You could have asbestos in the tile or in the mastic holding it to the subfloor. You can cut up a sample yourself, put it in a plastic bag, and send it to EMSL for testing.

Well I remember ripping out lino in my grandmother's kitchen. First there is a special glue like liquid you put on the linoleum that softens it so it will rip out in one sheet without separating into layers. Underneath there was tongue and groove flooring but it was black from the heat process used to lay the lino. Made a great subfoor for new tile although I found out later I could have tiled over the linoleum because the process used to lay it was essentially just as sound as any underlayment.

Honestly asbestos is one of the most overrated health risks unless you are exposed chronically(ie. over years) to asbestos dust. All you have to do is wear a respirator mask while ripping up the tile, and maybe wet the tile a bit to keep dust down.

Thanks everyone, very useful comments/advice

Anonymous wrote:OP here: after more research apparently there is also some asbestos issues in the paint/glue of the different layers? Sanding the wood ourselves if ever we find it would be very dangerous? Anybody confirms that?

I have not heard about asbestos being in the paint or glue. However there could be lead in the floor varnish that will turn to dust if you sand. I would test the varnish for lead before sanding your floors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a quick check--9 x 9 tiles are the ones most likely to have asbestos. Even so many think the danger is over-rated so long as the tiles are not friable.

That's fine if you leave the tile intact and put something on top. But if you plan to rip it up, you need to look into the regulations in your county regarding asbestos removal. You may need an abatement specialist, which will not be cheap. Having said that, there are contractors who will overlook that.

+1 We had asbestos tile in our basement which were not a health risk as-is but not something we could remove on our own. It's ripping them up that would release asbestos fibers. So, we used an abatement company. Still, it wasn't as big a deal, or as expensive, as I expected it to be.

Anonymous wrote:I did a quick check--9 x 9 tiles are the ones most likely to have asbestos. Even so many think the danger is over-rated so long as the tiles are not friable.

That's fine if you leave the tile intact and put something on top. But if you plan to rip it up, you need to look into the regulations in your county regarding asbestos removal. You may need an abatement specialist, which will not be cheap. Having said that, there are contractors who will overlook that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a quick check--9 x 9 tiles are the ones most likely to have asbestos. Even so many think the danger is over-rated so long as the tiles are not friable.

Whatever you say.

Here is a Garden Web thread about asbestos tile.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2384736/unwittingly-removed-asbestos-floor-tiles-whats-the-deal

Anonymous wrote:I did a quick check--9 x 9 tiles are the ones most likely to have asbestos. Even so many think the danger is over-rated so long as the tiles are not friable.

Whatever you say.

I did a quick check--9 x 9 tiles are the ones most likely to have asbestos. Even so many think the danger is over-rated so long as the tiles are not friable.

We sanded our own floors. No big deal - messy but we're not dead yet.