What Kind of Flooring Is More Likely to Contain Asbestos?
Vinyl flooring was a popular choice when it came to homes and commercial buildings built before the 1980s. Whether it’s vinyl sheets or flooring tiles, buildings and homeowners loved them for a variety of reasons. They’re resilient and cheap, long-lasting, have more aesthetic options, and they withstand constant wear and tear. However, there is one problem with vinyl flooring products made before the 1980s, flooring containing asbestos.
Aside from strange color and pattern choices, one thing flooring from before the 1980s often contained was asbestos materials. This asbestos flooring can become dangerous when the microscopic fibers are released and become airborne.
Before you start to panic wondering “Does my flooring contain asbestos?” about that old tile or vinyl flooring you’ve hated looking at for years, make sure to read our expert asbestos flooring guide. Our Chicago asbestos professionals explain why asbestos was used, when it becomes a health risk, and how to identify asbestos flooring in your home, business or other property.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about flooring containing asbestos!
Why Was Asbestos a Common Flooring Material Before the 1980s?
Before the 1980s, asbestos was a widely embraced building material in various industries, including construction. Asbestos in flooring materials can be attributed to several key characteristics that made it an appealing choice for builders and manufacturers.
Flooring Containing Asbestos Provided Increased Fire Resistance and Durability
Asbestos possesses exceptional fire-resistant properties, making asbestos flooring materials an ideal choice for structures. Its resistance to high temperatures and flames made it a valuable component, especially in buildings where fire safety was a paramount concern. Additionally, asbestos floor tile was highly durable, with the ability to withstand heavy foot traffic and resist wear and tear over time.
Flooring that Contains Asbestos Provided Better Insulation and Sound Absorption
One of the key advantages of asbestos flooring was its insulating properties. Asbestos flooring materials also helped regulate temperatures, making spaces more energy-efficient. Furthermore, asbestos provided excellent sound absorption, reducing noise transmission between floors. These qualities made flooring containing asbestos a preferred choice in both residential and commercial settings where comfort and energy efficiency were critical considerations.
Tile and Vinyl Asbestos Flooring was More Affordable and Accessible
Asbestos was a cost-effective and readily available floor material, contributing to its widespread use. Its affordability made it an attractive option for builders and homeowners alike, allowing for cost-efficient construction and renovations. The accessibility of asbestos-containing materials in various forms, such as tiles and adhesives, further fueled its popularity in the construction industry.
Asbestos Floor Materials Offered More Versatility in Design
Asbestos offered a versatile range of design options, allowing for the creation of aesthetically pleasing flooring patterns. Asbestos flooring could be molded into different shapes and sizes, as well as mixed with other materials to achieve specific textures and colors. This adaptability made asbestos flooring a favored choice for architects and designers seeking both functionality and visual appeal.
However, despite the numerous benefits of flooring containing asbestos, researchers soon discovered that the fibers posed a serious health risk. Asbestos material that was once considered revolutionary was severely restricted for its association with severe health complications, particularly lung diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. The US asbestos restrictions led to a severe decline in its use.
Unfortunately, homes and other buildings built before this ban still often contain asbestos and the years have made the materials no less dangerous. It is important that you know how to identify asbestos flooring in your home. You also need to know what to do next if your home flooring contains asbestos.
Does My Flooring Contain Asbestos in it? How Can I Identify Asbestos In My Flooring?
If you have just read to this point and know that your house contains flooring from before the 80’s, there’s a really good chance that right now you are asking yourself the question “How can I identify asbestos in my flooring?”
Fortunately, our certified Chicago asbestos removal experts can easily spot asbestos flooring and are here to provide some tips. There are a few key methods to identify flooring containing asbestos. Here’s what to do:
Consider the Age of the Floor Materials That Might Contain Asbestos
As we mentioned previously, flooring containing asbestos was used heavily before the 1980s asbestos ban. Start by determining the age of the flooring. If the flooring (or structure) predates this period, there is very high likelihood that asbestos-containing materials may have been used. However, if the flooring was recently replaced you might think you have nothing to worry about. Usually you are correct but there is a catch!
The Dangers of Asbestos Encapsulation for Flooring
When we talk with homeowners, some decide to leave the asbestos in place and cover it with new flooring. While the old tiles are relatively thin, and around ⅛ of an inch thick, the new flooring can be installed on top of the asbestos tiles. There are a few types of flooring that are able to be installed, like new vinyl, laminate, hardwood, engineering floating flooring, and carpeting. If you want to go with new floor tiles, you can also install ceramic, slate, or stone tiles with a fiber-cement backer as well.
While if done correctly encapsulation does temporarily remove the threat of asbestos fibers. But this only means that it will need to be removed later on since if the encapsulation is disturbed it can release the hazardous fibers.
Your new flooring on top of old tile or vinyl asbestos flooring can encapsulate it, but if you or the next property owner go to replace the flooring one day you are going to disturb the asbestos and create a serious health risk. After encapsulation you will likely need to display warning stickers and update the property’s asbestos registry, which can lower property value. This is one of the reasons why asbestos removal is better than asbestos encapsulation.
Examine The Floor Materials
While you cannot see asbestos you can still inspect the flooring materials for visual clues. Vinyl tiles, linoleum, and certain types of adhesive used in flooring may contain asbestos, if these adhesives were used there is a high chance there is asbestos present. Vinyl asbestos tiles often have a distinctive appearance with a marbled or speckled pattern. Linoleum sheets and tiles may also contain asbestos, especially those manufactured in the mid-20th century.
You may have noticed some of your tiles come off or unattached from the floor, and you notice a thick black adhesive underneath. That’s black mastic, which is also known as cutback adhesive and is commonly used to glue flooring tiles down. This black mastic adhesive was asphalt-based and most likely contains asbestos, it’s important to get this tested as well if you have the adhesive.
Check Your Building Records for Flooring Containing Asbestos
Check any available building records or documentation that may detail the construction materials used. These records could provide information about the presence of asbestos-containing materials in the flooring. You can also see if the flooring was removed or updated recently.
Look for Asbestos Warning Labels
Some flooring materials containing asbestos may have labels or markings that indicate the presence of the fibers. Check for any product labels or documentation that indicate the presence of asbestos. However, it’s important to note that the absence of labels does not guarantee the absence of asbestos since the general public did not realize asbestos was harmful. So most asbestos flooring has no warning labels or identification available unless it was previously encapsulated.
Test Using the At Home Asbestos Testing Kits
If you want to check the materials there are at home asbestos testing kits available for those who prefer to take samples themselves. Our DIY asbestos test kits include detailed instructions on how to safely collect samples and send them to a certified laboratory for analysis. However, caution is advised, and proper safety measures should be followed to avoid exposure during the sampling process.
What to Do If I Think I Have Asbestos Flooring
If it’s likely that your floor tiles contain asbestos and you want to be sure, the best way is to hire a professional asbestos testing service or even opt for an asbestos inspection. Asbestos containing materials were used for a lot more than just asbestos floors, so an inspection can check any areas of concern.
Asbestos Project Management can come out to your home and test the flooring ourselves. We also provide professional asbestos inspections for all types of properties. Our leading Chicago asbestos services have been trusted for decades by local residents.
What Do I Do If I Have Flooring Containing Asbestos?
Now, people usually assume that if they have asbestos in their building, it will be dangerous and they have to vacate the area immediately, and that’s not always the case. Fortunately, asbestos in flooring tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed by sanding, sawing, drilling, or tearing the tiles out. So don’t pack up the kids and dogs just yet.
If your flooring has not been disturbed, the asbestos hasn’t been either. However, if you’ve been doing some remodeling or notice water damage, or physical aging then you may want to consider having your flooring inspected and possibly replaced. This kind of damage can disrupt the asbestos and break up the tiny fibers, ultimately releasing them into the environment and creating a safety risk.
Contact a local Chicago asbestos service like APM to get a FREE estimate for the removal of your contaminated materials.
Does My Flooring Contain Asbestos? Know For Sure with APM
If you fear that your home’s safety is at risk due to flooring containing asbestos then it is time to contact the professionals. Once you have went through our list and are positive that the materials likely contain asbestos you can decide how you want to move forward.
Asbestos Project Management has been providing professional Chicago area asbestos removal, testing, and inspection for over 30 years to local commercial buildings and homeowners. With our at-home testing kit, you can test for the asbestos fibers yourself, however, if you would like a professional to come to your home and test, you can schedule your appointment today. Once we get the results back, we’ll contact you with the next steps and set up any follow-up work if necessary.
Schedule your asbestos inspection or request your testing kit today.
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