Windsor Environmental · Updated November 2026
If you’re renovating a pre-war or post-war apartment in Manhattan and the plans call for new floors, there’s a good chance the old parquet is set in black asphalt mastic. Many of those adhesives contain asbestos.
Is it dangerous?
Intact mastic under a floor isn’t releasing fibers. The risk comes during renovation: lifting, grinding, sanding or chemically stripping it. That’s why it has to be tested before demo, and removed by licensed abatement crews if it’s positive.
Testing
Mastic is typically tested as part of your ACP-5 inspection. Because floor adhesives can test negative under standard PLM analysis and still contain asbestos, labs often confirm negatives with TEM. Plan on a few days for results.
Does removal need a DEP filing?
Almost always. A single room is usually more than 10 square feet, which makes it an asbestos project requiring an ACP-7 filing with DEP, independent air monitoring and an ACP-21 at the end.
Your building will want
- COIs naming the building and managing agent
- Work within the alteration agreement’s hours
- Elevator reservations and protected hallways
- The ACP-7 and later the ACP-21 for the alteration file
Ways to save time and money
- Test during design, so filing time doesn’t stall your floor installer.
- Ask whether the new floor can be installed over the old one (encapsulation), if your board allows it.
- Remove all floors in one filing rather than room by room.
Questions
How long does mastic removal take?
Most apartments take one to three days on site after filing.
Can I live there during removal?
The work area is sealed off; for whole-apartment floors we usually recommend staying elsewhere for those days.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change. We’ll confirm what applies to your property when you call.
