So, my husband is away for the weekend, and I wanted to surprise him by removing the rug on our basement stairs and giving them a fresh paint job since he's been complaining about the rug lately. However, I discovered this really old, brittle green linoleum tile underneath the rug. It's in pretty bad shape - very broken and missing chunks, plus it's stuck down with a lot of tar. I tried using a crowbar, but I can't seem to get it unstuck. Any ideas on how to handle this?
3 Answers
What a thoughtful surprise! I'm sure he'll appreciate all the effort you're putting in! Just make sure to test that tile first before diving deeper into the project.
Before you do anything else, I recommend pausing the removal process for a moment. That old tile might contain asbestos, especially since it's crumbling and very brittle. Homes built before the 1990s are more at risk. I suggest buying a testing kit to check for asbestos — it’s better to be safe! High chances are that the stuff is not dangerous unless disturbed in a way that releases dust, but testing first is smart in case it is indeed asbestos.
Yeah, it's definitely worth checking that tile for asbestos before you continue. Given its age, it might be a concern. Just to add, even the black tar adhesive could potentially contain asbestos, which is what happened when I tested my own tiles. If it turns out to be asbestos, it might be best to leave it as is or hire a professional to handle it.