Is There Asbestos In Old Vinyl Flooring

To identify a particular asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos floor tile pattern color start in the image group most likely to be the same age as your building.

Is there asbestos in old vinyl flooring.

Asbestos in linoleum and vinyl flooring because linoleum was invented long before vinyl people often refer to both types of flooring as linoleum but there s a big difference. Some asbestos containing flooring products were manufactured we estimate as early as the late 1920 s. Linoleum is an all natural floor covering composed of dried linseed oil wood dust cork and jute and it doesn t 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.

In north america if asphalt or vinyl floor tiles or sheet flooring were made or installed before 1986 treat the floor as presumed to contain asbestos. New vinyl laminate flooring hardwood engineered floating flooring and carpeting can all be successfully installed over asbestos tiles. Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with. Click here to read more.

Even ceramic slate and stone tiles can be installed on. We are told that the paper layer can contain from 40 to 70 percent asbestos. Asphalt based asbestos floor tiles and later plastic or vinyl based asbestos flooring were popular in the u s. But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable.

As with any asbestos containing material acm the first step to finding asbestos in linoleum sheet flooring and vinyl tiles is. Stain proof fireproof stylish and affordable vinyl products strengthened through the inclusion asbestos in their manufacture were a very popular choice in many new zealand houses. Working with asbestos flooring can release toxic dust. The wondrous new no wax flooring sold by companies such as congoleum put a glossy sheen on post war american prosperity.

Old vinyl products that contain asbestos remain in many buildings across the u s creating a hazard for contractors and do it yourself renovators. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring has two layers a top layer of vinyl and a bottom layer made from paper that contains asbestos. For about 35 years flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles.