Positive asbestos (Chrysotile) found in paper backing stuck to floor. Advice?

[zenonithus]

Hello all,

In my flat there is some paper stuck to the floorboards in the kitchen. This was backing to the old lino tiles that were pulled off before I bought the flat. The glued parts remain. It appears they just boarded over the paper with plywood and stuck vinyl tiles on top of the wood.

The way I discovered it was when I took the units out I realised they only boarded over the floor up to the units and can see large pieces of the paper present stuck down on the floorboards under the plywood, so guessing there is alot more under the already covered area of the floor.

It tested positive for Chrysotile and unfortunately I have been working along side it for a while now before getting it tested and likely to have disturbed and let out dust

I managed to remove some of it with peelaway1 (paint remover) soaking it thoroughly whilst scraping off, though still took some hard scraping on the wood (some of the kitchen has ceramic tiles and it came off easy on that. Just wondering on what to do with it now? Should I just brush some watered down PVA and board over the rest of the exposed parts? Or should I get a professional company to come in? Just worried about the cost if it's something I could do as long as I take precaution. Though the glue it's stuck down with is a bugger! Very tough to remove advice appreciated.

 

[Safety First]

Hi Zenonithus,
I am no specialist so don't use any of this as your final basis for a decision, but have on occasion posted and had many views with no comments - very frustrating...

I did have the same problem myself. The wood floor was riddled with woodworm also, so, I cut the whole floor in two (misted while hand sawing) and scrapped it. Not easy!

I'm not entirely sure what you are asking though sorry if this is off the mark

... Yes, getting a firm in to do it would cost a small fortune.
Providing you keep everything wet you should be ok IMO. You'll not be cutting the stuff (spinning blades/drills). I'd paint it all as you say with pva, then make a diluted PVA mix and spray over in a mist while scraping it up. Top to toe in disposables, with breathing mask. Double bag all arising. Take (by phone ahead appointment- in our area anyway) to local tip.

Or..... (based on the idea that if you leave asbestos alone, it will not harm you). Cover it up. Leaving only (?) the moral issue of when you sell on, would you want to prevent harm to the buyer by telling them what's under the floor. They may get their kids to sand it off if you don't! Most buyers will seek a fat quote for removal and try to leverage with that.

 

[zenonithus]

Thanks for the reply. I will need to remove areas that I put peelaway on but I have decided to leave the rest as it is and just pva and board over it. Speaking to a flooring guy this type of paper is common in most households and people usually board over it. I would probably mention it if I sold the place as long as it's perfectly safe the way I left it.