Asbestos glue slows carpet work at store

A project to install new carpet at the Flathead Industries Thrift Store  hit a small snag when workers found asbestos-containing glue holding down floor tiles under the old carpet in part of the Kalispell store.

“We wanted to pull up the old carpet and tiles to lay the new carpet down on an even surface,” said Vickie Poynter, the organization’s chief executive officer.

“Some tiles were laid down with black mastic, which contains asbestos. So the alternatives were to either lay down carpet over it all or pull it up and have it abated. We chose to be good stewards of the building and pull it up and have it abated.”

The project to carpet the store started Monday.

With the extra work, Poynter expects the thrift store to reopen by June 27. “It’s an easy remediation, but has created a stir,” she said.