Rimu flooring with asbestos lino on top - Remove + Sand&Polish or Cover up?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Rimu flooring with asbestos lino on top - Remove + Sand&Polish or Cover up?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

6734 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2927

Subscriber

#2000335 21-Apr-2018 16:16

kiwijunglist:
I doubt the bottom layer is old lino, it has no pattern to it.

It does have a bit of dark swirl to it, not entirely featureless. If it's flexible that's the only thing that makes sense. 2mm is too thin to be fibre cement sheet.

IMHO the top layer plus chipboard is low risk if they just stapled it to the existing floor. The layer on the floor would depend on how well glued it was. If it lifts up like the photo I'd do it. The last time I asked at the Wgtn landfill householders could dispose of 20kg of asbestos waste without charge.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 759
Inactive user

#2000502 22-Apr-2018 03:09

I did all the removal and sanding on this exact scenario in my old house - in shorts and a Tshirt! (before this massive Asbestos scare)... I truely think once off treatments like this (especially with decent protective gear should have little to no long term effect. AFAIK it’s the people who worked with it daily as their job who have become ill and caused the current climate of total fear. Surely removing this ONCE beats living with it for the last 50 years like so many others have done? There isn’t a sudden huge outbreak of cancer in NZ, so I personally think this is a money making rort for the people who do this ‘professionally’ to totally price gouge fearful clients.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2000503 22-Apr-2018 06:45

Showed my dad the photos.

Top layer and chip board (he called it buffalo board) will be asbestos free. The lower one will be a vinyl and that would be where the asbestos is.

What he recommended is to plastic everything up,wet everything down pullitupand bag it. Then call around a few flooring contractors and let them know what you have. Ask them to do a wet sand and then dispose of all the dust vinyl PPE and plastic together in the appropriate manner.

Alternatively the size of the job should be no more than $2000 all up for the pros.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

kiwijunglist

2983 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 135

ID Verified

#2000516 22-Apr-2018 08:21

Thanks blackJack that's very helpful.

This is what my provisional plan was however wife is freaking out somewhat. The pros use a -ve pressure tent but if i did myself id just double bag the room. I was thinking first layer could come down after wet sand and second layer after the dry sand and first double cost of varnish.

What kind of profession is your dad in. Does he have asbestos cert or is it from trade knowledge.

Thanks.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

kiwijunglist

2983 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 135

ID Verified

#2000517 22-Apr-2018 08:22

What is PPE?

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

mdf

3566 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1519

Trusted

#2000518 22-Apr-2018 08:29

Personal Protective Equipment. Masks, goggles, disposable overalls.

I've seen "professionals" do this, including right next door to a school. Your proposal would exceed the measures I've seen taken.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

Bung

6734 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2927

Subscriber

#2000523 22-Apr-2018 08:52

kiwijunglist: Thanks blackJack that's very helpful.

This is what my provisional plan was however wife is freaking out somewhat. The pros use a -ve pressure tent but if i did myself id just double bag the room. I was thinking first layer could come down after wet sand and second layer after the dry sand and first double cost of varnish.

What kind of profession is your dad in. Does he have asbestos cert or is it from trade knowledge.

Thanks.

I would be surprised if that job was tented. At 6m2 AFAIK it is still under the area that needs Licensed removal if done professionally.

A lot of US renovation shows on tv have asbestos segments where the whole site gets shut down and sealed off. I am probably too cynical but I wouldn't be surprised if the tent was to keep onlookers at a distance. I would love to see a hidden camera setup. One clip showed the workers all badly suited up looking as if they weren't familiar with the masks and only wearing them because cameras were about.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2000529 22-Apr-2018 09:39

kiwijunglist: Thanks blackJack that's very helpful.

This is what my provisional plan was however wife is freaking out somewhat. The pros use a -ve pressure tent but if i did myself id just double bag the room. I was thinking first layer could come down after wet sand and second layer after the dry sand and first double cost of varnish.

What kind of profession is your dad in. Does he have asbestos cert or is it from trade knowledge.

Thanks.

65 year old flooring contractor. Does vinyl, carpet, poly, etc. He doesn't have his asbestos cert but has done plenty of jobs where asbestos has been removed.

A wet sand will cost more and add a days work but will make sure that any dust is contained.

Have a look at skip companies many of these have special skipps for asbestos.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

MikeAqua

8031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3820

#2000924 23-Apr-2018 10:16

We exposed the rimu floors in our old house in Nelson. Looked absolutely fantastic.

BTW asbestos removal is simply an expensive way to have material wrapped up in plastic sheets by people in disposable overalls and respirators. After it's wrapped and taped I assume it goes to landfill like everything else?

Nothing very special or careful seems to happen.

Mike

Bung

6734 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2927

Subscriber

#2000932 23-Apr-2018 10:39

I believe that in Wellington it goes to a specific area in the Council owned landfill rather than mixed with general waste or other landfills run by private operators that I think deal in "clean" fill only.

In 2017 the WCC made an extra $3M from demo waste diverted to them.

MikeAqua

8031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3820

#2000945 23-Apr-2018 11:23

Bung: I believe that in Wellington it goes to a specific area in the Council owned landfill rather than mixed with general waste or other landfills run by private operators that I think deal in "clean" fill only.

To me 'clean fill' means concrete, dirt rocks and other largely inert material that won't rot or leach. The sort of thing you used to fill a small gulley and turn it into flat land.

Mike

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

1101

3141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1143

#2000977 23-Apr-2018 11:48

I wonder how much of asbestos danger is scaremongering

I now 2 guys who worked in a Asbestos factory/manufacturer . Cant get worse than that
One is still alive & well, other lived into his 70's

Back in the 70's, 80's , 90's it wasnt a big thing , people werent dropping dead left right & centre
Plenty of people used to cut up, drill & rip out asbestos laden products . I remember as kids we used
to smash up fibrolite that we used to find.
Saw an interveiw with a truck driver who used to drop off broken fibrolite around Ak so people could use it on their dirt driveways & paths
Its all over Ak . Its everywhere . My house is probably riddled with it, as are all the homes in my area .

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#2001000 23-Apr-2018 11:55

1101:

I wonder how much of asbestos danger is scaremongering

I now 2 guys who worked in a Asbestos factory/manufacturer . Cant get worse than that
One is still alive & well, other lived into his 70's

Back in the 70's, 80's , 90's it wasnt a big thing , people werent dropping dead left right & centre
Plenty of people used to cut up, drill & rip out asbestos laden products . I remember as kids we used
to smash up fibrolite that we used to find.
Saw an interveiw with a truck driver who used to drop off broken fibrolite around Ak so people could use it on their dirt driveways & paths
Its all over Ak . Its everywhere . My house is probably riddled with it, as are all the homes in my area .

Cases like this are what scare people

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

MikeAqua

8031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3820

#2001051 23-Apr-2018 12:47

Repeated exposure seem to be the big risk.

I knew a guy (in his 70's) who as a marine engineer used to chip asbestos off bearing housings and pipes on boats, then replace the bearing or pipe fitting and re-coat. I got the impression from him, that they applied an asbestos paste over fittings and parts as a protective coating.

He would have spent hours at a time in an enclosed space with asbestos fibre floating around.

Mike

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9334 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2001182 23-Apr-2018 15:39

MikeAqua:
Repeated exposure seem to be the big risk.

I knew a guy (in his 70's) who as a marine engineer used to chip asbestos off bearing housings and pipes on boats, then replace the bearing or pipe fitting and re-coat. I got the impression from him, that they applied an asbestos paste over fittings and parts as a protective coating.

He would have spent hours at a time in an enclosed space with asbestos fibre floating around.

And is he still with us, fit as a flea, hale and hearty?

I remember in the early 1970’s, when I was working as a labourer in the Devonport Naval Dockyard in the summer Uni holidays, there were a bunch of guys called ‘laggers’ who worked out of the lagging shop, who did exactly this job - lagging or insulating the huge steam pressure pipes in the frigates’ engine rooms. Great swathes of asbestos-paste impregnated bandages - not unlike plastering a broken leg.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4