Q&A on identifying asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles, 1970-1972

This article series provides a guide to identifying asphalt-asbestos flooring & vinyl asbestos floor tile sold in the early 1970's in the U.S. - 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.

1970 - 1972 Armstrong & Other Floor Tile Photo IdentificationFAQs

These photos and questions & answers about early 1970s Armstrong and other brand flooring identification and asbestos content were posted originally at ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1970-1972 - so be sure to review the photos and identification keys given there.

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.

On 2018-08-09 by Zach

Thank you very much

On 2018-08-09 by (mod) - spatter pattern, possibly 1960's - 70's Kentile containing asbestos

Looks like a spatter pattern, perhaps a Kentile, presumed to contain asbestos.

On 2018-08-09 by Zach

House Built 1950. Has some tile in basement that I suspect was added later. Thoughts on chances of asbestos? Thank you so much.

On 2018-06-19 13:36:37.761154 by (mod) -

Scott all that sounds reasonable. To be complete, a screening test for cross contamination might be performed by checking settled dust.

On 2018-06-19 by Anonymous

I used thick plastic and tapped the area off and rented a large hepa air cleaner. And cleaned everything

On 2018-06-19 by (mod) - PONZANO TRAVERTINE EMBOSSED 54222,

In addition to following the wetting guidelines and personal protection guidelines you need to be thinking about dust containment and if you haven't done that some cleanup

. If it were my building I wouldn't rely on an air test I would test settled dust so that I would know if we needed to do more cleaning.

On 2018-06-18 by Scott

I have PONZANO TRAVERTINE EMBOSSED 54222, does anyone know how much asbestos that contains. I removed some already and am now trying to do damage control. In the middle of taking up the tiles I thought I better look to see if this has asbestos, looks like it does.

I already wetted the area down and venting out the area and using hepa air filters. I am going to have someone come out in a couple of days and check the air for asbestos. Any Help and or advise would be appreciated.

On 2018-06-05 by Kimberly Hodges

Thanks for the input

On 2018-06-04 by (mod) -

that's not a pattern that I recognize although it's similar to some asbestos-containing floor tiles in the directories that we've compiled. Given the age of the building and how little we know about the floor you should treat it as presumed to contain asbestos. That does not mean Panic nor requirement to remove it unless it's damaged.

On 2018-06-04 23:09:16.881508 by Kimberly Hodges

Does this tile contain asbestos? House was built in 1961 but I don’t know if this is original vinyl tile or not

On 2018-03-10 17:17:22.273884 by (mod) -

That's not a tile pattern for which we recall an exact match. If the floor was installed before the early 1980's I would treat the floor as "PACM" or "Presumed Asbestos Containing Material"

On 2018-03-10 16:41:43.520076 by Jeff Street

Can anyone tell me if this may possibly contain asbestos?

On 2018-03-07 by (mod) -

I don't know for certain D.B. but I'm pretty sure that pattern appears in our asbestos-containing flooring library given in this article series;

in any event considring the floor's age I would treat the floor tiles as "PACM" or "Presumed Asbestos Containing Material"

On 2018-03-04 by dbaldwin325

Can't find picture of this tile in my home built between 1968-1971. Do you recognize if this is an asbestos containing tile?
Thank you.

On 2017-07-04 16:28:27.569478 by (mod) -

UP
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However if you need specific information or images for your site we may have unpublished versions we can permit you to use - use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to ask. - Editor

On 2017-07-04 13:45:12.077078 by Up

Informative Content ... Can i post your content on my website - http://trandynow.com/

On 2017-07-04 by Up - Can i post your content on my website ?

Informative Content ... Can i post your content on my website - http://trandynow.com/

On 2017-07-04 by (mod) re: Please do not copy InspectApedia content to other websites ©protection explanation

UP
Thank you for asking: No you cannot copy inspectApedia.com content to another website. All of our material is (C) Copyright protected.

Copying without permission is a theft of content that also takes our site traffic and thus the pittance of income that supports the website.

However if you need specific information or images for your site we may have unpublished versions we can permit you to use - use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to ask. - Editor

On 2017-07-04 by Up

Good Information..!!

On 2017-05-23 by (mod) - asbestos risk from 1972 tan 12 x 12 tile with Armstrong on the back

Thank you for the question, Vicky, but I can't really tell from your E text If this is a known asbestps containing tile pattern or not.

It would be prudent to treat the flooring is presumed to contain asbestos.

As you will know from reading this article series, That does not mean you need to remove the floor.If it is in good condition full path of least Risk Is to leave the flooring alone, or to cover or seal is surface.

On 2017-05-23 by north.vicki@yahoo.com

My house was built in 1972 there is tan 12 x 12 tile with Armstrong on the back the pattern on the tile is squares there are 9 squares per tile. I can't find this pattern on your website. do you know if it has asbestos?

On 2017-03-06 by (mod)

Jeremy the page top or bottom CONTACT link provides an email for sending us photos for comment.

There are two options for making small repairs to existing but older floor tiles when you cannot find a matching tile - which is unlikely since even if you found new old stock in a box somewhere it's unlikely that its color would match a floor that has been installed, exposed to light and foot traffic for decades.

1. IF there is loose or removable flooring in an obscure location such as under a counter or in a closet on occasions by gentle heating and lifting you can remove a tile or two to glue down in the open area where other damaged tiles need replacement. This is more likely to be possible with vinyl floor tiles than with asphalt based flooring.

2. Find a modern tile of the right size and color that is close to the existing floor and live with that repair - or install it in a pattern that, as Bernie Campbalik used to say, changes a problem or a mistake into a positive feature.

On 2017-03-06 by Jeremy Hopkins

I have some etched pattern floor tiles and am trying (hard) to find a replacement 2-4 tiles. Would you be able to help identify them? I'm not holding my breathe thstvexisy anymore - and may we'll contain asbestos, but I'd rather add a few than rip 50-100 out & deal with imthe safety issues.

If you can help, I can email a picture. My email is: jeremy@carnivalstudio.com.au

Thank you

On 2017-01-22 by Jen

We have armstrong tile you have above and we tested it for asbestos and none was detected. Could this be wrong coming from a lab?

On 2016-10-12 by Anonymous

Hi.. family cabin has linoleum flooring multicoloured sparkle .. reds yellows etc. Approx 55-60 yrs old. About to remodel and concerned it had asbestos

On 2016-05-08 by (mod)

From the age I'd presume the flooring contains asbestos. But chances are you can remove the floor intact, without making a dusty mess. That will minimize the asbestos hazard.

If you test the flooring anyway, I'd like to know the lab results and would like to see photos of the pattern.

On 2016-05-05 by Ursula

Hi there,

We have a Wilderness travel trailer from 1975 and need to rebuild the floor as it has rotted away.

The original floor is linoleum but not tile, all one sheet I think. I had never heard of asbestos in flooring until my boyfriend jokingly made a comment about asbestos in the trailer and

so I looked online, and now feel concerned because we have already removed half the floor. I am going to try and get it lab tested, but do you know if flooring in trailers was as likely to contain asbestos as that in homes? Many thanks.

On 2016-05-01 by chris

me again... so i guess i need to
know what 1940's bathroom underlayment would be made of. cos
mine sure aint wood...cottony beige
in colour... compressed

On 2016-05-01 by chris somers

My house was built in 1942 and i am ripping up bathroom floor, a roll of linoleum sit atop a plywood underlayment... which seems@ 20 years old.... and then below that is original underlayment which looks like a blend of wood pulp and fibrous stuff.

Is it possible that this is an asbestos
containing underlayment? its def not wood...... beige in colour... kinda reminds me of todays chipboard. when i poke it, its cottony pulp

On 2016-01-17 by Mary G.

Would floor tile laid in 1972 have asbestos in it?

On 2015-11-21 by (mod)

JD

Indeed part of the challenge in identifying floor tiles that contain asbestos is that some popular patterns continued to be made without asbestos.

On 2015-11-21 by JD

thank you! Yah it must have been. No the tile came up easily and the mastic was yellow. The only fibers found were cellulose in the test? Some of the patterns looked really close to the samples you have. :)

On 2015-11-21 by (mod)

JD

Is it possible that the tiles and mastic you describe were installed later than the original age of the home? Typically in the 1960's flooring was installed with a black asphaltic mastic.

On 2015-11-21 by JD

We had some recently removed/tested in our basement. Our house is from 1966. The tiles were 12x12 cream with marble look but the tests came back not detected in the yellow mastic binding and the contents with the vinyl mineral grains.

We also did an air sample and we were clean. My question is. If it was not asbestos what is it is my question were there other types of tile back then besides asbestos? Thanks all.

On 2015-10-25 by (mod)

Yes in the samples we've tested or had reports of tests for the 1970's product described on this page.

On 2015-10-25 by Denise

Hello. So for clarification does the picture of the custom bisque 12x12 x1/16 have asbestos? This is the tile that was recently removed from my basement and some were really banged and cracked during process. Thanks. Also this site is wonderful.

Question: Should we worry about asbestos tile debris leaking up through carpeting?

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: how much asbestos was in floor tile?

How much asbestos did the Armstrong Excelon Standard 12"x12" tiles contain - Loretta D 12/21/11

How much asbestos did the Armstrong Excelon vinyl asbestos floor tiles contain (12"x12", 1972/1973)? - Loretta 12/22/11

Hi! Would you expect the armstrong corlon resilent flooring with the hydrocord backing from the mid 1960s to contain significant amounts of asbestos? I am trying to find some information on it as I think that may be what is in our home...

the only info I can find is that the backing probably did contain an asbestos and latex composite...I am wondering how likely the composite material would become easily friable if we attempted to remove it... - Kate 2/16/12

Reply:

Loretta, lacking hard science facts I have to give an OPINION that the material is high in asbestos content because in addition to asbestos fibers that gave strength to the tiles, many such floor tiles included a high level of asbestos filler - very ultrafine particles.

We'd need to have a sample for specific testing to obtain an content level measurement.

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

Question -identifing floor tiles not made in the UK

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: Test Results for Armstrong Sheet Flooring - 70% Asbestos

In one of the asbestos pages of your site ( this page - Ed.), your second photo is of a sheet layment. The text about the photo clarifies that the person who sent the photo was confused about Armstrong and Congoleum.

I wanted to let you know that I have that exact same sheet layment and had it tested. It's 70% asbestos. Thought you may want to let readers know so they can save the cost of testing and just deal with the issue accordingly.

I appreciate your site. Thank you for taking the time to put together all the information. - D.H. 10/11/2012

Reply:

Thank you so much D.H. for the floor covering test result confirming asbestos content in this material.

We a welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles, and as your feedback illustrates, working together and exchanging information makes us better informed than any individual can be working alone.

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 ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1970-1972 or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

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• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INDEX - all brands, all years
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Suggested citation for this web page

ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1970-1972 FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS

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