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Color Guide to Asphalt Asbestos & Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to identify brands & types of vinyl & vinyl-asbestos floor tiles & sheet flooring & about the asbestos content of these products
Color photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles, 1900 -1986 using dominant floor tile color to identify the probable asbestos-containing floor tile brand, pattern, and age.
Here is an asbestos floor tile identification key sorted by primary flooring color: beige, black, blue, brown, tan, wood tone, gray, green, red, white, yellow, etc.
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.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Asphalt or Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Color Guide
Armstrong and other floor tile or sheet flooring manufacturers often offered several patterns with a particular dominant color that can help quickly identify the flooring brand and style. We include some examples here.
Above is the color key to Armstrong Feature solid color floor tiles & accent strips 12" x 12" x 1/8" solid color floor tiles and 1" x 24" solid color vinyl-asbestos flooring accent strips in the colors shown. These tiles were intended for accent spots, not for tiling an entire floor, because the solid color flooring would show scratches.
We've split this page into individual floor tile or sheet flooring identification guides by dominant color:
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BEIGE BROWN TAN or WOOD TONE
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BLACK
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BLUE
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION GRAY
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION GREEN
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION RED
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION WHITE
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION YELLOW
- SPECKLED / SPOTTED FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS
Abestos-containing floor tile pattern number key
For Armstrong floor tiles, the three digit color or pattern numbers originated in the 1950's or 1960's while the five-digit color or pattern numbers date typically from the 1970's or 1980's.
Other manufacturers of course use their own product numbering codes and schemes as you'll find in this article series.
Avoid These Errors in Comparing Floor Tile Colours
The photographs below of red and gray Armstrong vinyl-asbestos floor tiles show the same floor under two different lighting levels.
Watch out: variations in lighting, use of flash, cleanliness, layers of wax or other coatings and even the colour of the lighting source can all affect the perceived colour of floor coverings. When looking through colour examples or pattern photographs for a match for your floor tile or sheet flooring keep this in mind.
... 
Similarly, among some floor tile products, especially the earlier asphalt asbestos and some early vinyl asbestos flooring, flooring sold with the same pattern and hue name may vary by manufacturing batch. Later improvements in the manufacturing process made the production of flooring more consistent in appearance.
Below I give another example using dark brown Armstrong floor tiles in a popular pattern sold over many years.
Camera focus also varies due to lighting or other trouble., affecting the appearance of floor tile pattern details. I think the floor below is probably Cayuga Brown #715 by Armstrong.
All three of these photographs are of the very same flooring under different lighting conditions. In my third photo below you can also see the effects of dust and dirt on the floor.
Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs
On 2021-12-14 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@Brad,
It would be prudent to treat that floor as presumed to contain asbestos.
You'll want to review ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE
as well as other risk reduction options mentioned at the end of that article.
Have a sample of the flooring tested, or you can make a reasonable *guess* at whether or not the floor contains asbestos by answering the few easy questions found at:
DOES THIS FLOORING CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy steps that can help you make a reasonable guess at whether or not the floor you ask about contains asbestos.
https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/DIY-Asbestos-Floor-Test.php
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. - US EPA
The safest and least costly approach is to leave the flooring alone, in place, and to cover it with new material.
If the floor is in poor condition or must be removed then see the asbestos floor removal and asbestos hazard reduction articles found in the ARTICLE INDEX at the end of any of these pages.
On 2021-12-14 by Brad
House was built in 1972. These tiles are 12"x12" installed on concrete floor. Asbestos?
On 2021-11-11 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@Amber,
Take a look at
DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos
in the recommended articles listed above
On 2021-11-11 by Amber
Maybe not? House built 1979. Tile on cement basement floor.
On 2021-10-20 by inspectapedia.com.moderator
@Miltonmom,
I'm sorry, but no one can say for a brief text whether an unknown material contains asbestos.
In general, if an asbestos suspect suspect material is something such as a floor or a ceiling, the safest course is to leave it in place and to cover it.
On 2021-10-19 by Miltonmom
Is this asbestos? And can I just go over it with Sheetrock? Home built in the 1930’s
On 2021-09-18 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - 1950s asphalt tile
@Tiffiny Nagel,
From just an image of a portion of a single floor tile we don't know the condition of the entire floor and whether or not it is sound enough to leave in place. But there surely are procedures for leaving flooring in place and covering it over.
In the recommended articles links above please see the live links for
ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE
On 2021-09-18 by Tiffiny Nagel
My home was built is the early 50s. Someone put sheet vinyl over the kitchen floor at some point that needs replacing. I have the house plans. They say “asphalt tile”. I peeled back the vinyl and saw what was underneath. It looks like a thick seneca white 770. Can we remove the vinyl and recover the asphalt tiles without causing issues? Attached image looks similar to our tile. I didn’t peel off a large section.
On 2021-08-28 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - green linoleum sheet flooring with black adhesive
@Giovanni,
That looks like
LINOLEUM SHEET FLOORING GUIDE - see https://inspectapedia.com/interiors/Linoleum_Flooring.php
Maybe an Armstrong or Congoleum or similar product.
On 2021-08-28 by Giovanni
Hello. We purchased our home and under the carpet going upstairs we found tiles underneath. Now I do not now if these tiles more like a carpet one piece covers the whole step. The color is green and the glue underneath is black. I will add an image.
On 2021-08-03 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - 1946 green and white floor tile presumed to contain asbestos
@Lois,
Yes, and
Highly likely.
On 2021-08-03 by Lois
Please help. House build 1946 - would these floor tiles be asbestos? And if so, how likely other floors covered by carpet would also have asbestos floor tiles under them. Thank you.
On 2021-03-25 by (mod) - Armstrong could not locate record giving date & ingredients in older tile production run number
@Anonymous, well isn't that interesting. It's slightly worrisome; "couldn't locate" ? or "avoiding an issue" - we will have a better idea when you have y our test result back.
We would expect that any floor tile manufactured after 1986 in the U.S. would not contain asbestos. There would be quite a hullabaloo if someone found that decoding a production run date from lot number plus a lab test changed that guideline.
Keep us posted; your test + lot number results will help other readers.
On 2021-03-25 by Anonymous - Armstrong can't locate flooring manufacture dates
I would agree with that, however she informed me that she could not locate the dates for either of those "runs ". I will keep digging whilst I await my test results! Thank you!
On 2021-03-25 - by (mod) - Armstrong confirms the numbers are run codes
@Anonymous, Thank you - identifying those numbers as Armstrong flooring production run codes is helpful - and of course slightly ducks giving a straight answer;
if a manufacturer knows the "run code" of a flooring production run, it seems likely to me that that could be immediately translated, by the manufacturer, into a production date or range of dates during which the "run" was executed and thus the flooring was made.
On 2021-03-25 by Anonymous - the numbers are run codes
Just FYI, I called Armstrong, and they let me know that those numbers were run codes.
On 2021-03-25 - by (mod) - Stamp on back of flooring indicates Armstrong run code
@Anonymous,
The numbers on the back of the Armstrong flooring in your photo were a bit blurry but appear to be:
- Armstrong 0237 82090 (possibly - hard to read) and
- Armstrong 0238 0?0906
I suspect that one of those numbers may be a date code or at least a production run number that can translate into a production date; some folks guess by looking for reasonable 2 digit year and 2 digit month combined with clues suggested by the 5 questions in the "DOES THIS FLOOR ..." article I suggested earlier.
A few readers had success calling Armstrong customer service with those code numbers.
Brick pattern sheet flooring and tile flooring was popular for many decades so was made in a variety of products and formulas.
On 2021-03-25 by Anonymous
I was able to pull up one of each flooring type and get an associated number. I am having difficulty finding information with these numbers.
Any advice on where / how to look? I appreciate your assistance. I also ordered a test kit that will arrive tomorrow. Thank you
On 2021-03-12 - by (mod) - does linoleum sheet flooring like this contain asbestos?
@kerry,
Your photo shows a linoleum rug that you will find in our articles found in the page bottom ARTICLE INDEX under "Linoleum"
Or go directly to
LINOLEUM & SHEET FLOORING
Some of those products contain asbestos in the asphalt paper backer.
On 2021-03-12 by kerry
I am trying to figure out if this flooring maybe asbestos. Any help appreciated.
[Photo above]
On 2019-04-15 by (mod) -
Yes I agree.
On 2019-04-15 by Creative Shopper
1959 home - I think it is safe to say this contains asbestos, right? it is under the dishwasher, cabinets and the floating laminate flooring.
Photo lost by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-04-07 by Anonymous
@Gil, 9 by 9 floor tile is Asbestos Floor tile i removed them almost everyday 5714905747 i'm license on DC, MD and VA
On 2019-04-07 by Anonymous
@pete, yes it has asbestos if you have any questions you can call me at 5714905747 i'm license on DC MD and VA
On 2019-03-25 by (mod) -
Most likely yes, but don't panic; if y ou're not making a dusty mess the asbestos hazard may be nearly below the limits of detection.
See the asbestos hazard reduction articles in the ARTICLE INDEX given above.
On 2019-03-25 by pete
hello iam freaken out teloved alot this tile and cut it out the hokes were built in 1971 does anyone reconize if this has asbestos
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-03-16 by James
House was built 1950, previous owner said this flooring was installed prior to him purchasing the home in 1990. Any idea if its asbestos or not?
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-03-14 by Gil
Had some water damage in our basement found tile under the carpet, house was built in 1956 not sure when this tile was put down but was wondering if you were able to tell if it likely contains asbestos
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2018-11-17 (mod) -
Wayne I can't make a certain asbestos determination from your (excellent) photo, but given the age of the floor I'd treat it as presumed to contain asbestos.
On 2018-11-16 by wayne
getting ready to remodel this room in a public building. Don't see anything like it in pics above, but some of them are not very clear. this building was built in 72-74 area
IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
...
Continue reading at ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY FAQs - questions and answers posted originally on this page
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INDEX - all brands, all years
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE PHOTO ID GUIDE - home
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BEIGE BROWN TAN or WOOD TONE
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BLACK
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BLUE
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION GRAY
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION GREEN
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION RED
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION WHITE
- ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION YELLOW
- SPECKLED / SPOTTED FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS
- ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD LEVEL ASSESSMENT
- ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
- ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE
- ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE
- DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos -
- FLOOR TILE / SHEET FLOORING PHOTO GUIDES
Suggested citation for this web page
ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY 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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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- [1] Armstrong ® Residential Flooring - Website 05/15/2010 https://www.armstrongflooring.com/ lists current flooring products provided by the Armstrong Corporation, including Armstrong's current vinyl floor tile products at https://www.armstrongflooring.com/flooring/products/vinyl-floors
- [2] Armstrong Corporation, Corporate History - https://www.armstrongflooring.com/corporate/corporate-history.html - Web Search 05/19/2010
- [3] Armstrong vinyl asbestos floor tiles: photos of asbestos-vinyl floor tiles as catalog pages (PDF form) are at www.asbestosresource.com/asbestos/tile.html
- [5] "Asbestos in your home or at work," Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Department, Winston-Salem NC 12/08
- [6] "Asbestos Floor Tile Removal", the University of Minnesota's advice on removing VAT (vinyl asbestos or asphalt asbestos floor tile) can be read in detail at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/asbestos/floortile/index.html
- [7] Copy on file as ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME - U.S. EPA, Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- [8] Resilient Floor Covering Institute, 1030 15th St. NW, suite 350, Washington D.C.
- [9] Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong 1950s from Armstrong, [Paperback], Schiffer Publishing (March 1998), ISBN-10: 0764304585, ISBN-13: 978-0764304583
- [1] Interior Solutions from Armstrong the 1960s from Armstrong, [Paperback], Schiffer Publishing (March 1999), ISBN-10: 0764307002, ISBN-13: 978-0764307003
- [10] Mechanix Illustrated How-to-do-it Encyclopedia Vol 2. -1961
- [11] Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on ASBESTOS, ITS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, ROSATO 1959, D.V. Rosato, engineering consultant, Newton, MA, Reinhold Publishing, 1959 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 59-12535 (out of print).
- [12] Congoleum Corporation, "Company History", Congoleum Corporation, Department C, P.O. Box 3127, Mercerville, NJ 08619-0127 1-609-584-3601, web-search 03/14/2011, original source: http://www.congoleum.com/history.html
- [13] David Grudzinski, Advantage Home Inspections, is a professional home inspector in Cranston, RI. 02910. He can be reached at 401-935-6547, fax- 401-490-0607 or by email to contact/us@advantagehomeinspections.us 04/26/2009
- [14] EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- [15] EPA ASBESTOS MATERIALS BAN: CLARIFICATION 1999
- [16] EVER WEAR TILE CO is currently (2009) in the Terrazzo, Tile, Marble, and Mosaic Work industry in Fallon, NV. 775) 423-6221. [We do not know the company history nor whether there is an association with EverWear vinyl asbestos floor tiles discussed in this article.]
- [17] Kentile KenFlex flooring photographs:Flickr web search 5/15/2010 - see original material and other asbestos product photos
- [18] "Plastic Flooring Spreads Through the House", Jackson Hand, Guide to Home-Improvement Materials, Popular Science, April 1969, p. 154-158
- [19] Thomas Hauswirth, Managing Member of Beacon Fine Home Inspections, LLC and (in 2007) Vice President, Connecticut Association of Home Inspectors Ph. 860-526-3355 Fax 860-526-2942 beaconinspections@sbcglobal.net 06/07: thanks for photographs of transite asbestos heating ducts
- [20] Gary Randolph, Ounce of Prevention Home Inspection, LLC Buffalo, NY, for attentive reading and editing suggestions. Mr. Randolph can be reached in Buffalo, NY, at (716) 636-3865 or email: gary@ouncehome.com 3/07
- [21] Thanks to reader Matt Abel, Design Services Department, Strongwood Log Home Company, 711 Shadow Road, Waupaca WI 54981, Office (715) 258-4818, Toll Free (866) 258-4818, www.gostrongwood.com "Begin your journey home.." for vinyl asbestos floor photos, October 2010.
- [22] Thanks to reader Meryl Silvers for hexagonal floor tile photos showing a possilbe Kentile product that contained asbestos. October 2010.
- [23] Thanks to reader N.H. for providing a photo of 1970's era vinyl asbestos floor tile that we identify as most likely Armstrong Solarian Devonport white.
- [24] M.B. provided photographs of Congoleum linoleum flooring from a 1960's Tampa Florida home.
- [25] L.R. provided photographs of Armstrong Palimino Beige and Pecan Beige asphalt asbestos floor tiles, floor tile packaging and identification details, along with asbestos test lab results. Personal correspondence with DF, 10/22/2012
- [26] Window Putty - OSHA case cites contractor for asbestos exposure during removal of window putty http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=1091 June 1997 -
- Asbestos Identification and Testing References
- [27] Asbestos Identification, Walter C.McCrone, McCrone Research Institute, Chicago, IL.1987 ISBN 0-904962-11-3. Dr. McCrone literally "wrote the book" on asbestos identification procedures which formed the basis for current work by asbestos identification laboratories.
- [28] Stanton, .F., et al., National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 506: 143-151
- [20] Pott, F., Staub-Reinhalf Luft 38, 486-490 (1978) cited by McCrone
- Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on ASBESTOS, ITS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, ROSATO 1959, D.V. Rosato, engineering consultant, Newton, MA, Reinhold Publishing, 1959 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 59-12535 (out of print, text and images available at InspectAPedia.com).
- [31] "Handling Asbestos-Containing roofing material - an update", Carl Good, NRCA Associate Executive Director, Professional Roofing, February 1992, p. 38-43
- [32] EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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