Old Vinyl Flooring Asbestos

Asbestos tiles were popular widely advertised products found in all parts of the u s.

Old vinyl flooring asbestos.

Removing old vinyl flooring with asbestos. One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. Removing vinyl flooring with asbestos requires special safety clothing and breathing respirators.

Whether your tiles are 12 12 9 9 or any other size they are all equally likely to contain asbestos. Asbestos was used in vinyl wallpaper from the 1920s and in the vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring that rose to prominence in the 1950s. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles were far from rare. Vinyl tiles with asbestos are all 12 12 or 9 9 tiles with asbestos.

When vinyl asbestos flooring is crumbling or damaged it is considered friable. Professionals will not remove the flooring if it is dry. Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles. Manufacturers have been using asbestos for decades so asbestos containing tiles come in a vast array of colours styles and sizes.

The old tiles are relatively thin around 1 8 inch thick so installing new flooring on top. In this case it needs to be removed very carefully to avoid asbestos exposure. Identifying asbestos tile flooring by date. But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable.

We describe sources of asbestos in older forms of sheet flooring including felt backed flooring rubber backed flooring and vinyl cushion backed resilient flooring products. If you aren t removing the old floor you may be creating a new floor that is too thick for doors to open and shut or for thresholds to have clearance. Like floor tiles vinyl sheet flooring is a long lasting and economical material and it also offers more aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste. Asbestos vinyl flooring was a durable and economical material that offered many aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste.

9 9 vinyl tile and mastic. One of the best ways to deal with asbestos tile is to leave it in place and cover it with new flooring. This article describes sheet flooring products known to contain significant levels of asbestos. If the flooring was installed between 1952 and 1986 your vinyl flooring might contain asbestos.