28/08/2025
• The hazards of asbestos aren't a secret, but where it may be located in your property can be.
• Asbestos can be a hazard we encounter when removing floor coverings from a property that has sustained water damage. We were removing vinyl and underlay when we discovered further vinyl underneath, due to the age of the property there was a chance that second layer of vinyl could contain asbestos in the backing, as a result we had to stop works immediately and wait for sampling to be undertaken.
• If we suspect a vinyl may contain asbestos, we always get it tested for verification regardless as all interested parties will want documentation proving its presence.
• There can be a valid reason that vinyl was left there; 1) the owner at the time wanted to save money and left it there, 2) whoever put the new layer of floor coverings down couldn't be bothered removing the old layer, or 3) and the most likely reason, is they believed the backing of the vinyl may contain asbestos and they didn't want to disturb it so they left it in place.
• Asbestos was used with vinyl into the 80s. If you're having a renovation carried out and find vinyl underneath any floor coverings you've removed and if it was installed prior to the 90s, or you suspect it may contain asbestos, contact a accredited lab who deal with asbestos as to the best way to get a sample for testing.
• Having sampling undertaken is a small cost for piece of mind compared to the health risks associated with asbestos.
• Recommend stopping works that could disturb the vinyl until the tests come back. If works continue and the tests come back positive, then the occupants of the building could have been put at risk.
• So in short, if you're removing floor coverings in a property that was constructed pre 1990s, and come across any vinyl that has a potential asbestos backing, stop what you're doing and get it tested.
• The test for this vinyl came back negative, but you'll see at the end of this video we discovered something just as shocking when we started removing the vinyl and that was the headline of the newspaper laid underneath.
RESPONSE RECOVERY RELIEF