We live in an 1890's house. We recently pulled up the floor that the previous owner put in. He did this somewhere between 1968-1999. The floor he put in is tongue and groove, probably oak planks. Sort of like pergo but solid wood. Underneath it was black mastic. Not sticky. It was very hard. The beautiful original floor was under it, partially painted.

We had it sanded. then I begun researching what to do about our asbestos shingles and now I'm very worried that the mastic that was sanded (and is still visible on parts of the floor, they were roughly sanded and left bare) contains asbestos.

It's our bedroom as well as where our 2 young kids sleep, alsong with us. I'm freaking out a little. The room was just done a few days ago and the house is still dusty from the process. Are we in danger? How can I tell what's on the floor? If it was asbestos, how can we clean it?? It's all over the house, basically...dust from the sanding is in the bathroom and on the stairs so I imagine the contractor tracked it around. He was in and out for several days while were were out of town.

Is there somewhere I can send a sample? How long does it take tog et results and what can we do in the meantime? How would I find a place that would test it? I have no idea what to search under.

Thank you!

I believe some yellow pages have a section for Asbestos and Asbestos removal.

I would mop up the area trying to remove any dust you created until you know what it is.

Once you have it tested, you have to declare it when you sell the house.

I could have some in my house, I didn't get it tested. Just covered it in Tile so it would be contained.