Question: Does Vinyl Flooring Adhesive Contain Asbestos?
"We are renovating our laundry room. We pulled up the 20 year old vinyl flooring [because] it was curling up in various places. What was left behind that we cannot get up off the wooden base floor is a light gray substance which feels like the soft foam backing of the old vinyl. My friend told me that this could contain asbestos, and I should lay a backer board, and then install the new ceramic tile on top of this? Can you guide me.. This whole asbestos thing is freaking me out."
Name Withheld
Answer: Yes, asbestos under vinyl floor is a possibility. Being 20 years old, though, it is debatable. The story for a long time has been that homeowners need to be wary of any kind of adhesive or mastic below linoleum and sheet vinyl because it can contain asbestos. I'm not sure if it's so true anymore, but why take chances?
Even outside of the asbestos issue, you would want to lay down cement backerboard below your ceramic tile. Tile mortar sticks better, and you get a more stable surface. Also, it saves you the trouble of trying to remove that foam-like substance. Using solvents might take days to do; laying down backerboard might be a one-day job, max.
