Q&A on Asbestos-Containing Peel-and-Stick Floor Tiles:

This page shows photos and answers questions posted by readers asking about peel and stick or self-adhesive floor tiles that may contain asbestos.

This article series describes self-adhesive "peel and stick" vinyl floor tiles that contain or may contain asbestos. We include product names, descriptions, and photographs of asbestos-containing stick-on floor tile products including materials used in homes in the U.S. and Canada into at least the early 1980's.

Photo Guide to Peel & Stick or Self Adhesive Floor Tiles that May Contain Asbestos

These questions & answers about possible asbestos in and identification of peel-and-stick floor tiles were posted originally

at SELF-ADHESIVE PEEL & STICK ON ASBESTOS TILE IDENTIFICATION - be sure to see 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.

 

1980's - Armstrong Self-Adhesive Floor Tiles - Photos & information about asbestos containing vinyl asbestos self-adhering "peel and stick" flooring that may contain asbestos. Armstrong, American Biltrite, or Amtico peel and stick asbestos floor tile identification & asbestos content. Peel & Stick or Self-Adhesive Stick-on Tiles, Current - modern peel and stick floor tiles.

 

On 2018-04-03 by (mod) - asbestos floor tile in a 1953 home

Other readers have found asbestos in tests of similar looking flooring into the mid 1970s

On 2018-03-31 by Joe A

These tiles are less than 1/16" thick, with an embossed, rough top. I'm unsure of when they were installed. The house was built in 1953, but fairly sure that these were a later addition.

They appear to be peel and stick with a yellow adhesive on the back. They are very easy to remove without breaking and you can pull them up even without your fingernails.

They were put in the basement so there is a lot of moisture and they are fairly loose

. They're also stiff, but somewhat brittle, sort of like old plastic - not friable and do not create visible dust. You can pull them up by hand with very little resistance. A flooring guy said that the absence of the black glue meant that they were probably not containing asbestos, but he may have not been considering the peel and stick tiles.

On 2018-03-20 by (mod) - Asbestos not likely in a 1986 peel and stick floor

It would be very unlikely for floor put down in 1986 in the US to contain asbestos. Of course in an older house such as yours you may find older layers beneath.

On 2018-03-20 by Tracy Bly

Trying to find out about these vinyl self stick tiles and especially the black “sub floor” they are attached too? Tiles still tacky and look like after 1986.

I am wanting to get to the original hardwood but not sure if underlayment and tiles might contain asbestos. House was built in 49’ and I purchased it 10 years ago this is the only tile in the house. Thank you!!!

On 2018-03-05 by Bryan

How do I know if the tile I'm pulling up is of the lower risk "peel-N-stick" variety?

I can identify the pattern as "Armstrong Eden Wood" in "Walnut" (57140). The adhesive is still sticky and appears clear or "wet". It covers the entire tile. I have no left over packaging. The only markings on the underside is an arrow.

Any ideas?

On 2018-03-02 by (mod) -

Lee

I don't think you'll find any asbestos in the adhesive for those tiles but indeed some of the 1970s peel and stick floor tiles do themselves contain asbestos.

On 2018-03-01 by Lee

We have one room that had armstrong self adhesive tiles put down in the mid 1970's.

Many of the tiles no longer stick down and need to be replaced. Is there asbestos in the adhesive on these tiles. Most will peel off easily.

On 2018-01-14 by (mod) - Removing some Armstrong peel and stick vinyl tiles

Nick

That's a reasonable guess that'd be great to confirm with Armstrong. Often a manufacturer combines lot number with manufacture date. 12/07/1999

On 2018-01-12 18:45:06.347266 by Nick

Removing some Armstrong peel and stick vinyl tiles (photo attached). I’m assuming the numbers on the back side of the tile refer to a manufacturing date of 1999. Is that correct? If so I’m assuming these tiles would not contain asbestos?

On 2017-09-05 17:56:10.362404 by (mod) -

John,
You can use our page bottom CONTACT link to send a photo of the tile if you like and we can post it for readers to comment. I wasn't able to track down just the Place N' Press number to a specific product.

Armstrong flooring uses the phrase PEEL N' STICK floor tile line for its current product line
There are some Place N' Press Armstrong floor tiles now discontinued in three patterns

Place 'n Press Tile Colby Lane - Country Stone #27705

Place 'n Press Tile Gafney - Classico #27715

Place 'n Press Tile Newport Chateau II - Sandstone #27766

Place 'n Press Tile Rockport Marble - Beige #27767

So it seems likely that your flooring was an Armstrong Place N'Press vinyl no-wax tile #27725 - that's so similar to the tiles the company lists in what is perhaps an incomplete list.

You should assume that this floor tile line contains asbestos unless you can confirm that it was purchased after 1986 (as a reasonable "safe" year).

In SELF-ADHESIVE PEEL & STICK ON ASBESTOS TILE IDENTIFICATION I will add a link to an Armstrong document that includes asbestos warnings for a different flooring product but one that the company returned in response to an online search of their website for the flooring you described.

Home Depot stores market a PLACE N' GO floor tile line

Lowes stores do not use the Place N' Press flooring phrase

Target stores didn't produce a hit

- so it is likely that your floor is from a different manufacturer

On 2017-09-05 by John

@John,
Sorry it's Place N' Press, not Peel N' Press.

Looking for info on Peel N' Press vinyl no wax tile. There is a number on the back of the tile 23320713035 and it says made in Canada. There is also a bar code sticker on the back. Item #27725. Bar code number is 42369 19065. Does anybody know if there is asbestos in this product?

On 2017-08-01 by Esther

I'd love to have info on the asbestos-content chances for Amtico peel and stick "Designer Carefree" vinyl floor tiles. They were a brown 12" peel and stick vinyl tile with a pattern of 16 brown squares (to look like smaller 3" square tile).

House is 1930s but was remodeled in the 70s or 80s with some this funky brown tile in kitchen and bathroom...

the packaging looks 70s/80s but as far as I can tell from google the "Designer Carefree" trademark was something from the 1980s.

On 2017-06-09 by Kathryn

Seeking info on Armstrong Excelon Place'n'Press Vinyl Asbestos floor tiles 12"x12" - box containing a few leftover tiles is stamped #52020H so I'm assuming that must be the model number for the product. House built in 1967 so tiles might be of that vintage or within the decade - and seem to be installed directly on the concrete floor of the basement.

If you wish, I can send a photo of the tile if you can provide an email address which will accept the photo. I have a couple of questions that I couldn't find answers to - in spite of all the great info on your website:

(1) I'm wondering if anyone else has had this product tested for percentage of asbestos content? and

(2) because the tile has an embossed pattern and isn't perfectly flat on top, I'm wondering what kind of flooring could be put on top of it successfully - e.g. would anything stick to it adequately? Thanks for any info or advice that you can provide.

On 2016-07-23 by (mod) - Armstrong vernay self adhering no wax floor tiles with item # 28710 lot #F126B contain asbestos?

We have found asbestos in self-adhering vinyl floor tiles sold up to approximately 1986. For specific lot numbers you might try asking Armstrong directly - let me know if you do.

Or if you want to spend about $50. US you can have a sample tested - search InspectApedia for LIST OF CERTIFIED ASBESTOS TEST LABS

On 2016-07-23 by S. mittnacht

Does the Armstrong vernay self adhering no wax floor tiles with item # 28710 lot #F126B contain asbestos?

Question: What is the asbestos hazard from pulling up peel n press vinyl tile from 1983?

Hi. I started to pull up peel n press vinyl tile in my kitchen and now I'm very concerned about asbestos. ..I pulled up 2 tiles and stopped the project. I've been trying to research the tile, I have one left over box from previous owner - marked 1983 distinctive color tile produced by color tile in texas There is beautiful linoleum tile underneath that I love If I did release some asbestos fiber, how long does it linger ? I appreciate your input Thanks, F. S.

Reply:

Only by submitting a tile sample to a certified asbestos testing lab can we know for sure if your flooring contained asbestos, but it is indeed the case that we have some confirmed reports of self-adhesive or "peel and stick" floor tiles from the early 1980's that contained asbestos.

If you did not run power tools, saws, grinders, or sanders to make a significant level of dust, that is if you were able to pull up flooring largely intact, the risk of significant asbestos fiber release is probably low. Certainly it would be smart to either have a test performed on suspect material or just handle it with the same precautions you would take if you knew that it contained asbestos.

If you'd like to send along a photo of your tile and of any markings on its back side (or on packaging if you have it) we can help research the matter further.

Question: unsure about when this tile was installed

(Sept 16, 2012) Erika said:

We recently moved into the home and are unsure about when this tile was installed. We started pulling up basement vinyl tile without thinking of asbestos.

Then, we had second thoughts after some comments about whether it was safe. We looked through your website photo gallery of tile which has been incredibly helpful.

Wrecently moved into the home and are unsure about when this tile was installed. We have an identical tile to the Venay peel-and=stick floor tile, but it is in a different color--reddish. Listed under this picture is that is was one of the tiles that never contained asbestos.

We are hoping that the tile we pulled up--all of it in the basement room--does not contain asbestos based on your picture. Would it be possible that any other manufacturer was making the exact design/pattern of the Vernay tile? Or, should we assume we are pretty safe at this point? Thanks so much for your help.

(June 15, 2014) Pat Scoglietti said:
I have old tile in basement from 60's. Was told it is asbestos. I need to cover iit so I bought peel &stick vinyl tile to use but was told by a friend that it will not stick to the old tile :(. Anyone know if that is correct?

Reply:

Covering over the old floor is a recommended practice, minimizes the asbestos hazard better than removal, and will work perfectly well if the old original flooring is not loose.

Use a liquid cleaner to remove wax and old debris, let the cleaned floor dry, and your self-adhesive tiles should be fine.

Question: asbestos floor in a Canadian home built in 1985

(Nov 26, 2014) Todd said:

I have vinyl floor tiles in my laundry room that were pulled up and partially removed by a friend after we had a small flood.

Until now, I'd not even known that these tiles could contain asbestos. Do you have any recommendations on how to clean the area? Currently, approximately half the floor is cement, where the tiles were removed, while the other half still has the tiles down.

This is a Canadian home built in 1985, though because this flooring is in the basement I'm hoping the tiles may have been installed years later. The tiles are grey, 9x9" and are very thin. I think they could be described as "peel and stick".

Reply:

Sure Todd, just below we include links to asbestos-suspect floor hazard reduction articles and procedures.

 

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Continue reading  at SELF-ADHESIVE PEEL & STICK ON ASBESTOS TILE IDENTIFICATION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see SELF ADHESIVE PEEL & STICK ASBESTOS TILE ID FAQs-2 - more-recent Q&A on identifying asbestos-containing self-adhesive floor tiles

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SELF ADHESIVE PEEL & STICK ASBESTOS TILE ID FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS

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