The U.S. military remained a top consumer of asbestos adhesives long into the Cold War, while civilian use also expanded. This industrial process exposed adhesive factory workers to clouds of inhalable asbestos dust. Spray-applied asbestos adhesives further endangered the health of the construction workers who applied them. In 1906, the Philip Carey Manufacturing Company began selling an asbestos-based fibrous adhesive for more general construction use.

Here’s a few videos showing you how to use this product and how good it works for removing black mastic glue. We always start with these first when we remove adhesives from concrete. Call an asbestos abatement company and get the glue & tiles tested if you’re unsure, you don’t want to create dust by scraping or grinding then breathe in the particles.

Test The Residue For Asbestos

In my prior position as an asbestos microscopist, the vast majority of 9” x 9” floor tiles I analyzed did contain some asbestos, typically in the 1-5% and sometimes the 5-10% range. In rare cases, the 9” x 9” tile did not contain asbestos. In cases where the tile is not asbestos-containing, one item that is overlooked is the underlying glue also known as mastic. Mastic that is black in color is a “primary suspect” for asbestos-containing materials much like the 9” x 9” vinyl floor tiles.

However, these removers are often filled with chemicals, which is highly dangerous for workers. These solutions also make it harder to bond the new flooring on top. There are several ways to detach mastic, but mastic is a delicate material, so we prefer a delicate process of removal. Second, you may be removing floors and adhesive for safety reasons. This “black mastic” can slowly affect your employees’ lungs and skin health. In this way, it’s important to test your floor adhesive for asbestos if you are working in an older building.

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I would not recommend plywood subflooring because of the possibility of moisture/condensenation and future mold. If you really want to encapsulate it, skim coat it with some sealer. By the time you apply a new glue and floor, any fibers are most likely going to be “permanently” bonded in there and unable to get out. For instance, NARCO emerged from bankruptcy in 2008 by funding the North American Refractories Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust with $6.32 billion. The National Gypsum Company Bodily Injury Trust has paid more than $429 million in claims since 2004, including to victims exposed through Gold Bond adhesive products.

Once you are done placing the tiles, cover up the open part with hard objects or the tiles left. You might want to leave the covering of the old flooring to stay in place or cover it with new flooring. Put any flooring on the old floor provided that it is flat and has adhered properly. You should not, by any chance, try to grind off the Black mastic. Removal of ceiling tile mastic from Kitchen on August 2017.

Many professional contractors now feel that this is the best solution for dealing with a potentially hazardous material. It can easily break down when workers attempt to remove it. That breakdown or deterioration can cause asbestos particles to be released into the air where they can be breathed in.

• While this would have a residual effect, the primary purpose of the asbestos was to make the product more durable.
• As long as the glue is wet and you don’t create dust, you can remove this stuff.
• We started into a second floor which is entirely the black stuff except for one area.
• Black mastic is only hazardous when sealed if the seal is broken or if the black mastic is disturbed somehow.
• While you’re cutting, mist the area continuously with the soap and water as well.

Workers and laborers who used Mastic products that contained asbestos may have unknowingly breathed or ingested tiny asbestos particles that may be affecting their health. People installing, removing or replacing asbestos containing products are most at risk of developing an asbestos disease in their lifetime. Asbestos fibers can be smaller than .03 microns which is hard to see without a microscope. When the time came to finally tile the place, the new tiles seemed to stick just fine. There was a recent dicussion on using Dri-Lock sub floor panels over a concrete slab.

Is Black Asbestos Mastic Dangerous?

The best mastic solvent on the the market is Attack 2000 it is very low odor and after you complete the work just wash with warm water and powder laundry degenerate. You will also what is black mastic need a some thing to adsorb the solvent after you have used on the mastic cellulose insulation works best or saw dust. After the mastic is lifted, polish the floor underneath.

These are pieces of tile that remained stuck to the mastic. The tricky part of dealing with black mastic is that you will only be able to see it after you remove the flooring. It is black, but Advanced Deconstruction experts report seeing traces of other colours in the mastic. Some of the older adhesives used were also black, but they did not contain asbestos.

How To Clean Adhesive From Granite Counters

That is a major health risk for workers and building occupants. Containing between 15- and 85-percent asbestos, black mastic adhesives were manufactured mostly in the first half of the 20th century. However, some companies produced asbestos adhesives as late as 1984. You will only see black mastic asbestos after a floor covering has been removed.

Handling black mastic can be seriously hazardous to your health. If you are aware of the dangers and have taken the necessary safety precautions, then encapsulating black mastic certainly can be done in DIY style. Just remember to research your particular situation thoroughly before beginning the project.

Carpet & Tile Mastic Removal

Author: Kay Burton