Installing Hardwood Over Asbestos Tile

Q: I have a 30-year-old home. I want to put down a hardwood floor. The problem is that I think the old vinyl tiles, which are cracking and sit on a concrete slab, have asbestos.

Can I cover them or do I need to remove them to successfully install a hardwood floor?

A: By law, building materials containing asbestos must be removed by a licensed and certified asbestos removal company, which can be prohibitively expensive. So your best bet would probably be to cover ("encapsulate") the old asbestos tile flooring.

I would install a floating floor over the old tiles. Many manufacturers offer laminate flooring products that look like tile or wood. Some tongue and groove products even snap together and need no glue!

John Fuchs, Carpet Warehouse, Rancho Cordova, CA