Vinyl flooring is a common choice for residential and commercial construction. Whether it’s vinyl sheets or flooring tiles, architects and
homeowners adore them since they’re resilient, affordable, durable, offer more aesthetic possibilities, and tolerate regular wear and tear.
However, vinyl flooring products that frequently contain asbestos can become hazardous when small fibres are discharged into the air.

You’re more than likely to find asbestos in structures constructed prior to 1980, as asbestos was a widely used material at the time and
can still be found in some structures today. Most people assume that if their building has asbestos, it is unsafe and they must abandon
the area, but this is not always the case.

Asbestos in flooring tiles will not release hazardous fibres or represent a health hazard unless disturbed by sanding, sawing, drilling, or
taking off the tiles. If your flooring has remained undisturbed, the asbestos has remained undisturbed as well. However, if you’ve been
remodelling or see any signs of water damage or physical ageing, you may choose to have your flooring evaluated and possibly replaced.
This type of damage can rupture the asbestos and disperse the microscopic fibres, releasing them into the environment.

How Can I Determine If My Flooring Contains Asbestos?

There are a few ways to determine whether your floor tiles contain asbestos. Testing your flooring is one of the most certain ways to
determine if it contains asbestos. Asbestos Removal 247 offers an at-home testing kit for which you can submit samples. Alternatively, we
can come to your home and inspect the flooring for you.

If you’re not quite ready to do an asbestos test on the flooring, there are a few other ways to verify if asbestos is present.One option is to
evaluate the age of your home; if it was built prior to 1980, there is a significant likelihood that asbestos was used in its construction.

Additionally, we recommend inspecting the tiles, as they may appear soiled or oily. Asphalt was previously the primary component of
flooring tiles and is still included in some flooring types. It can degrade with time, leaving the tiles looking dirty and discoloured in areas.

You may have noticed that parts of your tiles have come loose or are no longer adhered to the floor, revealing a thick black glue beneath.
That is black mastic, also known as cutback adhesive, which is frequently used to adhere flooring tiles. This black mastic adhesive was
asphalt-based and most certainly contained asbestos. If you have the adhesive, it is critical to have it tested as well.

When we speak with homeowners, we discover that some choose to leave the asbestos in place and cover it with new flooring. While the
old tiles are quite thin, measuring approximately 1/8 of an inch thick, the new flooring can be laid directly over the asbestos tiles. It is
possible to install a variety of different types of flooring, including fresh vinyl, laminate, hardwood, engineered floating flooring, and
carpets. If you prefer new floor tiles, you can also use a fiber-cement backer to install ceramic, slate, or stone tiles.

With Asbestos Project Management’s Assistance, Evaluate Your Flooring

For over 30 years, Asbestos Removal 247 has worked throughout the Glasgow area, offering mould and asbestos inspection and removal
services to commercial buildings and homeowners. You can test for asbestos fibres at home with our at-home testing kit, but if you’d like a
professional to come to your home and test it, you can arrange an appointment now. Once we receive the results, we’ll contact you to
discuss the next steps and arrange for any necessary follow-up work. Today, schedule your inspection or order your testing kit.