Photo ID guide to 1970's Asbestos-Containing floor tiles:

This article provides flooring identification requests as well as example photographs of 1970's floor tiles to help identify flooring that contains asbestos.

This article series includes a photo-gallery of pictures of floor coverings submitted for identification along with comments on findings, recommendations, & asbestos content. Readers can use our page bottom COMMENT Box to submit photos of flooring to get help in identifying floor tiles or sheet flooring that might contain asbestos.

Our photo at page top shows Armstrong® Excelon 12x12 vinyl asbestos flooring made in 1972, identified in our detailed photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles, and resilient flooring produced in 1900 -1980.

1970's Floor Tile or Sheet Flooring Identification Requests

This article series contains flooring identification requests for floor tiles or sheet flooring believed to date from the 1970's. For a 1970's vintage asbestos-containing floor tile photo guide, please also
see the following articles

• 1970-1972 ARMSTRONG VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE GUIDE to Patterns & Colors, 9x9 & 12x12-inch
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE ID REQUESTS 1970's-2 additional floor tile requests, photos, advice for floors installed in the early 1970s
• 1973 - ARMSTRONG EXCELON VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILES Complete Pattern & Color Guide, 9x9 & 12x12-inch - includes a Complete Photo Guide to Standard Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile Patterns & Colors in 12x12" and 9x9" for this year
• 1974-1979 COMPLETE ARMSTRONG EXCELON VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE GUIDE to Asbestos Floor Tiles, Patterns & Colors

or see our complete list of flooring identification photo guides at FLOOR TILE / SHEET FLOORING PHOTO GUIDES

Reader Question: does this amtico peel and stick tile contain asbestos?

does this amtico peel and stick tile contain asbestos? house built 72 no idea when installed @jayson 10-8-2021

Reply:

@jayson,
At least some Amitco peel and stick tile patterns were known to contain asbestos.

Have a sample of the flooring tested, or you can make a reasonable *guess* at whether or not the flooring 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.

Question:

Can someone tell me about this type of tiles. My email is mer---------@gmail.com @Ana 9-15-2021

Reader Question: Will wetting and drying of tile release asbestos particles?

We have council tiled floors, done in the 70s. Its all in tact and in pretty good condition. We have been flooded. Its nearly dried out now but am worried the asbestos particles would of come out into the air in the drying out process.

Thank-you @Dot cottam 8-4-2021

Reply:

@Dot cottam,

Floor tile is not friable - won't release meaningful levels of airborne asbestos particles - unless it is mechanically damaged: chopped, ground, sanded, sawn, broken-up by demolition. Simply wetting and drying it isn't likely to produce a detectable effect on airborne particle levels of material from the tile itself.

Question:

What about my floor? It's sheet, no tile @Mary 5-1-2021

Reply:

@Mary,

the information gained from

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

https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/DIY-Asbestos-Floor-Test.php

can let you make a reasonable guess. Without that we're flying blind.

Question:

House built in 1971, just bought in July. Tiles near air handler crumbling adjacent to bad subfloor seam and where previous owners had a hot water heater explode. Rest of house appears not to have been renovated @Helen 9-5-2020

Reply:

Helen

I would treat the flooring is presumed to contain asbestos. I would also have my repair contractor inspect the subfloor for mold or delaminated plywood or other hidden water damage.

Question:

Can anyone help me identify this tile? I have found some tiles that look close to mine, but nothing that is a definitive match. Any help is appreciated. @Jerry 7-30-2020

Question:

we are re-doing kitchen. the existing tile was laid over this vinyl flooring. the house was built in 1973. i don’t notice the black glue backing but wondering about asbestos.

Thank you for your help and I will have it tested. Kim 2-26-2020

Reply:

Kim

Yes that floor could contain asbestos, based just on possible age.

Please step through the 5 easy questions at DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/DIY-Asbestos-Floor-Test.php

Question: is this the "bad" asbestos floor tile? 1970's Floor tile photo for identification.

My neighbor wants to remove this basement flooring. I have advised him not to touch until someone looks at tile. Attached is a picture of his title. Thinking this is the bad stuff.

The house is at least 45 to 50 years old. If this is the bad tile (asbestos) I will have him contact you folks for help. Thanks. M.W. 8/19/2013

Reply:

The tile fragment in your photo resembles some of the 1970's vintage vinyl-asbestos floor tiles found in our online libraries of tile  images. For example see Peruvian Beige floor tiles made by Armstrong in the 1970's - or see the tile photos at 1973 - Armstrong Excelon Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles, Complete Pattern & Color Guide, 9x9 & 12x12-inch

I don't assume that an asphalt-asbestos floor tile or (more likely if installed in the 1970's) a vinyl-asbestos floor tile is necessarily "bad" nor that it needs costly demolition. It depends on the condition of the floor.

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.

It would be prudent to treat the floor tile as presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) and to avoid creating a dusty mess. If the property owner is faced with a costly cleanup or renovation job then it would make sense to have a floor tile sample tested by a certified asbestos testing lab.

Your neighbor will want to review some simple advice on reducing asbestos floor tile hazards in these articles found at InspectAPedia.com or to review more elaborate details in the citations in those articles.

• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY - home
• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INDEX - all brands, all years
• ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE

Regarding your appellation of "bad tile", repeating a comment from the top of this 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.

Question: can we identify this old asbestos-suspect floor tile (possibly from the 1970's)?

I just found your website while researching how to restore my old kitchen floor tiles.

I love the pattern but it never occurred to me that it might be asbestos and therefore poisonous.

A few of the tiles at thresholds are breaking apart so now I'm concerned. Your help will be most appreciated.

The first part of my house was built in 1900, the kitchen was added sometime after that but remodeled as we have seen older tile beneath the cabinets.

So I really have no way to know but I thing I may have seen a similar pattern in the 1973 Armstrong section of your website. - N.C. 3/1/2013

Reply:

N.C. this is not a flooring pattern I've seen before - which reminds us of the enormous variety of flooring designs that have been manufactured over the last 100 years or so. You didn't say if this was sheet flooring or individual tiles.

I have posted the image here because the solid color inset design is characteristic of many Kentile floor products and because perchance another InspectApedia reader will recognize this pattern and help us out with its identification.

Short of having a sample tested, it would be reasonable to treat the floor as PACM - presumed asbestos containing material. You used the word "poisonous" which is not quite how I'd put it, and you don't want to panic lest you become victimized by an aggressive contractor.

Take a look at ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION.

Question: I'm scared that 1975-1979 floor tile ripped up by my brother is exposing me to asbestos

Hi I am trying to identify whether this tile contains asbestos.

My brother already started ripping up the floor before doing research, and I just started reading about the asbestos.

So I am pretty scared that I've been inhaling asbestos spores for the past three days. Here is the tile that I am worried about: Please let me know as soon as you can. Thank you for your help!

Reply: Armstrong custom bisque vinyl asbestos floor tile pattern

The photo looks like some of the vinyl-asbestos floor tiles in our library - and it would in any event be prudent to treat it as presumed asbestos containing; if you were facing a costly job it'd be worth having a sample tested. Below is a thumbnail (click to enlarge) of an Armstrong 12"x12" x 1/16" thick Custom Bisque #57090-White vinyl-asbestos floor tile from our online photo catalog

at Asphalt-Asbestos & Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Tiles Identification Photos - 1975-1979.

This tile was sold in White 57090, Rust, Beige 57092, Brown, Bronze, and olive vinyl asbestos floor tiles.

More examples of this pattern are at

HEXAGON & OCTAGON FLOORING PATTERN ID

Follow the precautions in these two articles

ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION

ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE

About being pretty scared, don't panic; unless your brother created a dusty mess the airborne particle levels may be rather low; if he is making a mess he should stop and proper cleaning should be performed.

Question: Does this 1978 Flooring Contain Asbestos? My Contractor says no.

House built 1978. I have searched pictures and could not find this pattern to determine if it contains asbestos. The contractor says it does not. I'm want to be sure. I hope you can help. Thanks, P.C. 1/11/2014

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Reply:

From the photos and pattern I'd estimate that is most likely that the flooring in your pictures is asbestos-containing and should be handled accordingly. If you are facing a high cost for removal, cleaning, renovations, I recommend sending a small sample to a certified asbestos testing lab for confirmation.

The flooring pattern in your photographs resembles some Armstrong asbestos-containing flooring products. See the examples

at ARMSTRONG Asphalt-Asbestos & Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Tiles Identification Photos - 1975-1979

Unless the condition of the flooring in your photos has already been tested by a certified lab and confirmed as asbestos free, I would not let the contractor touch anything before you are decided in this matter.

If a contractor adopts a cavalier attitude towards material that in fact does contain asbestos there is a risk of health hazards, legal issues, and significant later costs to perform a proper cleanup of a job that was not properly handled.

Details about identifying older installations of sheet flooring or sheet-forms of resilient flooring that may contain asbestos are now found

at RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE

 

Question: do these self-stick Emerald Brand vinyl floor tiles contain asbestos?

Can you tell if this tile has Asbestos - I also have photos of the box.

Reply: Trademark Supplies floor tiles - modern version should not contain asbestos

Possibly yes; some self-adhesive floor tiles contained asbestos in the tile backer.

But without matching the floor tile to a known-asbestos-containing photo index one cannot say for sure without performing a lab test for asbestos content.

Often such testing is unnecessary or even inappropriate, depending on the age, location, and condition of the flooring.

The Emerald vinyl "stick-on" floor tiles in your photograph are produced by Trademark Supplies - a company that seems to exist only on and at Amazon.com.

These tiles (see the red marked tile center row left end) are currently available from Amazon.com and are identified as 12X12 Vinyl Stick-On Tiles With Four Emerald Diamonds Self Adhesive Flooring RT4022

At least in that version it would be a surprise if a current for-sale floor product contained asbestos.

Can you

• tell me the age of the building and flooring?
• send me photos of all of the information on the tile box from all sides, including model and lot numbers?

Details about identifying older installations of sheet flooring or sheet-forms of resilient flooring that may contain asbestos are now found

at RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE

Reader Question: do these inset pattern floor tiles contain asbestos?

We were hoping you could take a look at this image fo determine if it contains asbestos? The house was built around 1970, but we arent sure if this is the original tile. Thank you, J.S. 2/11/2014

Reply:

H.S., no one can say for sure what a material contains from just a photo, but the image indeed looks like a 1960's vintage asphalt or vinyl asbestos floor installation, possibly a Kentile floor as those used many pattern inserts.

Watch out: It looks as if the breakup is making a dusty mess - something to be avoided in any case. Stirring up dust from an aggressive asbestos-suspect floor removal creates a health hazard for workers and for building occupants. I would stop working in the manner shown in the photo.

I cut off the worker's head in this photo, not as a punishment but for privacy. But in addition to breaking up this flooring in a dusty manner we see no dust containment methods, and no personal protection gear.

Identify this Bahamas-installed flooring as asbestos-containing?

I am disabled and living in the Bahamas. The house I am renting has old Vinyl floor tiles. If I may have just a few questions about the tile floor and asbestos.

Please can you advise me -

(i) whether the tiles in the attached photos are Armstrong Asbestos tiles?

(ii) where can I get the tiles tested this week to see if they have asbestos?

(iii) can they be properly sealed with ceramic tile over the top as I understand safe asbestos removal will be very expensive and my landlord will likely not pay for that. (this is the Bahamas...!)

(iv) Lastly, how much do you charge low income individuals for a house inspection...?

I would be extremely grateful if you can get back to me quickly as I need to decide if I am staying or leaving.

with warm regards and thanks, R.H. 11/4/13

Reply:

Some of the photos look like some of my Armstrong tile photos - the latter ones, darker and blurry are more uncertain - they look a bit like Kentiles.

ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST (in the More Reading links below) has help in finding a certified lab.

Reader follow-up:

We are getting the samples sent to the lab by courier for testing today.

If they are the Armstrong or Kentiles are those ASBESTOS tiles?

And lastly as they are cracking and curling up at the edges in several places on the floor does that mean I must address this? Sometimes I smell a chlorine type smell and have a very dry throat. My friend who is visiting has been coughing too.

Reply:

Sorry I was not more clear;

If these floor tiles date from before the early 1980's (or older) they probably contain asbestos.

Reader Question: is this flooring 51202 Caliqua by Armstrong® ?

...

Hello, is the attached vinyl tile the 51202 Caliqua (embossed or embossed veining) or the 51203 Trajan embossed? Thanks. - J.S. 10/22/2014

[Photo at above left]

Reply: Probably Excelon Polished Marble floor tiles - see Peruvian Beige #54192

I don't think so, J.S., though your flooring is very similar and is a pattern I've seen before. I'm posting it here pending a certain name identification. For comparison of three similar flooring patterns see

• Custom Dianna White Caligula 12" x 12" x 1/16" Embossed 51202

• Custom Dianna White Trajan 12" x 12" x 1/16" 51203
• Excelon Polished Marble, embossed 12" x 12" x 1/16" Peruvian Beige 54192 - this one looks closer to your floor.

At the right of your photo above I include a very similar photo of this flooring provided by another reader.

The three example floors I cite are described across a wide number of years of Armstrong flooring products and are cited here from

1973 - ARMSTRONG EXCELON VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILES Complete Pattern & Color Guide, 9x9 & 12x12-inch

What to Do About Unidentified Flooring that May Contain Asbestos

If you are facing a costly demolition then it would make sense to confirm asbestos content using a certified asbestos test lab

- ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST

Else it makes sense to treat the material as "Presumed Asbestos Containing Material" or "PACM" flooring based on its age and appearance.

Reader Question: How can I Submit a Floor Tile Photo for Identification

(Apr 3, 2014) Anonymous said:

How can I submit a photo of a tile to see if it might contain asbestos?

Reply:

Sure, Anon, just use the email found at our CONTACT link seen at the top or bottom of any InspectApedia.com page - but it may not be necessary.

If you've got vinyl or asphalt floor tiles installed before the early 1980's it would make sense to treat them as presumed to contain asbestos (PACM or "Presumed Asbestos Containing Material") - and to avoid making a dusty demolition, sawing, grinding mess.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-07-30 by InspectApedia DF (mod)

@Ashley H.,

Thank you for that added follow up letting us know your test results. That will help other readers, too.

Your plan to cover it makes sense.

If you're able to send us a copy of the test report via email, that would also be helpful. You can find our email at the Contact link at the bottom of this page.

On 2023-07-30 by Ashley H.

@InspectApedia DF, the green flooring came back 15% asbestos so we decided to cover it.

On 2023-07-19 by InspectApedia Publisher - 1973 Arkansas asbestos-suspect flooring

@Ashley H.,

I would agree that any of those floor coverings could contain asbestos if they were installed in the U.S. before 1986.

On 2023-07-18 by Ashley H.

@InspectApedia DF,

...

On 2023-07-18 by Ashley H. - the green flooring came back 15% asbestos

@InspectApedia DF,

Here's a better picture.

On 2023-07-18 by InspectApedia DF (mod)

@Ashley H.,

It's difficult to see a lot of detail in the photo but given the age of the flooring,

in the Recommended Articles list (with live links) just above on this page, be sure to read

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

and

ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION

If the flooring is in good condition, the safest and simplest thing to do is to leave it in place, cover with new flooring, or use an encapsulant or sealant on it.

On 2023-07-18 by Ashley H.

Just wondering if this flooring could have asbestos. I'm unsure of the exact age and brand. The house was built in 1973 in arkansas.
Thank you!

On 2023-06-12 by InspectApedia DF (mod)

@Ash,

It sure could-be, as that pattern was popular in the 1970s. It'd be helpful to know the age of your building, its location, and if known, the age of the floor.

Be sure to read

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

https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/DIY-Asbestos-Floor-Test.php

we'll welcome any follow-up questions or suggestions.

On 2023-06-12 by Ash

Does anyone know if this flooring is known to contain asbestos?

 

On 2022-06-03 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - 1970s vinyl-asbestos floor tile

@JG,

That's a 1970s vinyl-asbestos floor tile.

If you can leave it in place and simply cover it over, that's the best approach.

If you have to demolish it making a dusty mess then either treat it as containing asbestos or have a sample tested.

Keep me posted.

On 2022-06-03 by JG

This is a picture from a few weeks ago when I pulled up linoleum my dad laid down in our kitchen in 1993. The flooring underneath is from when my grandparents owned the house, which was built in 1950.

I'm not sure how old these tiles are. They've been there for as long as I can remember, so at least the 70s. I pulled up some more of the floor the other day and overall it looks pretty solid in that the tiles are intact, except that one little crack in the tile.

I'm kinda worried I may be exposing myself to asbestos. The linoleum my dad put down was coming up at the corners for ages, so I pulled it up when I stepped away from water filling the sink to soak some dishes and it ran over.

Whatever lineoleum my dad put down that's still there I'm leaving as is. I'm also contacting flooring contractors ASAP to come and take a look.

 

On 2021-12-12 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Dianna,

A good place to start for trying to identify a particular floor tile pattern is at this article:

INDEX TO ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos-Floor-Tile-Identification-Index.php

and that page also has a link to this article which you may find helpful:

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

On 2021-12-12 by Dianna

I started to remove an under lament finished in linoleum and this very thin tile was underneath, sitting directly on plywood. I was trying to find the pattern to see if it was a known asbestos tile. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated.

 

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Continue reading  at ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1970-1972 - identification photos, or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ASBESTOS DISPOSAL REGULATIONS
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE COMPOSITION
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE ID REQUESTS 1970's
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE ID REQUESTS 1970's-2 - more examples
• ARMSTRONG FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1970-1972
• ARMSTRONG FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1973, COMPLETE GUIDE
• ARMSTRONG FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1974 - 1979
• ASBESTOS FLOORING DAMAGE HAZARDS
• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD LEVEL ASSESSMENT
• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY - home
• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INDEX - all brands, all years
• ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE
• ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES
• ASBESTOS RISK ASSESSMENT
• ASBESTOS TEST RESULTS for TILE & SHEET FLOORING
• ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST
• DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos -
• DOES THIS MATERIAL CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if a BUILDING MATERIAL probably contains asbestos -
• HAZARD vs RISK - what's the difference, why you should care

Suggested citation for this web page

ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE ID REQUESTS 1970's 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.

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