How to Prepare Asbestos Tiles for Paint

Many homes today still contain asbestos tiles. Removing hazardous asbestos tiles yourself could result in your being exposed to harmful asbestos particles resulting in serious illness. Hiring a certified contractor to remove asbestos floor tiles from your home is the safest bet, but some homeowners cannot afford to pay for an expensive removal service. If your asbestos tiles are not broken or falling apart, you can easily paint the tiles yourself to completely seal the surface. In order for the paint finish to last, you need to properly prepare the tiles for painting.

Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
5-gallon bucket
Sponge
Broom
Oil-based floor primer
Paint brush
1/4-inch paint roller

Instructions

- 1
  Mix 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and 2 gallons of warm water in an empty 5-gallon bucket.
- 2
  Scrub the asbestos tiles with the TSP solution and a sponge. Allow the wet tiles to dry.
- 3
  Sweep the floor with a broom to remove leftover dirt and dust from the surface. Vacuum the corners near baseboards.
- 4
  Pour 1 gallon of oil-based floor primer into an empty bucket. Stir the primer with a stir stick.
- 5
  Ventilate the room. Paint around the tile edges where the floor meets the walls using a paint brush designed for use with oil-based coatings.
- 6
  Roll the primer on the floor using a 1/4-inch paint roller attached to a telescoping painters pole. Work in 3 foot sections, starting on one side of the room and working to the other side. Allow the primer to dry.

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