Have this sheet vinyl floor asbestos tested?

CoconutPete

The time has come to tear out the kitchen!

It's a sheet vinyl floor which I think is about 4 yrs old based on when the PO said she had it put in.
Underneath it is plywood.
Underneath that plywood is some "awesome green" sheet vinyl. The picture is taken underneath my dishwasher. The sheet vinyl does not appear to be attached very well to whatever it sits on top of - if at all.

The house is from 1930 and based on the stories I exchanged with the PO, nothing was redone when she bought it in 1979 leading me to believe that this "awesome green" floor is also from 1930.

There seems to be TONS of information available for trying to educate yourself on whether or not there is asbestos in your tile, I have even found "Guides" with patterns and manuf. names ......... this does not seem to be the case with sheet vinyl. Are the rules of thumb the same? By that I mean "assume the worst" if its' made before 1980?

I'd really like this floor out because the added height the new floor on top of it adds has made it impossible to have a doormat in front of the entry door and some high transitions going into the kitchen from other rooms.

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rusty baker

If you are concerned, have it tested. If it was me, I would just take it up carefully.

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Bondo

Ayuh,... Ditto that,...

Bag it, 'n ship it....

Save yerself grief, 'n cash...

TarheelTerp

In the 30's era (a rich family) would have had LINOLEUM...
and in the 30's that may have had asbestos in the mix or assembly.

some reading material:
http://www.congoleum.com/history.html

You still need to test it or dispose of it assuming the worst.
Getting it out to the curb shouldn't present any great risk.

CoconutPete

Tarheel: Do you write asphalt because you are a "tarheel" or did your spellchecker change asbestos to asphalt? I'm confused, do I need to be looking for asphalt too?

I'm a fan of taking it out carefully, just being paranoid, my wife is pregnant, although she will be "sent packing" for a few days while demo is going on.

TarheelTerp

Nope... just a brainfart.

Maintenance 6

It's hit or miss whether there is asbestos in flooring. 9x9 tiles are often assumed to contain asbestos, although I've seen plenty that didn't and I've seen it in 12x12s. Sheet good might or might not. There is no hard and fast rule. Asbestos that is in flooring is pretty much encapsulated by the vinyl/rubber/asphalt matrix. Unless you go sanding on it or somehow breaking it down to fine dust, it is pretty harmless. Spray it down as you tear it out to minimize any dust. Same with the mastic that held it down. Bag it up and get rid of it. If it was pipe insulation or refractory cement, it would be a whole different story, but sheet flooring is not in the top 10.

oh'mike

That green sheet good look like 1970s Armstrong---You may find one more layer of Linoleum under that--

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joed

All the problems with asbestos in flooring that I have read about talks about 9x9 block tiles, not sheet flooring. I would just tear it out and not be concerned. Asbestos is only a problem when it becomes friable, that is dust floating in the air. Not a very likely scenario even if the flooring has asbestos in it, and I don't think it does.

If it is vinyl flooring then it doesn't. If it is something other than vinyl the only way be 100% sure is a test I guess.

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astersia

That was the Armstrong (I think it was) avocado green sheet vinyl that my mother installed in the 70's, as another poster said. It has an interlocking double ogee shape which is the give away in the photo. It was also very common to see it in orange. Either there's another floor underneath or they removed it for you in the 70's. My house is still in the family and the floor still looks great - the wear layer must've been much better than what we see today. Green and orange are trendy again...

CoconutPete

Here is an update:
When we got the cabinets out there was a solid inch of height difference between where the cabinets were and the vinyl. I stuck a crowbar under there just to see if it would come up and it did. I wetted the floor and made a few cuts and the stuff literally came up in 4 x 8 foot sheets plywood and all.

I figured instead of taking a chance and scrape the stuff the peace of mind was worth the $100 for 4 new sheets of plywood.

oh'mike

You got an easy one---luck of the draw---man you moved some material today--good work.

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