Linoleum

Kathleen O'Hara <kohara [at] tenement__org> writes

>We have a historic linoleum rug that needs to be removed so that
>conservation work can occur on the floor underneath it.  It measures
>approximately 9 feet x 12 feet, and needs to be moved through a
>doorway that measures 29 inches" wide and about 8 feet high.


Here in Australia, it is common to find asbestos in old linoleum, so
you might want to check, just in case.

An alternative to a cardboard tube would be a 300 mm (12 inch) PVC
stormwater pipe. You should be able to get 18 foot lengths from a
plumbers' supply.

Brittle linoleum often softens under heat, so you could try heating
it with hot air guns when you are rolling it. It would probably take
considerable time, but well worth it to avoid cracking, particularly
if it does contain asbestos. The last thing you want is for it to
start cracking and ejecting asbestos fibres into the air.

George Bailey
Senior Objects Conservator
Australian War Memorial


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 26:51
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 28, 2013
                       Message Id: cdl-26-51-009
                                  ***