Hazardous Materials in the Home

Older homes may contain hazardous materials which, if handled improperly, can cause health problems. Below are a few that flooring contractors frequently encounter.

Asbestos

In the flooring trade we most commonly encounter issues with asbestos in floor tiles and mastics which were typically installed from the 40’s-70’s. Over time, as these went out of style, a common practice was to cover them up with more plywood and then a flooring product that was considered current. Some floors have many layers of vinyl, plywood, lauan, or tile over the original substrate. To keep the weight of the floor down and avoid height issues between floors, it’s best to remove these layers before installing new material. We receive a lot of requests to remove layers of kitchen floors in older homes, and install new hardwood floors. Before this can be done however, the homeowner must ensure that there are no layers of asbestos tile or mastic in the floor, bearing in mind the all layers must be tested. The best way to do this is to have a professional company inspect and test the floor. Samples of the different layers can also be brought to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene listed below. Madison Hardwood Floors does not work with asbestos. 

More information can be found at the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene.

Lead

Lead paint is another issue that may come up. Any home built prior to 1978 may have lead based paint. If a floor has been painted, the paint must be confirmed negative for lead before any work can be done to it. Painted floors are more often seen in top levels of homes. As with asbestos, it’s best to have a certified company do the testing and any required abatement.  Madison Hardwood Floors does not work with lead paint. The EPA has more information here.