Asbestos tile removal costs $2,200 on average, but most licensed pros can do the job for between $1,800 and $2,800.
There are many factors influencing the average total cost for asbestos tile removal, such as:
Testing and inspecting for asbestos are sometimes required, depending on local laws and regulations. The cost of an asbestos test is usually between $230 to $780.
Removing tile flooring with asbestos requires meticulous preparation. Your pro will start off by sealing off the area with plastic sheeting and creating a controlled workspace. Your pro will also need to protect themselves with proper ventilation and personal protective equipment.
Homes are often furnished with heavy furniture, beds, cabinets, rugs, and other items that fill a room. If you can’t move them yourself, having a pro do it will increase the cost.
| Area Size in Square Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 150 | $650–$2,900 |
| 300 | $1,300–$5,700 |
| 500 | $2,300–$9,800 |
| 750 | $3,600–$14,600 |
| 1,100 | $5,200–$21,000 |
| 1,500 | $7,000–$32,000 |
Asbestos tile removal can cost from $5 to $20 per square foot. An asbestos removal project for an entire house could start at $15,000, and that doesn’t include hiring a local tile contractor to install new tile flooring. It’s important to remember that asbestos tile is rarely found throughout the entire home.
Rates vary from state to state, but it generally costs between $10 and $50 per cubic yard, with an additional permit fee of $50 to $100. All waste must follow guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for disposal.
Once the old asbestos tiles are out, you’ll need to install a new floor. If you plan to stick with tile, keep in mind that for most homeowners, tile installation costs $5 to $25 per square foot. A new tile floor generally runs $1,500 to $5,000. This will significantly increase your total asbestos flooring removal costs.
If your floor isn’t showing any signs of damage, your contractor might suggest you encapsulate the tiles instead of removing them. This seals off the asbestos and prevents the fibers from escaping into the air. Encapsulation can help you save big on asbestos abatement costs and is sometimes the safer option, since you won’t be disturbing the area. Encapsulation generally costs 15% to 20% less than removal, but again, it’s usually only an option if your existing tile is in very good condition.
You may think that removing asbestos tiles is as easy as using a hammer and a chisel, but dealing with asbestos tiles can be dangerous.
First of all, the floor tiles and the glue used to stick them in place require mechanical removal. Secondly, asbestos is made of natural silicate minerals, which can cause cancer, particularly in the lungs and stomach, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This is why you should never remove asbestos yourself—it puts you at a huge risk if you’re exposed to any of the fibers, making asbestos removal a job best left to abatement professionals.
A trained and certified asbestos removal contractor near you will:
Inspect the building first to determine if asbestos materials are present
Send samples to a local lab for asbestos testing to confirm the presence of the mineral
Provide a cost estimate for the job
Remove asbestos (contain, clean, and dispose of hazardous materials) to avoid contaminating the rest of the house
Perform air testing before removing the barriers
Do a final cleaning
Unfortunately, there are not many ways to save money when removing asbestos tiles simply because the work itself needs to be done by a licensed professional. Before the work starts, however, there are some things you can do as a homeowner in order to lower costs. Consider the following:
Moving all items from the room yourself. Do this wearing proper equipment.
Combine any other asbestos removal projects into one.
Obtain multiple quotes.
Schedule off-peak work (when your pro is the least busy).
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In most cities, it isn’t legal to cover asbestos tile. This is because it’s difficult for the average homeowner to know if they’re causing fibers to become airborne. While there is a method of sealing the asbestos in place—called encapsulation—this needs to be done by a pro, and isn’t appropriate for all situations.
While it's possible to cover asbestos tile with carpet, it's not recommended. Encapsulating tile beneath carpet doesn't eliminate the health risks. Over time, the asbestos tiles could degrade, releasing fibers into the air and potentially contaminating the carpet. Disturbance during carpet installation or removal might also release fibers.
Damaged tiles can release asbestos fibers into the air. Anyone in the surrounding area who may inhale the fibers will have them settled in the lining of internal organs. Over time, it may lead to serious health conditions such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The only safe way to prevent these conditions is to avoid exposure to asbestos at all costs, even for a short period of time.
If not detected before putting your house on the market, asbestos can decrease the value of a home. Prospective buyers might negotiate for lower prices or demand the asbestos be removed before finalizing a purchase, impacting the selling price and potentially prolonging the selling process.
Typically, homeowner’s insurance does not cover asbestos removal. Most policies exclude pollution, which includes everything from chemical spills to asbestos contamination. If asbestos removal isn’t in your budget, you might be able to encapsulate the asbestos. It depends on the condition of the contaminated materials. Speak to an asbestos abatement specialist to weigh your options.
