Electric underfloor heating over chrysotile containing vinyl tiles

[kazgaz]

Hi everyone

As the title suggests, I'm renovating our downstairs through lounge and the concrete floor has 9 inch vinyl tiles with the bitumen adhesive underneath. (1950s house)

Had both the tile and adhesive tested and they both contain chrysotile.

I want to install underfloor electric heating so do the tiles have to come up or can I self level over the top?

A lot of the tiles are dislodged or broken around the edges of the room. Do all the tiles have to be professionally removed or can it be done DIY with appropriate PPE?

As ever, thanks in advance.

 

[Wayners]

Me and the wife popped up the tiles in our house and I dumped them.
Took about 30mins to do the entire house.

If I was to do that today I might look to take to tip and throw in the asbestos bin however, I don't know if that's possible with floor tiles?
I'd have to read council instructions.

I know someone that moved out to hotel and paid £2000 for tiles to be lifted back in 2007.

As for electric floor heating. You are aware of running cost?

 

[Murdochcat]

Electric underfloor heating in an older property can be eye wateringly expensive

 

[^woody^]

Floor tile removal and the subsequent sealing of the adhesive is unlicensed work, so does not need a specialist.

Remove the tiles, self level the adhesive.

The waste should be disposed of as asbestos waste.

 

[kazgaz]

Me and the wife popped up the tiles in our house and I dumped them.
Took about 30mins to do the entire house.

If I was to do that today I might look to take to tip and throw in the asbestos bin however, I don't know if that's possible with floor tiles?
I'd have to read council instructions.

I know someone that moved out to hotel and paid £2000 for tiles to be lifted back in 2007.

As for electric floor heating. You are aware of running cost?

Thanks Wayners for your experience you had with these tiles.

2 grand, 18 years ago! Wow. Dread to think of the cost now.

I know it's not mega cheap, we do still have radiators in the lounge downstairs so the plan for the UF heating was to use it just as supplementary heating.

Cheers mate.

 

[kazgaz]

Electric underfloor heating in an older property can be eye wateringly expensive

How much extra are we talking? It's a through lounge, so 2 rooms really.

Cheers Murdochcat.

 

[kazgaz]

Floor tile removal and the subsequent sealing of the adhesive is unlicensed work, so does not need a specialist.

Remove the tiles, self level the adhesive.

The waste should be disposed of as asbestos waste.

This was pretty much the route I want to do but didn't know if it was a big no no.

Cheers mate.

 

[PolarNorth78]

Do call the tip/local authority as they may take it and it saves you a fortune in contracting a waste removal specialist. Make sure it's double wrapped in 1000g polythene which you can get from Screwfix etc. I'm pretty sure damp membrane is 1200g poly so if that's cheaper go for that. For mine, you ring up, give name and address (so they know it's private and not trade), state the number of bags and take it in your own car. The people at the tip occasionally inspect it to confirm it's double wrapped but most of the time leave you to it. BTW, wear a respirator when you do dump it as some of the stuff in the skip is annoyingly poorly wrapped.

As others have said, it's unlicensed work and some basic research on the Health and Safety website and others gives some good tips. I found a scraper and a tap on a hammer to be plenty. Others recommend a shovel for larger sections. I found the Australian HSE very informative. You can do a non licensed removal course for less than £200 which is a very good investment, it's what I did.

Unless you're grinding the tiles, it's very low risk and highly bonded. The biggest challenge you will have is prepping and dealing with the room being out of action while you remove the furniture and the floor tiles.

Screeding the floor, Ardex NA crops up consistently and this is the product I plan to use when the time comes.

As you mentioned underfloor heating, do check your tiles are compatible as some need to be raised by one degree otherwise they crack. A decent tile specialist can help you with that if you're not already in contact.