# Asbestos in Vinyl Floor?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-vinyl-floor/209552>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 25, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-vinyl-floor/209552 "2003-10-25T20:46:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-vinyl-floor/209552/21 "2003-10-29T14:40:33Z")

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Thanks, t-keela.

It is on a slab. My father also in-law recommended a scraper and sander, which seemed like a great idea until the asbestos issue came up. If it turns out that I don’t have to worry about that, this will be the way we go.

Otherwise, I have no idea how to get the floor up. Leaving it in is not an option, as it won’t be level with the slab where the carpet used to be.

I’m wondering if I can just peel as much vinyl up w/ my hands as possible, leaving the backing and the adhesive on the floor, put the vapor barrier over the whole thing, and then the Pergo. Since I won’t be grinding the material, I prob won’t have to worry about the asbestos… or should I?

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**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-vinyl-floor/209552/22 "2003-10-29T21:41:53Z")

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Good news - we had the floor sampled, and there is no asbestos present.

Thanks for all the input!

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**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-vinyl-floor/209552/23 "2003-10-30T04:11:42Z")

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That’s good **joe**. Remember to cut the old vinyl into strips as you take it up. The weight alone makes it a good idea. It makes for a neater job as well.

Buy two scrapers ($10/ea. @ W-mart) and a case of beer. Bring a friend. Everytime ya bag a strip of vinyl…ya get a beer. A fun and productive way to spend an afternoon. 😉

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