asbestos. Testing can take up to a week to complete. Ask to receive a copy of the test results when they’re completed. Inspections can cost between $400 and $800 and lab analysis can range from $25 to $75 to complete.
You could face potential liability or even risk exposure to asbestos if you can’t confirm the work that the asbestos professionals completed.
