Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Asbestos: Safe to remove 1/4" subfloor with 12x12 tiles attached?

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andersp
01-03-08, 01:41 PM
Hi, I have a house that was built in 1972. I started to remove my carpets in the bedrooms so that I can install hardwood flooring, and discovered 12x12 linoleum tiles attached to a 1/4" plywood subfloor. I've heard about potential asbestos hazards with these older tiles.

Is it safe to remove the 1/4" plywood subfloor with the tiles attached as long as I minimize the damage to the tiles?

Thanks in advance!

HotinOKC
01-03-08, 03:44 PM
You will be fine.

Wear a dust mask and mist the area with water if it will make you safer, but you would have to bath in a vat of asbestos to get sick.

I'm not saying it's not healthy, but with what you have, it would take years and years and years of continual exposure from the dust to get sick.
andersp
01-04-08, 09:42 AM
Thanks. I just called a local lab that does asbestos testing, and I spoke to their asbestos expert. He told me that as long as I don't create dust by cutting it (i.e. power saw), I have nothing to worry about. So, I guess I'll just pry up the 1/4" subfloor with the tiles attached and remove it in chunks.