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Wondering whether you should remove asbestos that could be present in the black mastics of your old floor tiles or seal it? This is a question that many residential and commercial property owners ask themselves when they’re ready to replace their asbestos flooring. During the mid century, black mastic was a popular adhesive that was not only effective for use with floor tiles; it was cheap. Unfortunately, manufacturers at that time did not yet know that asbestos, a common additive used to make black mastics, could cause a potentially deadly condition known as mesothelioma. There is a real risk involved when removing or renovating old flooring that could contain dangerous black mastic. Whether to remove or seal it is a decision you’ll need to make. The following information can help. When it comes to asbestos removal, you need to be extra cautious as removing the material may bring serious health hazards because, during the removal, the asbestos fibers may float in the air. Therefore, you should not do it by yourself. You have to hire professionals with in-depth knowledge. Also, for sealing the material, seeking expert help is needed. 

What Is Black Mastic and Why Remove It?

Black mastic, as mentioned, is a cheap adhesive that was commonly used during the middle of the last century to install flooring. The mastic is an adhesive that secures flooring in place. Once researchers understood the hazards associated with asbestos, frequently added to black mastics, its use was discontinued. Unfortunately, countless floors had already been installed using black mastic. Luckily, so long as the floor tiles were not disturbed and the black mastic was left alone, it remained benign. But decades later, property owners who want to replace those worn floors are faced with a difficult decision: asbestos removal or seal the black mastic?

The Case for Black Mastic Asbestos Removal

Often, the first instinct among customers when they note the presence of black mastic in their home or business is, “let’s get rid of it.” However, it’s important to use caution when addressing this type of situation. There may be a better alternative for you. Removing black mastic is certainly an option, but it’s time consuming and not without risks. Ideally, it’s best to hire professional contractors who are familiar with black mastic removal perform the job for you. Hiring contractors to remove black mastic can be costly, especially for larger settings.

If you don’t have a license to remove black mastic, you should note that you could be putting your health and the health of others in your household in jeopardy. The process of asbestos removal is tricky. Anyone removing the black mastic must wear protective gear and clothing. They most also take precautions by keeping the mastic routinely wet while removing it. Some contractors will even employ chemicals as mastic removers to make the removal process easier.

Since removing black mastic is a labor-intensive and dangerous process, it’s associated with a premium rate for service. Moreover, not just any contractor can attempt this type of job; they must be certified to be able to safely perform this service for home or business owners.

The Case for Black Mastic Sealing

Many people don’t realize that they can safely seal black mastic with asbestos encapsulation coating. That means they don’t need to hire professional contractors to remove it. This is a great option to promote safety. Old asbestos-containing black mastics are quite delicate. If you do not know how to cover black mastic, it can be dangerous. When they’re disturbed, they can release those asbestos fibers into the air. If you breathe in those fibers, there’s a real danger of developing mesothelioma.

Sealing the old black mastic allows property owners to avoid the need to disturb the asbestos fibers. After the flooring mastic is sealed and primed, they can paint their floor or top it with a different flooring material like vinyl, ceramic, wood, laminate, or even concrete. Aside from being a safe option, sealing the black mastic is a quick and easy job and just a fraction of the cost that removal is.

Use PerfectPrimer to Seal Asbestos Black Mastics

Perfect Primer has developed a safe product that seals and primes asbestos black mastics. This product PerfectPrimer both seals and primes surfaces. One you apply it to your old flooring layer, there’s no need to remove the cutback glue or mastic material. In situations where it would be extremely challenging to remove delicate black mastic, using a sealer is actually a safer option. After the surface is coated with PerfectPrimer, you can top it with your paint or epoxy.

PerfectPrimer is a safe, non-toxic product that eliminates the need to remove black mastic. Once the mastic is sealed, it does not pose a threat. PerfectPrimer contains no unpleasant odors and cleans up with ease using just water. If you need to seal black mastic, you can do it affordably, safely, and effectively using PerfectPrimer.

Learn more about these innovative products like soy gel alternative, blue bear bean-e-doo alternative, etc and how they can enhance your next renovation project.

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