Are Asbestos Floor Tiles Safe. If asbestos tiles are covered with carpeting or a floating floor made of wood bamboo cork linoleum or vinyl along with the appropriate vapor barrier the potential for creating friable asbestos and resultant health effects is very low. As long as the asbestos tiles are solid you can cover them with sheet vinyl luxury vinyl plank laminate engineered wood solid hardwood or just about any other type of flooring.
Asbestos is a fiber that is harmful when it is breathed into your lungs6 If the floor tiles are intact and undamaged there is very little risk that fibers are being released into your home. Because of this you must perform routine floor care very carefully so you dont cause asbestos fibers to get into the environment. If asbestos tiles are covered with carpeting or a floating floor made of wood bamboo cork linoleum or vinyl along with the appropriate vapor barrier the potential for creating friable asbestos and resultant health effects is very low.
Follow these guidelines to reduce the chance of releasing asbestos during your floor maintenance activities.
Asbestos is safe and legal to remain in homes or public buildings as long as the asbestos materials are in good condition and the asbestos can not be released into the air. Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air. If you want to know for sure if they contain asbestos contact a New York State licensed Asbestos Assessor who will properly collect samples and send them to a laboratory for testing.
