Asbestos floor covering?

[Flair223]

We are renovating a 1970s house, under the carpet we found a papery cardboard like backing under the underlay (pictured). Is this likely to contain abestos? My partner ripped abit off right in front of me and now I’m panicking! Any ideas?

I couldn’t tell. I’m in Australia but I rang the council health inspector and asked for the name of any private lab that would test it. We sent off a sample and got a letter back saying no asbestos.

Now, as we got through the house and pull the darn stuff up, we put it on the verge for people to take with a copy of the letter taped to it (black out our personal details).

You can post samples off to be tested. Google it. Lino with asbestos tends to hang onto the fibres quite well so as long as you are careful then it can be removed by a diyer. Also be aware that if it is in the lino, it will probably be in the floor adhesive too which is harder to get rid of.

Unless the carpets are 25-30 years old then No , looks like papery cardboard to me.

The carpet has most likely been down since the house was built in 1970’s