DIYbanter - View Single Post - Leveling an uneven concrete basement floor

wrote:
Vinyl Asbestos Tile (VAT) and the mastic used to set it can be a
problem with authorities.
The material should be double bagged, marked as VAT, & disposed of in
areas designated by the landfill folk. Using a spud to scrape up the
tile, thus keeping it in big pieces, wearing a resperator ( since it's
in an enclosed space ), closing off any air ducts comes close to
government requirements for containment.

Encapsulation, that is covering it up, is acceptable and cheaper.

The 7'-0" head room is a problem if you want to have a space called
"habitable" by code in the basement. (Sleeping rooms require emergency
escape openings in addition.).

If I wanted to make a nice set of spaces, I'd look at removing the VAT
and having the high spots ground flat.

TB

Greetings,

a) I don't think that the VAT police are going to come in the night for
you if you are a do-it-yourselfer in your own home.
b) I prefer to remove these things instead of encapsulate them. Why?
If you do choose to encapsulate you will need to disclose the knowledge
that the house contains asbestos to the next homeowner.
c) is right about the headroom. You might find
that your house is worth a lot less money when you go to sell it if
your basement ceiling height is less than seven feet. I even know
people with a 6' basement which have gone through the trouble of
digging out the basement by hand to make it over 7' with a new poured
floor.

Hope this helps,
William