Asphalt Floor Tile Asbestos

Over time asphalt which was a main ingredient in asbestos tiles can degrade and cause the tiles to look grimy or discolored in spots.

Asphalt floor tile asbestos. Another time period that asbestos floors were popular in was between the years of 1920 and 1960. One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only. In addition many older asphalt tiles manufactured between the 1920s and 1960s contain asbestos filler fibers. We show a 9 x 9 reddish brown asphalt or vinyl asbestos floor tile found in the same home.

In both cases the tiles were hardened by evaporating a solvent used in the fabrication process or by cooling of hot asphalt used in the mixture. Other brand uncertain asphalt containing 12 x 12 floor tiles that contain asbestos. Asphalt is a main ingredient in asbestos tiles and the oil from the asphalt can leach out. You could also cover the tiles with new vinyl flooring linoleum or even ceramic tiles.

Below is a 12 x 12 vinyl asbestos floor tile found in the same home as the 9 x 9 flooring shown above. Photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles 1900 1986. Identification photographs product names styles colors and vinyl asbestos floor patterns and colors for asbestos containing floor tile products made between about 1930 and 1986. Kentile flooring produced through 1986 may contain asbestos.

As you can see this method is not an exact science. The only true way to tell if the tiles contain asbestos is by checking the package or having a lab test a piece of the tile for asbestos. However as a favor to future owners of your house make some note of the fact that asbestos tiles are under the new flooring. Brown asphalt asbestos tiles were made by substituting gilsonite as a binder.

Step 3 date the tiles. Asphalt asbestos tiles manufactured early in their life 1920 s were either black near black brown or a gray brown tone. Some of the flooring tiles have come off and you see. Asphalt is one of the main materials used for the manufacturing of asbestos floor tiles and leakages of the oil incorporated in it can occur causing the color of the tiles to fade.

Vinyl or asphalt tiles that have these colors in it have a high likelihood of asbestos fibers. If the tiles or the floor beneath show oily discoloration the tiles very likely contain asbestos. The only way to make it a science is to hire a licensed asbestos inspector or. For more information about these older flooring types see asphalt vinyl floor tile history history dates and description of the production process and ingredients in asphalt floor tiles asphalt asbestos floor tiles vinyl asbestos floor tiles 1900 to present.