Asbeostes?

I am taking up the old ceramic tile in my dinning room so that I can refinish the hardwood. The adhesive is black and looks like tar. It may contain asbeostes(sp) What is the safest way to do that? I have started to just strip it off because I know I am not supossed to sand it. Tell me if I am going to kill myself by working with this stuff.

Thanks,

Ron

 

Check with the nearest EPA or state environmental office to see where you can obtain a test kit. Seems to me that they are cheap and fairly easy to use. You might also check your yellow pages under "asbestos removal" or something similar. If the asbestos is used as an ingedient in a tar-based adhesive, I suspect there will be no concern as the fibers will be "contained". Asbestos is dangerous when it becomes airborne and can be inhaled. With it stuck in the tar I would think it would be possible to become airborne.

How old is the flooring you are pulling? That may help in determining if asbestos was likley to have been in any adhesives at the time.