Asbestos?

[gottatrotter]

I have a 1964 globetrotter and i'm wondering if the insulation is dangerous. I'm hoping it's fiberglass but i really don't know. thought I'd check with the experts on this forum.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by gottatrotter

I have a 1964 globetrotter and i'm wondering if the insulation is dangerous. I'm hoping it's fiberglass but i really don't know. thought I'd check with the experts on this forum.

The factory installed "fiberglass" insulation, when they built the trailer.

Andy

[Wabbiteer]

The only major source might be nine-inch square floor tiles - it is 'encapsulated' by the tile resin so has a very small immediate hazard but it is a hazard none the less. If you have them avoid pulverizing or grinding, pop-up tiles whole, wrap and discard...

[gottatrotter]

thank you both for the info. I hadn't considered the tiles. getting a mask.

[oh2bcarefree]

The right kind of mask... There are masks that are made for asbestos, I know when we went to the big box store, the white masks that one wears when taking out that messy fiberglass insulation are not adequate. It says so right on the box. Make sure to ask if you are uncertain. We also got one of those Ty-vek paint suites to wear, about 7.00 and it says good for asbestos. There are many threads on here also about the removal of asbestos tiles.

Does this mean you are going to take up the floor yourself? We used a shovel to scoop out the insulation under the floor, boy was it messy. Many years of compression, critters and travel made it pretty funky.

Good Luck!
Tina

[gottatrotter]

I have to remove the tiles to see if there is floor damage, but I'm not looking forward to it.
Thanks everyone for the info. hoping i don't have to replace the whole thing....termite damage.

[Wabbiteer]

Supposedly placing a block of dry ice on the floor tile you're working on, moving it slowly to pull the tile/adhesive temperature down to -50° or -70°F stiffens the tile and make the adhesive brittle. I've never done that method but a few swear by it...

[A W Warn]

I have watched some asbestos removal professionals in the construction trades removing floor tiles by using heat. Some use a propane torch and others an electric heat gun to heat up the tiles and liquefy the adhesive. Once they got them hot they lifted up the corners and scraped the tile up with a putty knife. This way the tile will not shatter and release any friable asbestos fibers into the air so you will breath them. They still wear protective clothing and masks while doing this.

Some of the asphaltic adhesives beneath the floor tile also contain asbestos. So sawing the sub-floor after removing tile or removing rotten wood in the belly pan may expose you to asbestos if there is flooring adhesive on it.

The older 9" x 9" tiles are most alway the ones that contain asbestos. Generally the newer 12" x 12" tiles do not have asbestos in them, but this is not always true.