Old Vinyl Flooring Asbestos

Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles.

Old vinyl flooring asbestos.

Manufacturers have been using asbestos for decades so asbestos containing tiles come in a vast array of colours styles and sizes. 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 tiles were popular widely advertised products found in all parts of the u s. 9 9 vinyl tile and mastic.

An example would be a floor slab made from asbestos cement. Whether your tiles are 12 12 9 9 or any other size they are all equally likely to contain asbestos. Our photo left shows armstrong excelon 12x12 vinyl asbestos flooring made in 1972 identified in our floor tile photo guide asbestos floor tile identification photos 1949 1959 detailed photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles and resilient flooring produced in 1900 1980. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles were far from rare.

Asbestos containing sheet flooring or resilient flooring product identification. Vinyl tiles with asbestos are all 12 12 or 9 9 tiles with asbestos. This article describes sheet flooring products known to contain significant levels of asbestos. In this case it needs to be removed very carefully to avoid asbestos exposure.

Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable. Removing old vinyl flooring with asbestos. Identifying asbestos tile flooring by date.

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. Removing vinyl flooring with asbestos requires special safety clothing and breathing respirators. The old tiles are relatively thin around 1 8 inch thick so installing new flooring on top. When vinyl asbestos flooring is crumbling or damaged it is considered friable.

One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. One of the best ways to deal with asbestos tile is to leave it in place and cover it with new flooring. 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 the flooring was installed between 1952 and 1986 your vinyl flooring might contain asbestos.