Removing carpet tack strip from tile floor w/o damaging tiles.

SplanK

Rushdon wrote: »

I've just bought my first house and lifted the carpet in the hall to find a tile floor which I'd like to keep for the time being. There is a carpet tack strip nailed into the tiles around the border of the room:

I'm wondering if it's going to be possible to remove the tack strip without causing irreparable damage to the tiles. I've got a couple of pictures but it won't let me post links yet.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Before you do anything else, what are you planning to do about the floor long term?


Given the advise already, if your end goal is to put laminate, or re-carpet it maybe wise to keep the carpet as is (maybe take a sample of the broken bit to be sent of to be tested for asbestos), then deal with it when you are ready to replace.

spacey2012

Asbestos is treated individually on a case by case basis.
Some sample batches have blue asbestos filling, some white.
Marley are just one make with white filling , Dunlop sempetex which white, brown and Blue asbestos and emprento from France which were the highest content of Blue asbestos, it is hard to say which tiles they are from a picture, the emprento laminate when you try to remove them realising fibres.

Each batch is tested individually in a lab and then a decision made based on the results of the test.
As tilers often mixed batches, a sample from each room should be tested.

ALL 9x9" thermoplastic floor tiles contain some asbestos.
Around half 12x12" and most 300mm x 300mm do not.
Your tape measure is king.

You will notice the report you mention states "very minimal" in other words, carries a risk as they are asbestos.

It is funny stuff, people think do you know, i'll risk it.
Around 4500 die each year with the numbers increasing year on year.
Most have one thing in common, they took the risk and hoped for the best.

The people who sold this house IMO, knew about them and hid the expense problem, the carpets need to go as well.
The main cost is getting rid of the waste, anything with above 0,1% must be correctly bagged and disposed of, turn up at the local tip and all hell will break lose if they catch you chucking them in the skip.

Doozergirl

Afaik, from a conversation about those tiles with an asbestos specialist in a house a couple of weeks ago, those tiles are of the bonded variety and therefore, like garage roofs etc, okay if they are left in situ.

My personal preference would be to cover them with another floor covering, though. I'm not sure I'd like to pull the gripper rods out, either, although apparantly, the fibres are sealed in and held.

cyclonebri1

Doozergirl wrote: »

Afaik, from a conversation about those tiles with an asbestos specialist in a house a couple of weeks ago, those tiles are of the bonded variety and therefore, like garage roofs etc, okay if they are left in situ.

My personal preference would be to cover them with another floor covering, though. I'm not sure I'd like to pull the gripper rods out, either, although apparantly, the fibres are sealed in and held.

This was what I was trying to get over when I raised the asbestos issue. I don't for a minute suggest it is as serious as spacey intimates but there is an issue.
They are best painted over and then redone with any otner floor covering (other than ceramic tiles).

Our council tip will take double bagged asbestos tiles, Asb/Cement sheet, it does vary by area.
To be honest the old carpet is probably a greater health hazard than the tiles.

Well, the jiggers will well and truly have been put up the OP now:A:A:A, sorry folks.

spacey2012

Without a Lab test, no Asbestos expert will offer any advice, or they cease to be an expert.
Once the type of asbestos is established from the 3 makers of asbestos tiles a plan can then be put in place.
The methods are encapsulation or removal, encapsulation involves screeding over the tiles, however this can stop moisture escaping and cause futher issues with damp rising up walls that previously escaped through the tiles.

The best over all solution is to have them removed by an expert with the correct equipment such as a heppa vacuum and then the matter is finished with.

As for putting the jiggers in to people, I wonder how many of the 400 dying each year wish someone had put the jiggers in to them.
Ignoring asbestos is not ever good advice.
The French version of these tiles are rare, but the risk they carry is far worse than the Marley white asbestos tiles.
Once they break, the fibres are everywhere, you try and get them up without breaking them.

cyclonebri1

Which is exactly why I said seal them, that poses an even lesser risk than having them removed so called professionally.

I don't make light of the risks, which is why I alerted the OP to the fact, but I also don't live in fear of the stuff, and yes, I had a work colleague die of asbestosis.
But then again 1 dies in a car crash, 1 of a heart attack............, perspective is the word I'm thinking of.;)

Doozergirl

Spacey, talking of concrete screed spreading damp etc really is scaremongering. This is far from the first time you've gone with worst case scenario as an almost given.

stebiz

I agree with the previous two posters. Certainly alert the OP about any possible dangers but asbestos is pretty well everywhere in old houses and providing it is treated with respect then it shouldn't stop you getting on with work around the house.

I'm sure we're using stuff now that will be banned in the future. Remember creasote? Lead paint? A friend of mine who used to be a brickie died of dust (not asbestos) on his lungs. It happens sadly.

My guess is for the good old MDF with all the glue. Maybe UPVC.

We should all just take extra care doing work and follow guidelines which are there for a reason. Mask up if appropriate.

cyclonebri1

stebiz wrote: »

I agree with the previous two posters. Certainly alert the OP about any possible dangers but asbestos is pretty well everywhere in old houses and providing it is treated with respect then it shouldn't stop you getting on with work around the house.

I'm sure we're using stuff now that will be banned in the future. Remember creasote? Lead paint? A friend of mine who used to be a brickie died of dust (not asbestos) on his lungs. It happens sadly.

My guess is for the good old MDF with all the glue. Maybe UPVC.

We should all just take extra care doing work and follow guidelines which are there for a reason. Mask up if appropriate.

I don't have figures but I too bet at sometime in the not too distant future there are major scares with regard to MDF, or rather the microfine dust it produces when sawn.

I think they will have to find a more "saturating glue", to keep this dust board together??