Does old adhesive have asbestos in it?

Question

hwMy house was built in 1960 and the original floor otwas a wierd tile (not ceramic/not lanolium) glued down with black adhesive. I want to put in wood laminate flooring on top of a pad. Do I have to remove the old adhesive first? The floor is smooth even with the adhesive on it.

At Lowes they said the old adhesive probably has asbestos so it has to be removed using chemical. It seems to me that adding chemical and scaping it up would be more of a health hazard than leaving it there and covering over it with padding and laminate floor. It would also be a pain to remove.

Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

if the tiles are not coning up just put the pad and wood floor down

Answer 2

Even if...and that a BIG...IF...the adhesive had some asbestos in it...it would be practically harmless due to the fact it is stuck in that adhesive. the only damage might come if someone pulled some up off the floor and ate it.

Asbestos fibers that were loose on structures were sprayed with a glue or sealer to hold them together in order to make them harmless.....so if you floor adhesive has any in it now...it's HARMLESS.

Answer 3

Lowes or any other big chain "hardware store" will always have something to sell.  The level of asbestos you would have to be around and so huge for your family to be unsafe.  Has your house been inspected???  Is it common with neighbors that asbestos is, indeed, present.  Also, you can get a diagnostic on the glue for around $200 which will give you peace of mind and be cheaper in long run.

Answer 4

The old adhesive may or may not be "cut-back adhesive,"

The test is very simple.

Heat some water to boiling and spill a little on an area of the exposed adhesive.

  If it bubbles and begins to softens the adhesive,

  it is not a true "cut-back" and contains no

  asbestos.

Asbestos is only ingested when it becomes

"friable" IE. airborne.

  If it is a true "cut-back" there are two commonly

  practiced remedies.

    1) Apply a chemical remover, alow it to soften  

        and remove with a scraper.

     2) Apply a thin layer of thinset over the area

          and than your new floor.