Why does my house have vinyl floor tiles?

[Leif]

I've just bought a house, and on lifting the carpets I discovered vinyl floor tiles, spaced about 4mm apart with no grout, thus exposing the screed beneath. The kitchen had vinyl tiles placed close together. The house was built in the late 60's and I think the tiles are original. I have lifted them as I will re-carpet, but why would they have vinyl floor tiles with such wide spaces between? The only purpose I can think of is to add some insulation between the cold screed and the carpet.

When I lifted the vinyl tiles, the floor sometimes felt damp or clammy, but a hand held moisture meter showed damp levels below 1% i.e. 0.7% max. I do wonder if the tiles could have acted as a moisture trap by preventing the floor 'breathing'.

[ayjay]

The tiles have shrunk.

Unless the correct underlay was used between the carpet and the tiles the floor will "sweat" and thus feel damp.

[Leif]

Thanks Ayjay.

[thescruff]

Be carefull, although it may be too late now, but they will most likely contain Asbestos.

[Leif]

Be carefull, although it may be too late now, but they will most likely contain Asbestos.

Oh! Yes it is too late now. I lifted them with a scaper, sometimes using a heat gun. And they are in a skip with other waste. Is there any easy way to check if they contain asbestos besides sending away to a laboratory? If not, is there a laboratory that will do it? Oddly enough several builders who have visited to quote for work did not say anything. I suppose there are legal issues here.

[thescruff]

Could well be legal issues.

Best to double bag them and get one tested.

[Leif]

Can someone clarify what causes floor tiles to sweat. The areas that were damp are now dry or drying. My guess is either that a small amount of moisture normally travels up through the floor and into the room, and the tiles trap the moisture, added by hygroscopic glue, or that the tiles insulate the floor, and consequently the cold floor acts as a condensation trap. Probably a mixture of the two at a guess. I wonder if this could have caused the previous owners to suspect penetrating damp as the house was treated for damp.

Could well be legal issues.

Best to double bag them and get one tested.

Will do. If today you saw someone scrambling around in a skip, taking out the contents, separating out pale blue tiles, and then putting the rest back, then you saw me. Removing vinyl floor tiles does not come near the top of enjoyable pursuits ... But if anyone else needs to know how to do it, then a scraper and hammer works well, aided by a heat gun for the most reluctant ones. If they contain asbestos, apparently precautions need to be taken.

[tictic]

Be carefull, although it may be too late now, but they will most likely contain Asbestos.

heard they will be bringing these tiles off the Abestos list,.. the scruff, some time later in the year....


OP.. they will contain Asbestos,but if you soaked them first them removed,then you shouldn't have much to worry about...

hard hat on now....

[thescruff]

Good to here tictic,

Maybe worth checking now, or asking the council/skip man.

Lief.

Explain sorting them out and putting some back.

[tictic]

had a few jobs with them this year....the old marley tiles....and the H/S on the jobs have said the above about the list..as long as you follow the procdure i.e watering down etc...

saying all that,when i know its an Asbestos job,i ALWAYS grow a beard before hand....

[tictic]

just in case any off the young ones dont know.....

when you have to work in an Asbestos enviroiment(bad spelling again)..lol..

you have to be CLEAN shaving.. so any PPE you wear (around the face) has no restictions..i.e. facial hair...

[tictic]

anyway...the scruff...

hope your good,and keeping..Dickie in check.. over in the plumbers forum...

he is giving us Glasgow bHoys a bad name....lol....

tictic...

[thescruff]

Dickie's ok when he sticks to what he knows best.

Half a shandy and all hells let loose.

Probably having to pay for it I suppose.

[Leif]

Good to here tictic,

Maybe worth checking now, or asking the council/skip man.

Lief.

Explain sorting them out and putting some back.

Not sure of the question, but I had to empty the skip, separate out the tiles and store them in the garage for bagging later, and then place the rest of the skip contents back into the skip. I will ask the council and/or get them tested as soon as I remember to take a sample.

No doubt I did not follow HSE guidelines for the removal of these tiles, but given that I am only doing one house it is not as if I have significant long term exposure.

Does anyone know what causes vinyl tiles to sweat? Is it condensation or residual damp in the screed? Although the bare floor feels damp, there are no signs of damp in the walls and (removed) skirting board. And it is drying in a day, apart from in the spare room where it is taking a few days.

[tictic]

has the floor got a dpm..could be a few things damp/condensation etc lack of ventallation..