Over the course of the last century, people have installed a variety of flooring solutions in their homes, apartments, and office buildings. The same applies to Massachusetts. When choosing a flooring solution, people usually consider its insulation properties, look, and feel. However, every flooring is made out of different materials. Some types of flooring can contain asbestos floor tiles which are harmful to you and your loved ones. How do you know if your flooring contains asbestos or not? To help you out, we have put a list of types of flooring that usually contain the harmful material.
If your flooring is on the following list, consider talking to our team at RidAway to have it inspected and removed.
Vinyl asbestos floor tiles
Vinyl floor tiles make a very popular flooring in Massachusetts. It is because they come in a variety of colors. Vinyl floor tiles are also quite flexible. Unfortunately, these tiles usually contain the toxic substance. Most often, we find white asbestos in them.
The content is usually around 1% which is still a potentially harmful concentration, especially if you are exposed to it long-term.
Thermoplastic floor tiles
Thermoplastic floor tiles became a popular flooring solution because of their durability. Well-installed thermoplastic tiles can last a decade without moving. They are easy to clean too. However, they often contain chrysotile or white asbestos.
Among all flooring that usually contains it, thermoplastic has the highest content. This content can be diverse, including white asbestos, actinolite and tremolite as well.
The substance used to adhere them to the floor can also contain black asbestos, making this flooring quite harmful. This flooring is usually found in houses built between the 50s and the 80s.
Linoleum and vinyl sheet flooring
Sheet flooring and linoleum is another flooring type that usually contains asbestos. The highest asbestos concentrations are often under the flooring in the paper lining. The flooring and the upper sheets are often free of it. However, the backing layer can have this content that can go up to a whopping 100%.
Floor screed
You should know that floor screed can also contain asbestos. Even if you have asbestos-free tiles in your home, floor screed can be the primary source of this type of hazardous material, containing it in small concentrations. White asbestos is often found in pink and red floor screeds.
While asbestos in floor screed is not as harmful as in tiles, consider having it inspected. It can become harmful during flooring replacement and repair work, so having the job done by a professional is recommended for safety.
Should you replace the flooring with asbestos content?
It all depends on the concentration of the material in your flooring. If the concentration is harmful, you should definitely consider replacing it. Massachusetts homeowners can even benefit from the Mass Save Residential Renovations and Additions Incentives Program to save extra when doing home renovations.
Are you worried about what type of flooring you have? Feel free to contact us at RidAway. We will come to inspect your home, help with asbestos removal, and make your home safe again.
