FAQs about asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles, 1900 -1986:

These frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about Armstrong & other brands of flooring produced in the 1960's helps building occupants & owners identify asbestos-containing floor tiles or sheet flooring and gives advice about minimizing the asbestos hazard from these materials.

This article series provides a guide to identifying asphalt-asbestos flooring (1917 - ca 1960) & vinyl asbestos floor tile (ca 1952 - 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 - flooring materials that are reported to or have been confirmed to contain asbestos in asbestos fiber or asbestos powder-filler form.

These flooring products typically contain chrysotile asbestos, and possibly other asbestos forms.

Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Product History and Product Identification FAQs

These questions and answers about asbestos or asbestos-suspect floor tiles of various brands produced or sold in many countries from 1960- 1969 were posted originally at 1960-1969 ARMSTRONG EXCELON FLOOR TILE GUIDE - be sure to review that article.

Asbestos is safe and legal to remain in homes or public buildings as long as the asbestos materials are in good condition and the asbestos can not be released into the air.

If you do not know the brand name of your flooring you can take a quick look at example photos of the product line of each manufacturer given in the list of photo guides found at CONTINUE READING below.

For a quick check and five easy questions that can help tell you if an unknown floor covering contains asbestos, try

DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos

 

On 2019-07-05 by (mod) -

Jute-backed what? Carpeting or linoleum?

I think your photo is showing sheet flooring or "linoleum" but it's a bit blurry. If so, the jute backer is a plant product.

Not asbestos.

On 2019-07-05 by Brandy

We are doing a reno on a house from 1915 this flooring we pulled up has a fabric like burlap on the back. Does it look like asbestos containing flooring?

On 2019-01-26 by (mod) -

We have seen that floor tile before, Tammy, identifed by a reader as a 1973 "Pebble Peoples" floor tile, treated as presumed to contain asbestos

On 2019-01-26 by Tammy

Can you please identify this tile? Home built 1968. 4 different tiles. Etched of some sort.
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On 2018-12-03 by (mod) -

Treat the floor as presumed to contain asbestos

On 2018-12-03 by Lee

Home built 1966, 12x12 tile was there when we purchased 15 years ago. Basement is typical 70's paneled etc. Several tiles have popped in specific area at bottom of stairwell because kids tossing athletic bags with equipment down the stairs. Doesnt match pictures I have seen

. Please advise
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On 2018-10-13 by (mod) - treat that white vinyl floor tile as PACM: Presumed Asbestos Containing Material

It would be prudent to treat the floor in your photo as presumed to contain asbestos.

That does NOT mean that you can't remove carpet, tack strips, and install new carpet or other flooring. "Safely" is not something I can judge by e-text as I can't say what someone may do at your site. Avoid chopping, grinding, sanding, making dust of the flooring.

For safe procedures see the live links in the ARTICLE INDEX to find these 3 articles

ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION

ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE

ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES

On 2018-10-13 by cheuner2

I foolishly peeled back carpet and padding and pryed up some tacking that was nailed down. I discoverd tile flooring. Please look at the pics. House was built in 1960. Can you tell if this tile is asbestos containg tile? Also can I rip up carpet and tacking and lay new carpet safely?

On 2018-09-23 by (mod) -

If its similar in age, yes.

On 2018-09-21 by Bobby

Thanks, One other question. It appears I also have the Armstrong 5352 Embossed Inlaid Linoleum. It looks the same as the random mosaic, but its in a roll, not tiles. Its not clear to me if it or some portion of that would also contain asbestos?

Thanks again!

On 2018-09-21 by (mod) -

No, Bobby, it's my mistake. I didn't realize that I needed to make clear that color variations among vinyl asbestos floor tiles do not change the asbestos content at all. Thank you for asking.

Re-stating: no, your 1968 Random Mosaic floor tile in red is an asbestos-containing floor tile as will be all of the colors in these floor tile series.

Asbestos was used in fibre form as a strengthener and in the form of short particles - a powder in essence - as a filler in vinyl floor tiles, in the body of the tile. The variations in pattern, imprint, color, shade, hue, as well as floor tile size or shape make no difference in the asbestos content.

On 2018-09-21 by Bobby

I had the 1968 Random Mosaic, but it was not red as listed. Does that mean its ok, or is any color of the given pattern implicated?

Thanks

On 2018-08-15 by Patwilliams

I had my aunts old home remodeled in 1998. She had remodeled it in the late 50's. I am pretty sure the kitchen floor was aspestos. It looked like the centennial pattern. The contractor tore it out and didn't consider it being asbestos or dangerous. What should I do now?? It was torn out and i don't know what they did with it? There is a wood floor now where it was.

On 2018-06-22 - by (mod) - 1969 Industrial sheet Flooring asbestos?

You can post an image to a comment using the "add image" button you see below the comments box.

When a floor is squeaky it is often possible to secure the flooring to joists with additional connections from below,

OR if a layer of new flooring is to be installed above, one can certainly drive screws through the existing sheet flooring.

If you are not chopping, drilling, grinding, sanding an asbestos-suspect sheet flooring it's not likely that you're releasing a detectable level of asbestos particles. If you were nevertheless concerned you could follow this site's floor wetting guidelines.

On 2018-06-22 0 by Marjorie Lanka

I have a home built in 1969. It has what was called industrial flooring in kitchen and bathroom. It's sheet something and extremely durable. It's in good shape except for seams. It has beige background with little sparkly things throughout.

General overall patern. I want to lay a new floor, but floors squeak all over. I asume this flooring has asbestos. How can I proceed? I need to use screws every so many inches to hit studs, before laying new floating floor. But I can't screw through adbestos. So does flooring have to be removed?

If so by whom? Or how?

I don't have a way to post an image.

On 2018-05-23 - by (mod) - 1960s Corlon flooring by Armstrong

Mary

Corlon floor tile was an Armstrong brand flooring sold as early as 1946 and extending to the present.

We have found asbestos in self-stick floor tiles sold in the early 1970's.

So if you do not know the age of your specific floor tiles, you should treat the

(Armstrong) Vinyl Corlon Tile Weathered Brick Yorktowne Red No. 48111 RFG 4138 (from the packaging information) as PACM - presumed asbestos containing material.

That does not mean the flooring is dangerous - it's not radioactive - but if it is sawn, ground, sanded, or otherwise demolished or made into friable dust there is a potential asbestos hazard.

If you have to disturb the floor or demolish it (covering it over is safer and less costly) you may want to have a sample tested.

You can find a list of ASBESTOS TEST LABS in the live link titled ARTICLE INDEX to ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS above on this page.

Corlon remains contemporary Armstrong brand described by names such as Armstrong Coronelle Vinyl Corlon floors and Armstrong Deco Art Corlon sold as sheet flooring and as floor tile, including self-adhesive floor tiles.

Shown here is a 1964 ad for Corlon flooring

On 2018-05-23 - by (mod) - Corlon self stick tiles in my kitchen #184111 H138 yorktowne red brick pattern

Mary

Corlon floor tile was an Armstrong brand flooring sold as early as 1946 and extending to the present.

We have found asbestos in self-stick floor tiles sold in the early 1970's.

So if you do not know the age of your specific floor tiles, you should treat the

(Armstrong) Vinyl Corlon Tile Weathered Brick Yorktowne Red No. 48111 RFG 4138 (from the packaging information) as PACM - presumed asbestos containing material.

That does not mean the flooring is dangerous - it's not radioactive - but if it is sawn, ground, sanded, or otherwise demolished or made into friable dust there is a potential asbestos hazard.

If you have to disturb the floor or demolish it (covering it over is safer and less costly) you may want to have a sample tested. You can find a list of ASBESTOS TEST LABS in the live link titled INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS above on this page.

Corlon remains contemporary Armstrong brand described by the name Deco Art Corlon sold as sheet flooring and apparently also as floor tile.

On 2018-05-23 by Mary - Corlon self stick tiles in my kitchen #184111 H138 yorktowne red brick pattern

I have Corlon self stick tiles in my kitchen #184111 H138 yorktowne red brick pattern Can you tell me if these contain asbestos? My e mail is gerbasimary@yahoo.com
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2018-03-16 - by (mod) -

Nis

It would be reasonable to treat that flooring as presumed to contain asbestos.

On 2018-03-13 by nismochefdude

I looked at all the Armstrong tiles and no luck. This best resembles 1973 custom San Pedro 57072 and almost identical to 1972 craftlon verdanza 54480 green. But the spade things are set differently. I'll pulled these off the back hall stairs with ease. Stayed whole and doesn't look like any adhesive was used. Tried doing to front hall stairs and they are supper stubborn and breaking into a 100 pieces each.
Any idea if they are self stick asbestos free?

This measures 12x12, 1/16,
Thanks jon
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On 2018-02-28 by Scott Schmidt

The other tile.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

I am starting a professional building remodel and trying to ascertain if the floor tiles contain asbestos. The facility was built late 60s or early 70s. There are two 12" tiles - a light bluish grey tile and a predominately blue tile with a similar pattern. Thanks!
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2018-06-11 by (mod) - 1969 asbestos floor tile in a duplex in Durham, NC

Right, Grinding an asbestos-suspect adhesive would be a mistake.

It would be prudent to either treat the material as containing asbestos or have a good sample tested. Search this website for ASBESTOS TEST LABS.

On 2018-06-11 by RPRadack

Got a selection of adhesives, sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles in a 1969, 2/1 duplex in Durham, NC

. It is slab so I assume the first floor is the black adhesive under the sheet vinyl. Later, vinyl tiles were placed on top of a few rooms.
I am not too concerned with taking up the tile and sheet vinyl, as I will just scrape it up and throw away.
I

'd like to grind the black adhesive as preparation for the grey epoxy coating.
My concern is if the adhesive has any asbestos in it that might become friable upon grinding.

Does anyone have any incite on the level of concern I should have for this plan for the adhesive or the scraping of the vinyl sheet and tiles?
Does this adhesive from 1969 have asbestos in it? Will it become friable upon grinding?

Any help would be appreciated.

On 2017-10-18 by Mary

I have a pic@Norms,

On 2017-09-03 by (mod) - If the flooring is in good condition, intact, the risk of asbestos release into air is low

If the flooring is in good condition, intact, the risk of asbestos release into air is extremely low - only if it is ground, sanded, etc. would there be a measurable hazard. The safest approach is to leave such floors in place, or in a traffic area cover them over with a new layer of flooring.

Cats do not release asbestos particles.

On 2017-09-03 by Concerned roommate

my roommate said that there are asbestos tile in a basement and they match the Kasha taupe the house was built in the fifties he received several asbestos safety training meetings where he works and has told me that everything is okay

there are certain acceptable exposure levels that are safe and he plans on doing a very controlled removal at some point but could not afford it but then tonight I hear a Shop-Vac and an air compressor hose going crazy in the basement and I found him down there in the laundry room by the HVAC unit and all of the floor tiles were removed and he blasting vacuum cleaner with an air hose

I asked him what he was doing he said I'm just cleaning the vacuum cleaner so I can vacuum down here and then I immediately left the house I'm afraid to go back to the house we're all my stuff is at. from what he told me asbestos particles are very tiny and Light and they float in the air for a very long time.

I do believe there will be asbestos particles in massive quantities all throughout the HVAC unit blowing through the house all over him and his clothes in the vacuum cleaner in the Shop-Vac that he was blowing something with in the dryer in the washer all over everything all over my drum set. they're going to settle down on everything and be airborne anytime anything is Disturbed.

all over the cats every time their pet asbestos will go through the air around the people that pet them what the hell do I do?

On 2017-06-27 by Mrs. Browning

We bought a home twenty years ago that was built mid 60's. The basement floor is tiled. Some tile have cracked or have come loose complety leaving a black surface beneath. Could this exposure be threatening to our health and what should we do about?

On 2017-05-03 by (mod) -

David,

I think we're discussing sheet flooring - true linoleum is not an asbestos-product. (use the search box just above to find our article on LINOLEUM FLOORING to see its ingredients) - that irritating lecture out of the way I admit many people use "linoleum" generically. Anyhow, I would assume that 1972 sheet flooring contains asbestos.

On 2017-05-03 by David

Does Armstrong 5352 Embossed inlaid linoleum from 1972 have asbestos in it?

On 2017-03-21 by (mod) -

If old means before the early 1980's that would be a reasonable assumption

On 2017-03-21 6 by Laura

Does the old Armstrong Travertex Tile have Asbestos in them

On 2016-06-30 01:13:09.919267 by Anonymous

what if I already started to remove tiles and some went out in the trash? Don't know if they are bad.

On 2016-11-30 by R. B

Hi
I had no clue asbestos is contained in old vinyl tiles. I moved to USA 7 years back.
I have recently bought a house built in 1970. The kitchen have vinyl tiles.

We wanted to replace the old vinyl tiles with new tiles It has two layers of vinyl. The top is a yellowish pattern vinyl sheeting (not tile). The one below is red. But i can't match them with pictures on your site. I removed halt of these from the floor by cutting with utility knife and ripping it out.

Than some one informed me that old tiles might have asbestos. I have no clue when these tiles were installed but i ripped off the tiles to the subfloor.

Now i am freaking out and i looked online and found your site. Can you please tell if these r tiles/sheet containing asbestos. There i no markings on them. I am also emailing the pictures.

Thank yoi so much for your help!!

On 2016-08-29 by (mod) -

Norm you can use our page top or bottom CONTACT link to send photos of flooring for comment. However if you've looked through our photo catalog for the 60's and 70's for the various major brands of flooring and don't find your floor tile,

I may not recognize it either. In that case in the ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS (link given above) you'll see advice for asbestos floor hazard reduction that you'll still want to read.

On 2016-08-28 by Norms

I don't see my the colour sticky floor that we found under and old carpet. Where can I send a picture? They are 9x9 light brown/cream with darker brown lines. I am paranoid please help. My home was built in 1895 my adding between 60's and 70's.

On 2016-07-07 by (mod) -

From what you describe, George, it's reasonable to assume the flooring contains asbetstos.

On 2016-07-07 by George bomberry

It looks like the tile in my home which was built in 1963 is Armstrong Excelon Corkstyle
Much of which is broken from carpeting tack strips
I can't tell what the asbestos content is

On 2016-06-25 by (mod) -

Yes. You can cover asbestos-containing flooring or floor tile mastic adhesive with another flooring layer; you may need to use a floor leveling compound if it's not smooth.

On 2016-06-25 by Patrick Langford

I own a 1964 home and just pulled up my carpet and found 9"x9"x1/16" vct flooring, looks like it may have be self-adhering. When I pulled up the carpet, a bunch of tiles pulled up off the floor. I was planning on covering the room with new VCT flooring.

Will this encapsulate the left over glue that's all dried out on the concrete? Not sure what to do if this is asbestos. I checked the back of the vct and didn't see any manufacturer name on it. Doesn't look like any of the pictures on your website.

On 2016-04-20 by (mod) -

I don't know, Chris. The date code might be encoded in the data you gave (Armstrong could tell us that) - it looks as if 12/81 could be a date of manufacture.

If so it would be safe to treat the flooring as PACM _ presumed asbestos-containing-material. That means don't grind, sand, saw, or otherwise make a dusty meas as the dust could contain asbestos fragments. If you are able to lift the tiles intact I suspect that there would be no measurable asbestos release.

On 2016-04-20 by Chris

Have Armstrong Peel and stick floor. Is it safe to remove? Asbestos? Info on bottom of box : 339H 12/81 213398. Top of box: 27200 K 21 81.

On 2016-04-19 by (mod) -

Jennifer,

Asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos floor tiles are not friable so it's not easy to make a lot of hazardous dust unless they are chopped, ground, or otherwise broken up. A few pieces that have been removed shouldn't be a measurable hazard. You may however need to use a floor leveling compound to give a smooth subsurface for your new floor, depending on the type of floor you plan to install.

Even small defects in the subfloor telegraph up through sheet flooring, but not through laminate or wood floors.

On 2016-04-19 by Jennifer

My home was built in 1960 and the laundry room floor is light pink/white tile. When I bought the home some tiles were missing behind the heater (I'm guessing they were removed by prior owner). While replacing the heater the contractor removed a few more tiles as they had popped up. I am planning on installing a new floor.

I have searched the site and cannot find any comparable tiles to the ones I have. My question is since there are a few tiles removed is this a concern? Thank you

Question: how do I post pictures of flooring at this website

(Apr 21, 2015) Anonymous said:

I went through the asbestos identified tile pictures on the website, but I could not recognize the tiles I have. I have two pictures of separate tiles I would like to submit to the website for identification. How do I post the pictures of do I have to send them in an email?

Thanks TH

David said:
I have 9x9" vinyl tiles in my basement and have no clue if they contain asbestos. The house was built in 1966 but its possible that the basement was not finished in that year. I have photos to submit.

Reply: use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send photos

Please use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send us photos and we'll be glad to comment, post, research as we can.

David, please use the page bottom CONTACT link to send me photos of the tiles in question.

Based on age, it'd be prudent to treat the flooring as presumed to contain asbestos.

In the ARTICLE INDEX for this series, or at the page bottom ARTICLE INDEX links above,

see ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION

or if you need to remove damaged asbestos-containing flooring

See ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE

Question: Armstrong diecut inserts from around 1952 - ways to seal these floors?

Am looking for information on Armstrong diecut inserts from around 1952. Also are there any recommended ways to seal these floors so you can enjoy the look but without any asbestos concerns? Thanks, Sarah - Sarah 6/23/11

Reply: gentle cleaning followed by floor restorer clear coating protects from asbestos fiber release

Sarah:

Our photos show examples of some of the diecut flooring inserts from the 1950's; I'm not sure what other information you seek.

About sealing vinyl-asbestos tile floors, especially in residential use where school or public regulations and public access worries don't apply, I've had great success using clear-coating floor restorer products.

As you can see at ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE, we just did this recently in a New York home.

The floor was washed with mild detergent and water. Then we used a spray cleaner recommended by the floor resetorer manufacturer. The spray cleaner removes old wax residues.

Next we used a magic marker to color in some gouges that had marred the floor surface. Finally we coated the flooring with the floor restorer product. The floor looked new, and great.

In sum, if you maintain a hard clear coating on top of the floor surface you won't be releasing any measurable level of asbestos fibers by normal foot traffic.

Also see ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION for more ways to reduce the asbestos hazard in asbestos-suspect or presumed asbestos-containing flooring.

Question

Found what I believe to be asbestos tiles under carpet in all 4 bedrooms of a house my daughter purchased. The house is 100 + age so this indicates these tiles would be asbestos.

Some are damaged through age and also have been stapled to hold the underpad of carpeting and also the carpet tack around the edges. What is the hazard of the staples and tack? Should we be concerned about fiber leakage thru these holes and various damage in the rooms. Thank you - Leaha 9/7/11

Reply:

Leaha

Shile one cannot assert the age of a flooring material necessarily from the age of a house (as flooring can be installed long after original construction) it's reasonable to use caution about old-looking flooring in a 100 year old home before knowing much more.

But it's unlikely that there would be measurable asbestos particle movement up through wall to wall carpeting over floor tiles; the hazards would more likely arise during demolition.

See ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION (article link at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article ) for advice about minimizing the hazards should you need to remove material.

If nevertheless you are worried about the health and safety of building occupants, you'd want a professional inspection for all conditions there; a loose railing or step or a fire hazard could be a greater risk that should not go ignored.

Finally, you could order asbestos tests on settled house dust or even air sampling if you are very anxious about the matter; frankly those steps would not be my first concern.

Question: identifying various other brands and product numbers of floor tiles

do you know if the SEARS brand HOMART 64-7169 asphalt floor tile contained asbestos? - Paul Wright 9/22/11

Have you heard of Dura Floor Plastic Asphalt Tiles? Do they contain asbestos? - Jo Lynn Judka 10/24/11

I have 12" x 12" tile in the basement just like the pattern San Roque Gold 57161 from 1980.
However, this tile is not 1/8 thick but 1/16 and it was peel & stick. Would this contain asbestos? - David 11/27/11

Is there a way I can forward someone a photo of a school floor to determine if it contains asbestos? I am unable to get back into the building It is closed, but the school dept wants to open it again and is saying that there isn't a problem. I looked through the tiles on your site, but oculdn't find an exact match.

The school was built in 1950-1960, but we have no evidence that the tiles have been replaced. Can you help? -

we have an armstrong floor tile (black color) with the following numbers on the back L4 1230 021898. We don't know the year it was installed. Does it contain asbestos? Is there a way to cross reference these numbers? - Dan 5/1/12

We have the San Roque pattern sheet vinyl. Did Armstrong use the same patterns at a later date for their sheet vinyl but without asbestos? We have already started to remove it and I am concerned. - Sue 10/24/2012

We have vinyl sheet flooring that was put in about mid 1984. Is this anything to worry about? When exactly was asbestos banned in the manufacture of sheet flooring? - Peter 11/6/2012

Reply:

David, naturally by email alone no one can say with certainty whether or not a floor tile contains asbestos, but if your flooring matches one of the ACM floor tiles we illustrate here,

AND if you are confident about the age (as you suggest) most likely it is an asbestos-containing product. And yes, for sure there were some peel-and-stick floor tiles that contained asbestos in the tile baking.

That does not necessarily mean that you need a costly asbestos remediation job - it depends on the condition of the surface, use made of the area, etc. If the floor is sound you may have the option of simply covering it with a new material.

JoLynn, sorry we don't have information about DuraFloor plastic asphalt tiles. Do you know the age of the product? You're welcome to send us photos (see the CONTACT link at top, side, bottom of our pages), and I'll research further. Certainly up to the early 1980's many asphalt floor tile products contained asbestos.

Dan, while we have published product and lot numbers for some floor tile products, there are just too many of them, thousands. Unlike mechanical equipment like water heaters or furnaces, I have not found a standard of correlation between product numbers and date of manufacture, though it probably was included in widely varying ways by individual manufacturers.

You can narrow down the asbestos question by:

- noting the age of the building itself as that sets the earliest plausible date for its floor materials +/- a year or so to allow for flooring sold from stock

- noting the date of any renovations of the building

- noting whether or not there are multiple layers of flooring or other similar changes that give a renovation history

- noting information on any packaging used for the floor tiles - sometimes an extra box of floor tiles is left and stored in a building, intended to supply future repairs or changes to the floor

- comparing the appearance of your flooring to the photographs we provide in these tile identification articles

- sending a small sample of flooring to a certified asbestos testing lab

For a tile floor of unknown constituents, do not do something foolish such as grinding, sanding, power sawing, or a dusty messy demolition.

Peter,
I think you mngh want to ask Armstrong, but in NY case, if you remove materials following the recommended procedures and avoid making a dusty ness you should be OK

Question

Hi there, being naive and not aware that floor tiles may contain asbestos - I began removing some older tiles from under the carpet in my kids room. After seeing a warning on a Home Depot website - we stopped the removal. Is there any way of testing or visually confirming the possibility of it containing asbestos?

I was working in the area for approximately 2 hours without any breathing apartus, etc. What are my options at this point? My wife is freaking out. Thanks - Sean M 1/22/12

I think I've looked through all the photos here and fortunately, the only one that appears to resemble what I have is in the "1989 & Later Armstrong Accoflex Series Flooring Tiles" image just above this comment box.

Unfortuneately, it is very difficult to be sure from this small image and i am sure what I have is NOT from the UK. The tiles I have are 12" x 12", 1/8" thick light blue and white (like streaked clouds on a blue sky) resembling "Spruce" above. The tiles are VERY heavy, quite inflexible and have very tiny sparkling crystals throughout.

These physical apsects make me very uneasy. Since the tiles are at least 25 years or more old, should I be concerned? Where might I go for an expert opinion? Thanks. - Scott 2/1/2012

Question: How much asbestos hazard was I exposed to during our floor renovation project?

We recently partially demo'd a ceramic tile floor in the kitchen of a home built in 1970. We popped the ceramic tiles up with a pry bar and sledge hammer. Beneath the tiles was a linoleum floor covering. I've visually identified the flooring on your website. It is Armstrong, Excelon, Custon Burnham 1972, 57080 Blue.

How much asbestos does this contain? Also, we didn't bother peeling it all up because it was too difficult. We chipped up the remaining ceramic tile on top of it and just covered the remainder of the floor with plywood and fastened the plywood with split drive fasteners.

We then nailed pine plank flooring over the plywood. Do we have any reason to worry about asbestos exposure??? My husband wore a dust mask. - Kelly McCullin 11/13/2012

I have ArmStrong sheet layment in my kicten.There was a layer of newer layment on top I did realize it was the orignal under it.

The house was built in 1974. I removed about a there foot area before I realized it. If i was exsposed to it how much does it take to make you sick and what are the symptoms.I have to think I am not the only one who has done this. - David 11/28/2012

Reply: it depends ... Here is a list of some risk factors when removing flooring that may contain asbestos

David, and also Kelly McKullin:

Unfortunately no one can say with any accuracy whatsoever just what level of hazard you were exposed to during your asbestos floor removal. The variables include:

• the total amount of material disturbed and removed
• the actual asbestos content of the flooring and of other materials, such as mastic, that were disturbed
• the removal methods used to take up flooring, and just how much dust you created
• nature of demolition dust and debris - particle size, therefore airborne particulate levels & duration of particles in the air. For example, picking up a whole floor tile that is already loose may produce almost no detectable airborne particulates, while running power tools, saws, grinders, sanders, hammers, can make a lot of dust
• dust control measures used during the project
• cleanup methods used after the project both in and out of the work area
• remaining dust that could have led to longer term exposure
• individual health history, respiration rate, personal protective gear used or not
• other site & individual -specific data not listed here

If you have specific individual health questions those should be posed to your doctor who knows your personal health history

Presuming that your project is now long over, if you have reason to be concerned, you might want to do some strategic dust sampling to see whether or not the building needs further cleanup

See ASBESTOS REMOVAL GUIDE, FLOORING and ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES

...

Continue reading  at 1970-1972 ARMSTRONG FLOOR TILE PHOTO-GUIDE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE PHOTO ID GUIDE - home
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY - home
• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION
• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INDEX - all brands, all years
• ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE
• ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES
• ASBESTOS RISK ASSESSMENT
• ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST
• DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos -
• MARBLE / STONE CHIP PATTERN FLOORING ASBESTOS
• RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE

Suggested citation for this web page

ASBESTOS FLOOR IDENTIFICATION FAQs 1960-1969 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS

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Questions & answers about how to identify brands & types of vinyl & vinyl-asbestos floor tiles & sheet flooring & about the asbestos content of these products.

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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