Fall 21 ORC Week Two: Demo
It’s week two of the One Room Challenge and this week is all about demo (if you missed my week one post, make sure to check it out)! We were pretty curious to find out what was going on underneath the wall paneling and carpet in our family room, and to be honest, we were expecting the worst. Our house was built in the 1930s and the landscape grading around the house was done in a way that drains water towards it (something we’re fixing soon). When Zach ripped out the wall paneling, we weren’t surprised to find signs of moisture on the concrete foundation and a little bit of mold on the back of the old wall paneling.
Under the carpet and carpet padding was another slightly scary discovery: old linoleum or vinyl floor tiles. Because we don’t have any information about these tiles or the mastic used to adhere them, we have to assume they potentially contain asbestos.
Asbestos is a fibrous substance that is found in many older building materials. Previously, it was commonly used in applications that required fire-resistance or improved strength and durability. Asbestos becomes hazardous to breathe when the materials are cracked or otherwise disturbed. Generally, asbestos presents a risk with repeated exposure over a long period of time, but it’s always best to minimize your exposure as much as possible. The rule of thumb with any material that may contain asbestos is to treat it like it does until proven otherwise.
(NOTE: We are not asbestos assessment or abatement professionals. Always consult with a professional before starting your work. Understand that when performing home improvement yourself, whether it is demo or electrical or anything else, you proceed at your own risk).
We know this is a potential issue in a few other areas of our house that have old ceiling tiles and linoleum flooring, and are always extremely cautious when working on them. We’ve been wearing particulate respirators, gloves, and eye protection, the work area is sealed off from the rest of the house, we’re using HEPA air filters and vacuums, and have been continually mopping the work area (this minimizes dust and potential airborne asbestos).
Because of this discovery, we stopped all demo immediately until we can properly encapsulate the floor. Removing asbestos can create significant inhalation hazards, so encapsulation is the preferred method and keeps the asbestos in place so it won’t be a risk for future exposure.
The product we’re using is called Perfect Primer which forms a layer above the linoleum that traps asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find it for sale anywhere locally, but we did find it online and our order will arrive Monday. This delays our project schedule, but fortunately it still works with our overall timeline. I’ll admit this product is more expensive than we expected, but it’s worth it knowing that we’re taking the right steps to ensure this room is safe for our family.
The fireplace tile demo is being pushed to next week when we know the space is safe to work in again. Following the floor encapsulation, we’ll also be moving forward with drywall framing and electrical rough-in which I’ll share more about next week!
Thank you again to our amazing partners who are helping us with the One Room Challenge!
There are so many incredible projects being worked on for the ORC this fall, so make sure to check them out. And follow me on Instagram for more updates on our project!
