I searched for this, maybe asked the wrong question.
Broke open a wall today and found Transite duct pipe running from below the floor up into the attic(for the old floor heater). Would you encapsulate it in some way and leave it in the wall?
Thinking of coating it with some type of sealer, wrapping plastic around it and closing the wall back up.
Learn how to patch drywall above a fiberglass shower without totally redoing everything.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
I don't know why not.
And TOH a few seasons ago they did a kitchen remodel in Chicago. And in the wall they found some hot water heating pipes with asbestos insulation that was in good shape.
And they encapsualated it. I think that they used an epoxy soaked cloth. And this was done by an abatement contractor and they did not do anything special other than the person actually working on the pipe had on a respirator while the people observing did not even have that.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
I found a similar duct while re-doing a bathroom for an abatement contractor. He said leave it alone, he'd throw a coat of some leftover paint on it that evening, which he did.
Now, if you have to take it out, I don't know, but I'd imagine painting it first would be a good start.
AitchKay
It's pretty solid (not friable) so painting it sounds like a good place to start. I think it would be okay in an earthquake, instead of wood fire blocking the installer poured some kind of concrete to hold it in place.
Thank you...
Jen
Minor amounts of asbestos can be removed and disposed of in the regular garbage.
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Yeah, I think the size that can be disposed of is less than a square foot.This heater duct is solid Transite about 8" in diameter by 8 ft tall.The thought of breaking that up into "bite sized" pieces gives me the willies!Going to put a layer of 1/4" ply over the area before installing the new drywall, as well as throwing on a good coat of primer.Thanks,
unless it has changed you used to be able to dispose of something like 150 sf of asbestos containing materials or so many lf of pipe/ventwork.Personally, I think the extreme caution the EPA insists upon for minor asbestos matters is ludicrous. It is only through exposure to high amounts of asbestos that one may become ill.... and not from the asbestos but effects of scarring related to it becoming stuck in the lungs, if I am not mistaken.
<!----><!----><!---->
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
We breath it every time we walk out the door.
The closer you live to a freeway the worse it is.It's not like you're going to grind it up and eat it!
If you don't mind me asking... what is "Transite duct pipe"?
Transite one of the types of Asbestos mixed with a binder, and molded into different shapes to be used in fire proofing applications.Our house was built in 1947, so the ductwork leading from the old floor heater through the roof was made of this stuff. When the heater was removed, we left the duct intact. It won't bother you unless you break it up, grind it, etc.It has a gray, don't know how else to describe it but "powdery" texture, and to distinguish it from concrete, is fairly lightweight.I've seen it used as an interior wall covering (!) in an old school building where I was mounting some towel dispensers, and I wondered what it was until I drilled a 1/2 hole for a toggle bolt, and got a closer look at it. I said "holy ****!" (to myself, of course) cleaned up and went back to the shop and told my supervisor. He just shrugged...
It's concrete and asbestos, there is a lot of it around, it was used for heat, water lines, vents, and sewers etc. I think it's still legal in most jurisdictions.
"If all else fails, read the directions"
We've still got what I believe is Transite pipe running through the floor under our bottom story, serving as heating duct. I've never worried much about it.
Just don't chew up the stuff more than you have to -- you'd create more of a problem trying to remove it than leaving it there. Old latex paint is good for "encapsulating" it.
I "encapsulated" it with a good thick coat of my favorite primer (Bullseye 123), put a layer of 1/4 ply over the section of wall (needed to be furred out anyway) then the drywall and I mudded it today.(the icky part that I have to force myself to do)Thanks!
(nice to see ya in a non Pol thread)
Yeah, I hate all that pol-jive. ;)
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Me too...
If you had decided to break it out of there...Use an organic respirator, and face shield. Long sleeves, and gloves. And duct tape the gloves to the sleeves. Use a garden sprayer to keep it soaking wet the entire time you are breaking it up.Break it up into foot sized pieces. Put a stack of pieces in the thickest plastic bag you can find. (or just some 6 mil or thicker construction plastic.) Fold the plastic tight. Duct tape it sealed everywhere.Put in more plastic., Fold and seal again.Do, a third time.Clean the respirator and face shield afterward, with lots of soap involved. And preferable to add the outer garments to what goes to the dump, in a separate plastic packaging.Last time I removed asbestos from heating ducts in a basement in Seattle, the above procedure was acceptable, for then dumping it at the local dump.Of course, that had to have been at least 15 years ago.But that was lightened up, from how strict it had been a few years earlier.Of course, I would have suggested -exactly- what you did. Including the bullseye, and not just some old latex paint....You are always welcome at Quittintime
The guy giving the class said that "water is your best friend" when dealing with asbestos.I'll remember your advice if I ever need to remove some.Might make sense to soak it down, wrap it in heavy plastic, then whack it.Local abatement co was looking for workers, I almost applied, but messing with the stuff once every 10 years is enough for me.
We had the same thing in our house, left over from transition from floor furnace to forced hot air. When we remodeled, I came by one day and saw the pipe where they had opened up the walls. I said something to DW about "i hope they are not going to try a change order to get it out" or something like that, a couple of days later it was lying in the back yard, a couple of weeks after that it disappeared with a dumpster load of other trash. My contractors kid, who was there more than the contractor, said that they did that all the time because transite vent pipes were everywhere.
I watch the abatement on TOH and other shows, where they call in some sort of Ebola virus busting team if there is asbestos tile on the floor, and wonder why people think we are over regulated in CA.
--
"Though I don't think" added Deep Thought "that you're going to like it."
When we bought our house we had it tested for asbestos...it was in the kitchen linoleum and there was a low level in the top (color) coat of stucco. We added another layer of ply to the kitchen floor, and try to leave the stucco alone as much as possible (I've cut the stucco a couple of times when adding windows)Guess the only way to make sure you don't have it is to build from the ground up.Were you a little shocked that they removed it? I hope they know what it is and take a little bit of precaution when demo-ing it.
I asked them about it when I saw it in he back yard, and they didn't seem to know exactly what it was or care if it needed special handling as long as they didn't break it - just something to be disposed of. It wasn't the first time that nonchalance about things like that popped up during the remodel.jose c.
--
"Though I don't think" added Deep Thought "that you're going to like it."
Wonderful. So then they drop it at the transfer station, where it gets crushed and I get to breath it while I'm unloading in the next bay.
k
Yes, that was the outcome. For all the good things they did during the remodel, there were a couple that turned out so screwy that I would never use them again. I do have the list of subs,and have used the ones who were willing on a couple of occasions for stuff that I planned to finish after we moved back in.jose c.
--
"Though I don't think" added Deep Thought "that you're going to like it."
What is your quote from? It sounds familiar...
Duhh ... HHGTTG.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
SLATFATF(easiest way to get DD to laugh is say Slarty Bartfast)
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxyjose c.
--
"Though I don't think" added Deep Thought "that you're going to like it."
He's one of my favorite writers! It's been a while since I read Hitchhikers...but there was a pretty good movie of it a few years back
(not to mention the British TV show)
My liability insurance,(and probably all others) will not cover me if I touch any asbestos. That includes painting it or encapsulating it. The liability issues are huge. To get the proper insurance requires certification and expensive premiums.
If this is your own house you most likely could encapsulate it. If you removed it, then it would have to go to the proper hazardous waste facility. If you don't remove it correctly and a grumpy neighbor calls the health or building department, it will be an expensive learning opportunity.
In the past I may have tried to help a customer out in similar situation, but, I have found out there are some things I just can't do.
Better not to take a chance...My liability ins says I can't remove asbestos or use dynamite...^*^
Can't use dynamite?? Damm, they're always being a killjoy!
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Well, if I could afford the extra $50,000 a year for the premium...
my brother was a certified asbestos abatement employee. he said occasionally when there were small amounts to enapsulate they would go get a case of hairspray and soak it good.
Depending on what type of hairspray, that could get expensive! I guess it is a type of laquer.
I put on a couple of coats of Bullseye 123 primer.