I am trying to remove formica backsplash in a 1920’s Colonial. I was told if I take off the formica the adhesive they used had asbestos in it. How can I remove it if it is asbestos?
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I've never heard of contact cement having asbestos in it.
What are you planning on doing once the old splash is off? If all that's left is the cement, it might be best to cover it with a new splash.
could be the backsplash is a 1x4 or ply with contact cement for the formica attachemnt, but then glue to the wall surface with some black floor tile adhesive type stuff that had asbestos fibre.I use dabs of PL for similar now. To remove it, I would use a slim flex putty knife and shims driven in by turn along the way to keep spreading the gap wider until it came off. There would be no dust created so nothing to worry about asbestos fibres.
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I hadn't thought of your idea- that's a possibility for the asbestos. Or the Formica was originally glued right to the wall with the wrong adhesive.
But if he's concerned about the contact cement , I stiil don't think there ever was asbestos in that.
I also think, for the amount of asbestos that could be in that backsplash, that I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Maybe seal off the room, use a dust mask, spritz some water on the Formica during removal, and give my Fein vac a work-out for clean up.
I doubt that I would go that far. The fibres would remain emulsified. There would be more plaster dust than anything else.
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I can get into overkill sometimes.
I'm with shep.
I am trying to remove formica backsplash in a 1920's Colonial.
But I'm sure the Formica was not installed in 1920's.
I was told if I take off the formica the adhesive they used had asbestos in it.
Who told you that and how do they know this information?
How can I remove it if it is asbestos?
How are you going to determine it is asbestos before you remove it?
Most health problems associated with asbestos are the result of long term exposure to suspended particles which were inhaled.
The only reason I can think of to include asbestos in an adhesive would be to act as a binder for other chemical components - therefore the dried adhesive would most probably lock the asbestos into the dried adhesive.
I would not hesitate to remove the adhesive residue, even if it did contain asbestos - most probably by scraping it off. A dust mask would be in order but not much else.
Of course you could call a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. He would put up the signs, tent the room, put on the space suits, get out the special plastic bags, start wetting down everything.......it would probably be cheaper just to move now.
Jim
Most laminate backsplashes were installed with adhesive for ceramic or vinyl floors, which on the walls behind laminate gets very brittle. Pull an outlet or find a crack and have at it. The laminate will be brittle also and will split easily. Those glues scrap off REAL plaster very easily also. Keith C