Tips for Safe Linoleum Floor Tile Removal
Posted in Asbestos Removal, on April 28, 2025
For decades, linoleum floor tiles were a popular choice in homes, schools, and commercial buildings because of their unmatched durability, ease of cleaning, and low cost. Linoleum tiles were also frequently found in basements, kitchens, hallways, and laundry areas, where their resilience to moisture made them ideal. However, many of these tiles were installed before and around the 1980s when asbestos use was at an all-time high in manufacturing and construction. The harmful mineral was once used to strengthen flooring and resist heat and moisture. Still, today, professional asbestos removal is required in Edmonton and other Canadian cities because it poses a serious health risk to property owners and contractors working in contaminated properties during renovations, maintenance, or repairs.
If you're planning to renovate an older property, it's important to know that disturbing these materials can release dangerous asbestos fibers into the air. To ensure no one is exposed to the mineral, it's vital that linoleum asbestos floor tile removal be handled by experienced and trusted professionals like the Canada's Restoration Services team. Investing in our asbestos removal costs and reliable services can keep you and your loved ones safe and minimize any delays to your renovations.
To learn more about how to enable safe linoleum flooring asbestos removal in Edmonton and the surrounding areas, read on.
Confirm the Presence of Asbestos First
Before planning asbestos floor tile removal, it's essential to determine whether your linoleum tiles actually contain asbestos. This usually depends on the age of your flooring. In most cases, tiles made before 1990 are more likely to contain some concentration of the hazardous mineral. To be sure, you can conduct professional asbestos inspections and testing where a sample is safely secured and sent to a trusted third-party lab for conflict-free testing.
Avoid pulling up tiles yourself before testing, as this could release asbestos fibers. If asbestos is confirmed, you'll need to follow proper procedures or rely on professional asbestos removal in Edmonton from experienced technicians trained in safely handling asbestos-containing materials.
Make a Note of Whether the Mineral is Friable
When dealing with older flooring materials, understanding whether the asbestos is friable or non-friable is crucial. Friable asbestos can crumble even under the slightest pressure and is far more dangerous as it easily becomes airborne. Non-friable asbestos, which is more commonly found in linoleum tiles, poses less risk unless it's damaged or improperly handled. Never assume whether your asbestos is a risk or not; instead, trust the professional equipped with PPE and advanced technology to assess the situation and determine how to approach asbestos tile removal safely.
When the flooring is aged, deteriorating, or being prepared for full replacement, harmful particles can be released and inhaled by anyone in the vicinity. Our local experts can evaluate the state of the material and take the right precautions to ensure safety throughout the process.
Don't Get Too Close
Even if you suspect the flooring might contain asbestos, resist the urge to touch, scrape, or inspect it closely. Breaking, sanding, or prying up the tiles can disturb asbestos fibers, putting everyone in the vicinity at risk. When asbestos fibers are airborne and eventually inhaled, the mineral can disrupt organs and cause scarring, leading to serious health conditions like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis in some cases.
Contain the Affected Materials and Area
Once asbestos has been confirmed in your linoleum tiles, it's essential to create a sealed environment that prevents the release and spread of fibers during removal. At Canada's Restoration Services, our asbestos abatement teams begin by isolating the affected area using heavy-duty plastic sheeting and industrial-grade tape. Air filtration units with HEPA filters are set up to create negative pressure, ensuring that airborne fibers do not escape into uncontaminated areas of the property. Workers wear full protective gear and use misting equipment to keep asbestos-containing materials damp, minimizing dust during removal.
All hazardous waste materials, including tiles, adhesives, and disposable protective gear, are carefully bagged in labeled, double-sealed containers approved for hazardous waste in compliance with local environmental regulations.
Safe and Responsible Linoleum Asbestos Floor Tile Removal
When it comes to asbestos, safety is the utmost priority. When you are working on maintenance and repairs to linoleum floors that were first installed or manufactured at the time when asbestos could have been used, be safe and contact the trusted professionals at Canada's Restoration Services for reliable asbestos removal in Edmonton, the surrounding areas, and beyond.
