Sheet Vinyl Flooring Asbestos Paper Backing

This will entail peeling the sheet vinyl from the flooring beneath if the backing does not separate in the process or removing the sheet vinyl in sections with the underlayment attached.

Sheet vinyl flooring asbestos paper backing. Asbestos felt became the primary material used in many flat topped buildings. The materials used in flooring also changed as the 20th century progressed. Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. My father wasn t particularly concerned about this when i asked him.

At asphalt based sheet flooring we report that some tests of red backed asphalt core vinyl sheet flooring found that the floor did not contain asbestos. With a utility knife and while wearing rubber gloves cut a one inch long 1 8th inch wide sliver of sheet vinyl flooring. The backing would be one suitable for use as a surface covering for example a felt perferably a rubber bonded asbestos backing a vinyl sheet backing a cellulosic felt or other backing which lendsitself to surface covering applications. Make sure to cut all the way down to the floor so your sample includes flooring backing and adhesive.

Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring poses a significantly greater asbestos exposure risk than floor tiles or wallpaper. The backing of the vinyl sheet didn t crumble or anything like that but it did separate when i ripped the sheet off the floor. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring can be more dangerous to remove than tiles if proper precautions are not practiced. Remove a piece of floor molding or a floor heat register to access an edge of the sheet vinyl flooring.

Sheet vinyl flooring should be removed to avoid or minimize disturbance of the asbestos containing backing. We are told that the paper layer can contain from 40 to 70 percent asbestos. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring has two layers a top layer of vinyl and a bottom layer made from paper that contains asbestos. My concern is that there may be asbestos behind the sheet vinyl perhaps in the paper backing or glue adhesive.

Manufacturers often made this type of flooring with a friable asbestos backing which means asbestos fibres are easily released into the air if the sheet flooring is disturbed or damaged. Never worked with asbestos before maybe i ll use a paper filter. But other asphalt impregnated felt products and floor backers did contain asbestos so unless you have had a lab test performed it would be prudent to assume that the material contains asbestos. 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.