What Is Vinyl Asbestos Tile

Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around.

What is vinyl asbestos tile.

Step 3 date the tiles. Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. One of the best ways to deal with asbestos tile is to leave it in place and cover it with new flooring. Vinyl asbestos floor tiles were produced by a number of manufacturers and the decorative tile patterns were varied often annually as styles and tastes changed.

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. Examine the condition of the tiles. 9 x9 12 x12 and 18 x18. Tiles that are disintegrating should be.

But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. The old tiles are relatively thin around 1 8 inch thick so installing new flooring on top. Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets the problem is there could be traces of asbestos adhesive that are holding them in place that is. What are asbestos floor tiles.

However once considerable testing proved that it was a killer the miracle became a nightmare to deal with and remove. But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. Intact asbestos tiles are not a major risk and can in fact be left in place and covered with other materials such as carpet vinyl linoleum or concrete. Who produced vinyl or asphalt asbestos flooring.

Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with. Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles. Many asbestos floor tiles including old vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. Vinyl or asphalt tiles that have these colors in it have a high likelihood of asbestos fibers.

But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable. It is possible to make a tentative identification of floor tiles based on the individual tile pattern color and thickness. Another time period that asbestos floors were popular in was between the years of 1920 and 1960. One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only.

Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. For about 35 years flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles. 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.