Old vinyl floor tiles and adhesive that may contain asbestos: what to do before new flooring
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Could my old floor contain asbestos?
It could, and you cannot tell by looking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives among the places asbestos may be found in a home, along with floors around wood stoves that were protected with asbestos paper, millboard or cement sheets. It says you generally cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos unless it is labeled, and that if in doubt you should treat it as if it does and leave it alone.
The good news in the EPA's guidance is that asbestos in good condition, left undisturbed, is not likely to pose a health risk. Exposure generally happens only when the material is disturbed or damaged, which is exactly what tearing out an old floor does.
Why does it matter when a new floor goes in?
Because flooring work is the kind of disturbance the EPA warns about. It says asbestos materials may release fibers when they are cut, torn, sanded, sawed, drilled or scraped, or removed improperly. Breathing fibers raises the risk of lung disease, and the EPA names three major health effects: lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Symptoms can take many years to appear, and smoking makes the lung disease risk worse.
Should old tiles be tested?
Only if they will be disturbed. The EPA says a home with materials that are undamaged and will not be disturbed does not need to be tested. If you are planning to remodel, it suggests an inspection by a trained and accredited asbestos professional, because remodeling can disturb building materials.
Two cautions from the same guidance:
- Do not take samples yourself. The EPA says sampling done incorrectly can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.
- Keep the tester separate from the remover. It recommends that the professional who assesses the need for removal not be connected with the firm that does the removal, to avoid a conflict of interest.
A good inspection, the EPA says, includes a complete visual examination and laboratory analysis of samples, followed by a written evaluation of where the asbestos is, the extent of any damage and recommendations.
Is covering the old floor an option?
It is what the EPA suggests where it can be done. Its advice for asbestos flooring that needs replacing is to install new floor covering over it, if possible. The EPA calls this kind of approach enclosure: something is placed over the material so fibers are not released, and the asbestos stays in place.
Whether a new floor can go over the old one depends on the new material and the floor's height. The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), a tile industry education body, notes that adding a layer of subfloor will most likely raise a floor above the rooms next to it, a difference that should be agreed before installation. It also lists "What if there's existing asbestos?" among the questions to ask a tile contractor.
What should nobody do to asbestos flooring?
The EPA's list of don'ts is specific to floors:
- Do not sand it, or try to level the flooring or its backing.
- Do not use a power stripper on flooring that may contain asbestos, or abrasive pads or brushes to strip wax from it.
- Do not dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos, and do not track it through the house.
- Do not saw, scrape or drill holes in it.
If an area must be walked through, the EPA says to have it cleaned with a wet mop, and to call an asbestos professional for a damaged area or a large cleanup.
When must it be removed, and by whom?
The EPA says removal may be required when remodeling will disturb the material, or when it is damaged beyond repair. It calls removal complex, says it must be done only by a trained and accredited professional, and warns that improper removal may actually increase exposure.
On who may do the work, the rules differ by level. The EPA says federal law does not require people who inspect or remove asbestos in detached single-family homes to be trained and accredited, but some states and localities do. Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry says it certifies asbestos removal contractors and workers. In Philadelphia, a notification must be filed at least 24 hours before anyone removes or encapsulates less than 40 linear or 80 square feet of asbestos, and a larger job needs a permit that only a licensed abatement contractor can get. The city says property owners are bound by these rules too.
If you hire an abatement contractor, the EPA says to get a written contract beforehand that sets out the work plan, the cleanup and the regulations that apply, and written assurance at the end that all procedures were followed. Waste should leave in sealed, labeled, leak-proof bags, and the area should be cleaned with wet methods or HEPA vacuums, never a regular vacuum.
What does this mean for the flooring quote?
It is a separate line, and possibly a separate company. Ask each flooring contractor how it would handle old resilient flooring: whether it will install over it, whether it recommends testing, and who would remove it if needed. A flood can force the question; the EPA notes that older homes may have materials containing asbestos or lead, and that this needs considering during flood cleanup.
The state rules for asbestos and flooring work are summarized in what Pennsylvania requires of flooring contractors, and safe roles for a homeowner are in installing or refinishing floors yourself. Businesses are listed on the flooring contractors directory page.
Sources
- Learn About Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
- Apply for an asbestos project permit, City of Philadelphia
- The Homeowner's Guide to Hiring a Qualified Tile Installer, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF)
- Flood Cleanup to Protect Indoor Air and Your Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency