Sheet Vinyl Over Asbestos Tile

From the 1930s to the mid 1970s vinyl flooring contained asbestos which is not safe for you to remove yourself.

Sheet vinyl over asbestos tile.

Stain proof fireproof stylish and affordable vinyl products strengthened through the inclusion asbestos in their manufacture were a very popular choice in many new zealand houses. The main caveat is that all vinyl formats call for a smooth subfloor including sheet vinyl vinyl tile and luxury vinyl planks and tiles. This isn t possible with every flooring material but it s often possible to install ceramic porcelain or stone tile over resilient flooring including standard sheet vinyl vinyl tile or linoleum. Asbestos was used in vinyl wallpaper from the 1920s and in the vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring that rose to prominence in the 1950s.

The asbestos floor tile identification articles in this series illustrate that with the combination of design appearance and an idea of floor tile age many asbestos containing floor tiles or sheet flooring products can be reliably identified even before confirmation by a test by a certified asbestos testing laboratory. So where feasible it makes sense to install the new flooring directly over the old without removing the old flooring. Even ceramic slate and stone tiles can be installed on. No other specialized prep work or treatment is necessary.

Installing ceramic or porcelain tile over asbestos tile. Fortunately it is not difficult to install vinyl tile over your vinyl floor as. 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. New vinyl laminate flooring hardwood engineered floating flooring and carpeting can all be successfully installed over asbestos tiles.

That said it can be difficult to get a level surface for the new floor especially if the old tiles have chipped away. One of the biggest factors of installing a new floor over the old is thickness. Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. In many cases installing a new floor over the tiles encapsulates the asbestos fibers and is an acceptable way to manage the material.

Vinyl tile is an excellent option for sealing in asbestos tiles. If the grout lines in the ceramic tile are deep you ll see and feel them under sheet flooring and if you choose to install preglued vinyl tiles they won t stick.