Dealing With Black Mastic

black mastic

Black mastic as seen in an artist’s workshop

Mastic is a black synthetic resin or glue-like flooring adhesive that forms a tough skin and adheres to flooring materials like vinyl. While we still rely on this product somewhat today, even with many floating floor options, it’s nothing like we used to use.

Black mastic products used in the 20th century underneath lino and vinyl once contained asbestos. While it’s not something we have to concern ourselves with regarding new mastic products that are latex or water-based, it’s certainly a cause for concern in older homes built before 2000.

If you’re about to undertake home renovations and are unsure if asbestos-containing black mastic is something you might encounter, read on. The following information can ensure you make an informed decision about what you do next.

 

What Does Black Mastic Look Like?

Now you know what black mastic is, you can now learn what it looks like so you can be on the lookout when you get renovations underway. Black is its predominant colour, but that doesn’t mean you should not take care with any other adhesive materials that aren’t black.

Depending on the age of your house, some water-based adhesives are also black and may not contain asbestos, and vice versa. It’s also important not to lift vinyl just to see if you spot any black materials underneath. This removal can cause any asbestos particles to be released into the air, putting your home’s occupants at risk of asbestos-related illnesses.

 

What to Do If You Suspect Black Mastic Asbestos In Your Home

If your home was built before 2000, there’s every chance that it could contain asbestos. Many building materials pre-2000 featured this hazardous natural material, which means anything from your vinyl to cladding, and even some insulation products, might contain asbestos.

It can be tempting to lift your vinyl to see if black mastic is present, but as previously mentioned, this is not the best approach. Instead, the only way to know with any certainty while also keeping yourself safe is by carrying out asbestos testing.

This process is easy with trained professionals. Surveyors visit your home, take a sample of the material, and send it to a lab for full analysis and reporting. This report can detail the condition of the asbestos, the material it’s in, and what your options are for it.

 

Is Black Mastic Safe?

Mastic products we buy and use today are safe since they don’t contain asbestos. However, could you say that black mastic that does contain asbestos is safe?

If you leave it alone, undisturbed, that is a possibility. Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) tend to only be dangerous when they are exposed. Once they are, the small asbestos particles can be inhaled by unsuspecting people, who can then go on to develop a wide range of often fatal health conditions.

 Therefore, you have three potential options at your disposal:

  • Leave any good-condition vinyl as it is

  • Cover it up with another flooring product (encapsulation)

  • Hire an asbestos removal company to remove it

Leave It Alone

This might be a suitable option for any homeowner who may not be ready to cover the costs of removal or encapsulation just yet. You might know your vinyl or lino contains asbestos, but being in good condition means it’s safe to leave alone until you’re ready to update it.

Cover It Up

If your asbestos-containing vinyl is flat and suitable to cover up without having to remove it, this might be a convenient option for you. Encapsulation means you’re covering up the asbestos with another flooring type, which stops asbestos particles from being released.  

Anyone unsure whether this option is right for them may like to contact an asbestos removal company for expert advice. It may also be worthwhile taking notes for future homeowners about the presence of asbestos underneath your new flooring.  

Remove It

Sometimes, black mastic can be in such poor condition underneath worn lino or vinyl that your only option is to remove it. However, before you get your reno tools out, it’s important to understand what you can and can’t do.

Black mastic can be friable asbestos, which means only someone with a Class A licence can remove it in that state. You may also only remove ACM if it’s less than 10m2 and of a non-friable nature.

If you do have non-friable asbestos that you’d like to take care of yourself, take note of requirements WorkSafe has put in place, such as:

Take Care of Black Mastic Today

We are in the fortunate position of knowing what products contain asbestos and how we can avoid them to keep our families safe. Therefore, if you’re about to get renovations underway, take a moment to factor your property’s age into the process.

 

Asbestos removal experts can identify any asbestos present in your home, including in areas you may not have suspected so that you can form your renovation plans around it.

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