Good evening,
About three years ago, I removed the carpet with foam backing and the kitchen floor, which was a type of vinyl, in my apartment built in 1982/83. A floating hardwood floor was then installed on top, and the baseboards were taped off.
At the time, I did not consider that the carpet, adhesive, or vinyl might contain asbestos. Now, three years later, I realize that I handled the removal rather carelessly, pulling everything up and scraping it out.
I would like to find out if I released asbestos back then or if asbestos is still coming up from under the new floor into the indoor air.
I still have one piece of carpet remnant with adhesive. However, several different carpets had been installed.
From my research online, I learned that dust sampling (stamping) or material testing can be done. However, I would prefer not to remove the newly installed flooring again. My main concern is whether there is an immediate health risk in the current situation. Therefore, I would appreciate your opinion on how you would proceed to clarify the situation.
Thank you very much.
About three years ago, I removed the carpet with foam backing and the kitchen floor, which was a type of vinyl, in my apartment built in 1982/83. A floating hardwood floor was then installed on top, and the baseboards were taped off.
At the time, I did not consider that the carpet, adhesive, or vinyl might contain asbestos. Now, three years later, I realize that I handled the removal rather carelessly, pulling everything up and scraping it out.
I would like to find out if I released asbestos back then or if asbestos is still coming up from under the new floor into the indoor air.
I still have one piece of carpet remnant with adhesive. However, several different carpets had been installed.
From my research online, I learned that dust sampling (stamping) or material testing can be done. However, I would prefer not to remove the newly installed flooring again. My main concern is whether there is an immediate health risk in the current situation. Therefore, I would appreciate your opinion on how you would proceed to clarify the situation.
Thank you very much.
@nordanney: Now please keep things in perspective! The risk posed by plasticizers dissolved in the air, as well as the concentration of pesticides in drinking water, is really not comparable to the danger posed by released and inhaled asbestos fibers. Downplaying this does no good for the original poster, just as panic-mongering doesn’t.
Müllerin schrieb:
You said that in the kitchen there is a (sanded) raw subfloor under the cabinets, so nothing was ever installed on it?
Then there is no asbestos there either – or was it in the concrete? Is it a concrete floor/ceiling? Originally, the entire kitchen floor was covered with vinyl. Only that layer was removed. Underneath was the screed, which remained as it was, and the kitchen cabinets were installed directly on it. Up to the cabinets, parquet flooring was laid. At one point, the screed was opened to reroute a heating pipe (so under one kitchen cabinet, the screed is missing).
This is the situation in the kitchen.
N
nordanney6 Jul 2019 10:57bon1980 schrieb:
Downplaying the situation is no more helpful to the original poster than causing panic... This is not downplaying, but stating the reality. I just want to bring him back down to earth because he is acting overly emotional and seems fixated on asbestos...
He should take the time to read through the thread calmly instead of just thinking “you hear so much about it.” Do you really hear that much when dealing with buildings of this age?
Basically, nordannay is right that this topic is very emotional for me. I am therefore very grateful for any objectivity. However, I cannot assess whether there is still a risk at this point in time. Is it even possible to find asbestos fibers in an apartment after 4 years that has been regularly cleaned and vacuumed?
What about hard-to-reach corners? Asbestos fibers could still be present there and might enter the interior through drafts.
The fact is, I don’t even know if asbestos was present at all. That’s why I am looking for a strategy to find out. But without air testing, it probably won’t be possible.
What about hard-to-reach corners? Asbestos fibers could still be present there and might enter the interior through drafts.
The fact is, I don’t even know if asbestos was present at all. That’s why I am looking for a strategy to find out. But without air testing, it probably won’t be possible.
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