Can you cover asbestos floor tile with new flooring?

Can you cover asbestos floor tile?

Often, yes, if the tile is in good condition. EPA’s homeowner guidance says “When asbestos flooring needs replacing install new floor covering over it, if possible.” The same list says not to sand or level the old floor or its backing.

Covering works because it leaves the tile alone. Tile that stays whole and undisturbed does not release fibers. Our post on whether old floor tiles are dangerous explains that. The risk begins when someone breaks, sands, scrapes or drills the material.

Other agencies say the same. The Minnesota Department of Health writes: “If the asbestos-containing flooring is in good shape and not damaged, the new flooring may be installed over it.” EPA adds that “usually the best thing is to leave asbestos-containing material alone if it is in good condition.”

What should you check before you cover it?

Check four things first, in this order:

1. Is it asbestos at all? Our posts on test kits versus a professional survey and PLM asbestos testing explain the options. EPA says “Generally, you can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it.” Only a lab test settles it. AES says vinyl and asphalt floor tile and sheet vinyl produced and installed until the 1980s may contain asbestos. See the asbestos testing page.
2. Is the tile in good condition? Loose, cracked, crumbling or water-damaged tile is a different case. EPA says: “If asbestos-containing material is more than slightly damaged or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a trained and accredited asbestos professional is needed.”
3. What will you do to the floor? Covering must not require sanding, drilling or scraping the old tile.
4. Will you remodel more later? If you plan to open the floor in the future, removal now may be easier than removal later.

Which covering methods are safer and which are risky?

The safer methods leave the old floor alone. The risky ones cut into it.

The middle column is our plain reading of EPA’s “do not sand, scrape or drill” rule, not an EPA table. Ask your installer exactly how the new floor attaches, and whether any step touches the old tile.

Is it legal to cover asbestos tile in Missouri?

EPA does not say covering is banned. Its homeowner list says to install new floor covering over asbestos flooring that needs replacing, if possible. Separately, it lists covering, called enclosure, as a repair method for damaged or disturbable material, done by trained and accredited professionals. EPA also says federal law does not require training or accreditation for people who inspect, repair or remove asbestos in detached single-family homes, though some states and localities do.

Missouri DNR’s guide to nonfriable materials says “Category I Vinyl or Asphaltic Floor Tile is not regulated by the department as long as the material is in good condition and is not made friable during demolition or renovation activities.” Both conditions matter. Break or sand the tile and the rules change. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources also says an exception to its asbestos rules is “a single residential structure that contains four or fewer dwelling units.” Two or more residential structures, and buildings that were converted from or to commercial use, are not exempt. If you are covering tile in a rental building, a converted building or a commercial space, ask DNR and your local health department first.

Inside the City of St. Louis, the Department of Health’s Air Pollution Control program says demolition, renovation and abatement projects “must be reported on the STL City Permits website,” and asbestos abatement projects over 10 square feet, 16 linear feet or 3 cubic feet of material fall under Ordinance 71332. Ask the City whether your job needs a filing. Call before you decide. Our City permits guide and County permits guide explain the filings.

Does covering cause problems later?

It can. Missouri DNR points out that leaving some material in place “may increase the amount of material considered as asbestos waste and the cost of disposal” when a building is later demolished. DNR generally recommends removing floor tile and linoleum before demolition, because those materials could easily become regulated material in the demolition.

Covering also hides a problem. The next owner, plumber or remodeler may open the floor without knowing. Keep your test report and note the covering in your house file.

What about the glue under the tile?

AES says “any paper backing, mastic, adhesive, or glue used when installing these tiles may contain asbestos as well.” See the mastic entry. Do not scrape or sand it. Missouri DNR says the same about nonfriable mastic: “This material must not be dry scraped or sanded.” Never pull up tile to “check” the glue before a flooring job. Test a sample first.

Should you cover the tile or remove it?

Use this table to sort your floor. It is a plain summary of the EPA, DNR and AES points above, not an official chart.

If you have a small repair and wonder about doing it yourself, read can I remove asbestos myself in Missouri first.

When is removal the better choice?

Choose removal when the tile is damaged, when you will remodel the floor, or when covering will not work. AES says removal is “not always the best option,” but is the safest choice in some cases, such as tile that crumbles by hand pressure or work that will disturb the tile, glue or backing.

Removal must be done by a trained and accredited professional, and the tile and waste must be handled and disposed of correctly. See asbestos tile removal for what AES does. Do not remove it yourself. Do not use a power stripper. The cost depends on the area and the glue. AES quotes each job; call (314) 865-2662 or use the quote form.

What questions should you ask a flooring installer?

• Has this tile been tested? Can I see the lab report?
• How will the new floor attach? Does any fastener, glue step or sanding touch the old tile?
• Does the old floor need a patching layer, and how will it be applied?
• What will you do if tile lifts or breaks during the job?
• Will you stop work and call me if we find damaged material?

If the answer to the second question is “we sand it first,” stop and call a pro.

Next step

Advanced Environmental Services handles asbestos floor tile removal and asbestos abatement in St. Louis, St. Charles and Columbia, Missouri, and takes projects within 300 miles. Call (314) 865-2662 or use the quote form to have your floor looked at before you buy new flooring. Read the non-friable asbestos and asbestos survey entries first if you want the terms.