What Is Vinyl Asbestos Tile

Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed.

What is vinyl asbestos tile.

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. For about 35 years flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles. Asbestos floor tiles were manufactured in three sizes. What are asbestos floor tiles.

Vinyl or asphalt tiles that have these colors in it have a high likelihood of asbestos fibers. 9 x9 12 x12 and 18 x18. Step 3 date the tiles. 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.

But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable. Another time period that asbestos floors were popular in was between the years of 1920 and 1960. However once considerable testing proved that it was a killer the miracle became a nightmare to deal with and remove.

Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. 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. One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only. Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with.

The old tiles are relatively thin around 1 8 inch thick so installing new flooring on top. Many asbestos floor tiles including old vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. Examine the condition of the 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.

One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. It is possible to make a tentative identification of floor tiles based on the individual tile pattern color and thickness. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. Who produced vinyl or asphalt asbestos flooring.

Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles. Sbestos was once considered a miracle material used in everything from paint and pipe insulation to even tiling. One of the best ways to deal with asbestos tile is to leave it in place and cover it with new flooring.