I am moving into a brick house my grandfather built over 100 yrs ago. It's brick on the outside and concrete on all inside walls. He used linolium on the inside walls of the bathroom which is now peeling off. The sink is laying on the floor. What is the best way of getting the stuff off the walls and what can I use to replace it with. I want to gag every time I go in there.

that lino will have asbestos in the matting, dollars to donuts I bet ya, and the plaster might. that old stuff was put on in 2 or 3 layers... first was the "hair coat," generally with horse hair fiber to hold it in place while drying.. then a scratch coat which might be cemented, and finally a top coat of lime plaster. occasionally, the top coat may be cement... it was in the folks' house.

if you have really bad luck, and somebody redid the walls, it might have asbestos instead of animal hair in the base coat.

best course of action is to chip a chunk and have it professionally analyzed... a commercial contractor can arrange it if there is no magic test kit package at Home Depot.

if the plaster is clear, I'd knock the wall down and carry the mess out in sheets. you are not going to get that tar-based lino adhesive off the wall and have a workable surface. use a real ($20-30 form fitting plastic) dust/asbestos mask and disposeable body and hair protection over your clothing. the lino would be a type I hazard, difficult to kick asbestos fibers into the air unless you rip and scrape the lino's matting on the bottom. work it wet and it is doable.

if it's not clear, you have a type III hazard, and it's a professional removal job.

with the walls open, you will note the wiring is dangerous and undersized, the pipes are rusting, leaking galvanized steel, and there is no insulation. correct all three conditions as needed and to code, and then put moldproof drywall on after insulating and placing 8-mil plastic over the studs.

if there is vermiculite in the walls, popular retrofit some 50-60 years ago, danger Will Robinson! that is the most vicious asbestos delivery system ever invented. get a room and call a professional asbestos removal service immediately. never mess with that stuff, even for a minute, even for a cupfull.

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a note... almost any working professional is going to post that this is a pro job regardless, based on the scope of work. unless you are a real power in DIY, they will be correct.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: swschrad,

Sure would love to see a picture of that mess.

My dads bathroom is a nightmare it needs to completely remolded I need help!