Covering Asbestos Tile With Vinyl

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.

Covering asbestos tile with vinyl. For about 35 years flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles. New vinyl laminate flooring hardwood engineered floating flooring and carpeting can all be successfully installed over asbestos tiles. If the tiles in question are crumbling torn drilled sawn or sanded you ll definitely want to consult with a professional who can help gauge risk and offer recommendations for reducing asbestos exposure the epa is among the best resources available to help educate on risks and abatement techniques. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around.

Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. If your tiles are in perfect condition it s true that they could be removed but doing. You can assume this floor tile contains asbestos.

Above we show a 9 x 9 cork patterned vinyl asbestos floor tile found in a 1960 s ranch style home in new york. 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. Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets.

But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable. Applying a layer of sheathing or sheets of foam insulation over the asbestos then covering it with vinyl siding is a common practice. One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. Even ceramic slate and stone tiles can be installed on.

But be sure to check your local building codes first to see if it is allowed in your area. Cork pattern vinyl asbestos floor tiles were produced in at least three hues by armstrong as well as montgomery ward and sears and possibly kentile and other companies. Asbestos found in the vinyl floor tiles at the toh tv project house means a state licensed and well protected abatement crew must do the removal.