Does Vinyl Flooring Contain Asbestos? What to Know

Older vinyl flooring often does contain asbestos, particularly vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl and the black adhesive used to install them before about 1990. The asbestos may be in the tile, in the felt backing of sheet flooring or in the glue underneath, and you cannot tell which by looking. Intact flooring is generally low risk, but cutting, sanding, grinding or scraping it up can release fibres, so test before you renovate.

Why vinyl floors were made with asbestos

For much of the twentieth century, asbestos was a common ingredient in resilient flooring. Manufacturers added it to vinyl and asphalt tiles to make them more durable, dimensionally stable and resistant to heat and wear. In sheet vinyl, asbestos was often used in the paper or felt backing layer rather than the top wear layer. Many of the adhesives used to glue floors down, especially black cutback mastic, also contained asbestos.

This is why flooring is one of the most frequent places asbestos turns up in Calgary homes. Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, entryways and basements were all prime spots for vinyl, and many of those floors are still in place today, sometimes hidden under carpet, laminate or newer vinyl.

How to identify suspect flooring

No visual feature can confirm asbestos, but some floors are much more likely to contain it than others. Treat these as suspect until tested:

• 9 inch by 9 inch tiles, a size commonly installed before the 1980s
• 12 inch vinyl composition tile, often called VCT, installed before about 1990
• Sheet vinyl with a grey, white or tan felt or paper backing, visible at torn edges or under appliances
• Black mastic adhesive under tile, sheet flooring or even old carpet
• Layered floors, where a newer floor sits on top of one or more older ones
• Floor leveller or patching compound beneath older flooring

True linoleum, made from linseed oil, cork and wood flour, is not generally associated with asbestos. However, many people use the word linoleum for any sheet floor, so do not assume a floor is safe because someone called it linoleum.

Layers matter. A 1990s floor may look recent, but the original tile and glue from the 1960s or 1970s could be right underneath it. Each layer and each adhesive should be sampled separately during a professional asbestos inspection.

When asbestos flooring becomes a health risk

Asbestos causes harm when fibres are released into the air and inhaled. Exposure is linked to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, diseases that typically appear decades later. No safe level of exposure has been identified, so the aim is to prevent fibres from becoming airborne.

Vinyl tiles in good condition are usually considered non-friable, which means the fibres are locked into the material and are not easily released. That changes when the floor is damaged or worked on. Sheet vinyl backing can be more of a concern, since tearing it can release fibres more readily. Risk increases when flooring is:

• Sanded, ground or buffed aggressively
• Broken into small pieces or chipped up with a scraper
• Cut with power tools to fit new cabinets or vents
• Torn up so that the felt backing shreds
• Scraped or ground to remove old mastic before a new floor goes down
• Badly worn, cracked or crumbling from water damage

Calgary and Alberta considerations

Much of the Calgary region's housing was built or renovated during the decades when asbestos flooring was common. Post-war bungalows, 1960s to 1980s split-levels and two-storeys, older condos, and homes in nearby communities such as Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks and Chestermere frequently contain at least one layer of older vinyl. Basement developments from the 1970s and 1980s are another common source, even in homes built earlier.

Canada did not fully prohibit asbestos products until the end of 2018, and older stock continued to be installed after manufacturers phased asbestos out, so the date on the house is only a starting point.

When contractors remove asbestos flooring in Alberta, the work falls under Part 20 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code. Asbestos-containing materials must be identified before work that could disturb them, workers must be trained and protected, and waste must be packaged, labelled and disposed of properly at a facility that accepts it. If your project involves a building or demolition permit, review our guide to asbestos and renovation permits in Calgary.

What to do before you replace an old floor

Follow these steps to keep a flooring project safe and on schedule:

1. Do not pull up, sand or grind the old floor until you know what it contains.
2. Book asbestos testing for your flooring as early as possible in your planning.
3. Make sure every layer, including the adhesive and any levelling compound, is sampled separately.
4. Wait for the accredited laboratory report and share it with your flooring installer.
5. Choose your approach based on the results and the type of new floor you want.

The assessor cuts small, clean samples and patches the spots, so you can keep using the room while you decide what to do. To get a sense of budget, see our breakdown of what asbestos testing costs in Calgary.

Your options if the floor contains asbestos

• Leave it alone. Intact flooring that is not peeling or cracking can stay in place.
• Cover it. A new floor installed over the old one keeps it sealed, but avoid installation methods that grind, sand or cut into the old layer, and remember the asbestos remains for future renovations and disclosure.
• Remove it. If the floor is damaged or must come out, professional asbestos flooring removal uses containment and techniques that keep tiles, sheet flooring and mastic in large pieces to limit dust, followed by cleanup and verification.

DIY removal mistakes to avoid

Pulling up an old floor seems like an easy job to save money on. With asbestos flooring, shortcuts can spread contamination through your home:

• Breaking tiles with a hammer or chisel creates fragments and dust.
• Using a heat gun or torch without proper controls can soften adhesives and create hazardous fumes and debris.
• Grinding or sanding mastic is one of the riskiest ways to remove it.
• Using chemical strippers without guidance can create a slurry that is difficult to clean up and dispose of.
• Vacuuming debris with a shop vacuum can blow fine fibres back into the room.
• Putting debris in household garbage is not an acceptable way to dispose of asbestos waste.

If you have already started pulling up a floor and are now worried, stop work, keep the area closed off, and read our guide on what to do if you have touched asbestos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to walk on asbestos vinyl tiles?

Walking on intact tiles is generally considered low risk, because normal foot traffic does not release significant fibres from material in good condition. Avoid sanding, scraping or aggressive buffing, and keep an eye out for cracking or crumbling.

Can I install new flooring over old asbestos tiles?

In many cases, yes. Covering intact asbestos flooring is a common approach, as long as the installation does not involve sanding, grinding or heavily cutting into the old layer. Talk with your installer and confirm the method suits the condition of the existing floor.

Does the black glue under my floor contain asbestos?

It might. Black cutback mastic was commonly made with asbestos, and it can test positive even when the tile above it does not. The adhesive should always be sampled as its own layer.

How many samples do I need for a layered floor?

Each distinct layer, including tile, sheet flooring, backing, adhesive and levelling compound, usually needs its own sample. A professional assessor will recommend a sampling plan that covers every material your project will disturb.

Before you pull up an old kitchen, bathroom or basement floor, have your vinyl flooring tested for asbestos so you know exactly what you are working with. Call Amity Environmental at 403-667-8264 or reach us through our contact page to book sampling in Calgary and surrounding communities.