Sheet Vinyl and Vinyl Tile Flooring Containing Asbestos

When many think of asbestos, the first building material that comes to mind is vinyl flooring. 9”x 9” and 12”x 12” flooring tiles were known to contain going back to the implementation of regulations in handling asbestos. It may appear simple for homeowners to do the vinyl flooring removal themselves but much preparation, strict procedures, specialized equipment, air testing, and stress often outweigh any cost savings. Always have a hazardous materials survey completed by a qualified person, and an accredited laboratory analyze all samples to detect any asbestos. In determining the risk both the asbestos content, condition, and amount of the material will be important factors to consider for a qualified professional. With both sheet vinyl and tile asbestos containing flooring, the mastic used to bond the material to the floor often contains asbestos as well and can present many difficulties in the abatement process. With sheet flooring it can cause delamination of the backing, causing a dramatic release of fibres into the air. Floor tiles can break up easily, also releasing fibers – increasing the risk of asbestos exposure.