Removing Asbestos Vinyl Flooring

Asbestos vinyl flooring was used quite a lot until around the 1970s, a good couple of years ago. Even our home had sheet vinyl flooring that used to contain asbestos. At that time people didn't know about the dangers of asbestos when inhaling for them, so they didn't care. However as the many health issues started to become wider known, people started to buy vinyl flooring that no longer contained asbestos.

It is important to note though that flooring with asbestos material is still legal in public buildings and also in homes if the asbestos is in good condition and it's not released in the air. However better to be safe than sorry, so it is best to use only asbestos free vinyl flooring for homes.

First of all it is important to recognize asbestos in the sheet vinyl flooring. If you bring a piece of your flooring to the lab, they can easily test and see whether it contains asbestos. However that might cost some money so it's quite easy at times to see it with your own eyes as well, without involving anyone else in the process.

The easiest way to know if it contains it is by still having the original packing. Many times the products label has this information. So when buying your new vinyl flooring, make sure to inspect the label carefully.

Also if you happen to come across vinyl floors with very dark colors in them (gray and almost black), they contain strong quantities of asbestos fiber, also called asphalt asbestos. Asphalt asbestos used to be quite popular until about the 1960, however nowadays you will hardly find a home using these - ugly and dangerous - vinyl types.

There are also many DIY sample kits that you can use at home for determining if the dangerous asbestos is present in your flooring. Once you've determined that you have a flooring that contains asbestos, you need to see whether you should remove it and replace it with something else. First check for any cracks, chips, crumblings, frays and other damaged to the floor. This is because it might release the asbestos and inhaling it could be dangerous to your health and at times could even cause death.

Removing asbestos vinyl flooring

When you have determined that you need to remove the floor, your best option is to use asbestos abatement contractors. However you can also do it on your own. Maybe the most important removal aspect is to remove the floor without releasing any dust which you could inhale.  This is why the first step in properly removing asbestos vinyl flooring is to isolate the area where you will be working. Use plastic sheets over various items that might come into contact with it, such as cupboards, doorways, heating items. Also make sure that there is no ventilation in the area during the work, so any escaped dust will not be inhaled or transported to another place where could cause dangers later on. So switch off any air conditioner or heat sources such as your winter heating working in the room at the time.

Another important issue in order to remove the flooring containing asbestos easily is to keep it wet. This allows it to come off easily without releasing any dust that brings you to any exposure to asbestos. You can use a water bottle for it.

Now cut the vinyl flooring into smaller pieces with a utility knife. Then remove these pieces one at a time by pealing them from the underfloor. Use a scraper to lift the floor easily. Don't forget to keep on wetting the floor to avoid drying it and releasing the asbestos dust.

The pieces that you removed should be sealed away in a plastic bag and they should be disposed off in a landfill that accepts waste that contains asbestos. Don't throw the plastic bag in your regular trash outside your home.

Once the flooring is all removed, before laying the new sheet vinyl flooring, or your vinyl floor tiles, make sure to clean the area properly so any dust specks are entirely removed as they can still be hazardous to your health. Use a damp cloth to wipe the surface clean. Make sure that the cloth is damp at all times. Also don't forget at the end of the job to remove all the plastic covering layers and place them in the same plastic bags that will disposed of at the proper waste disposal places. Finally wash your hands carefully and if necessary even take a shower to clean your entire skin of any dust particles that might have stuck to your skin.