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Armstrong asbestos floor tile Maplewood 863 (C) IAPBeige, brown, tan or wood-tone Asphalt Asbestos & Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Identify tan or brownish flooring that may contain asbestos

  • 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.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Beige, Brown, Tan, Taupe or Wood-Tone Asbestos-Containing Flooring

Armstrong vinyl asbestos floor tile Palimino Beige C913 & C926 with original packaging & asbestos content specifications

On this page we give examples of popular beige, brown, tan, or wood-toned floor tiles that contained asbestos. You'll see from our photo above that the while a tile may include a lot of beige or brown as a dominant color, it may also contain streaks or spots or spatters of other colors.

Click the pattern names to see images not already shown, or

[Click to enlarge any image]

Above, Armstrong Pecan Beige C913 floor tiles. Brown, tan or similar floor tile identification searches as well as many of the other color-based tile ID searches are confounded by patterns.

Asphalt or vinyl asbestos Armstrong floor tiles (C) Daniel Friedman Mabbettsville NY

For example just below is a "Saddle" brown pattern 57141. We include other tan or brownish colored tiles such as the cork family here as well.

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

Below: we have grouped together floor tiles that were brown in color or hue along with corkstyle and woodtone asphalt asbestos tiles that also are "brown" in our OPINION.

Brown hued asphalt asbestos floor tiles - Armstrong 1954 (C) InspectApedia.com

Above: brown asphalt asbestos floor tiles from Armstrong's 1954 catalog.

Asbestos floor tile Ballet Taupe 803 (C) InspectApedia.com

Armstrong Cayuga Brown asbestos floor tile #715 (C) InspectApedia

Armstrong asbestos floor tile Cape COd Beige 737 (C) InspectApedia

Armstrong asbestos floor tile Coppertone Beige (C) InspectAPedia

Armstrong asbestos floor tile Cork Light 798 (C) InspectApedia

Medium cork pattern asbestos floor tile from 1956 (C) InspectApedia.com

Below: a panel of Armstrong's Corkstyle asphalt asbestos tiles from 1955.

Armstrong asphalt asbestos corkstyle floor tiles 1955 (C) Inspectapedia.com

Armstrong asbestos floor tile Cork Light 798 (C) InspectApedia

Below: a panel of Armstrong asphalt asbestos "woodtone" floor tiles from the company's 1955 catalog.

Armstrong woodtone floor tiles asphalt asbestos 1955 (C) Inspectapedia.com

 

Daytona Taupe 51760 floor tile from 1973 (C) InspectApedia.com

Dusty Cedar 874 Armstrong Abestos flooring (C) IAP

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

Ivory Tan 766 Armstrong asbestos floor tile (C) InspectApedia.com

Armstrong Excelon Woodtone asbestos flooring (C) InspectApedia.com

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

Woodtone, Light vinul asbestos floor tile (Armstrong) (C) InspectApedia.com

Armstrong asbestos floor tile Maplewood 863 (C) IAP

Taupe asbestos floor tile 1960 (C) InspectApedia.com

Montpelier Beige floor tile asbestos from  (C) InspectApedia.com

Pawnee Beige 1955 asbestos floor tile (C) InspectApedia.com

Pebble beige floor tile pattern with asbestos (C) InspectApedia.com

Redwoodtone Floor tile (C) InspectApedia.com

Saddle 57141 asbestos containing floor tile from 1980's Armstrong (C) IAP

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

Armstrong Excelon Shattered stone Beige flooring (C) InspectApedia.com

Marble chip resilient flooring known to contain asbestos (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.com Two Harbors MN

Light Beige, rose, brown chip pattern including the rectangular chip sheet flooring above and the stone-pattern flooring below are discussed

at MARBLE / STONE CHIP PATTERN FLOORING ASBESTOS

Asbestos in 1950s or 1960s stone or marble pattern sheet flooring (C) InspectApedia.com Marjoire DiRisio Duger

The pale beige-near-white- stone pattern flooring shown above was in a U.S. home built in 1968

Sirocco Taupe floor tile asbestos (C) InspectApedia.com

Armstrong Smooth Surfaced Palatial Nice Gold 5601 flooring (C) InspectApedia.com

Saddle 57141 asbestos containing floor tile from 1980's Armstrong (C) IAP

Beige floor tile asbestos (C) InspectApedia.com

Sonata beige flooring from 1973 (C) InspectApedia.com contains asbestos

Taupe Bronze asbestos flooring ca 1960 (C) InspectApedia.com

Zuni Brown N. 785 from Armstrong 1956 flooring catalog (C) IAP

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

COUNTRY BRICK 12" x 12" regular brick pattern Armstrong vinyl asbestos floor tiles from 1978, also sold in these colors: TERRA COTTA 57400, BURNT TOAST, 57402, above and especially recommended for kitchens, ALMOND 57403)

is discussed at SHEET & TILE FLOORING ASBESTOS ID-BRICK PATTERN ID

Armstrong Asb_Excelon_Cust_Glenm_1973

More variations on light colored brick pattern flooring and asbestos test results are

at SHEET & TILE FLOORING ASBESTOS ID-WHITE BRICK

Excelone Chande gold flooring (C) InspectApedia.com

1962 Maplewood pattern floor tile (C) InspectApedia.com asbestos

Octagon or Hexagon Pattern Beige Flooring

Vinyl asbestos floor tile identification photo U.S. Library of Congress

More examples of this pattern are at

HEXAGON & OCTAGON FLOORING PATTERN ID

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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 2023-02-20 by InspectApedia Editor - does this brown Kentile flooring contain asbestos?

@Lennelle,

Are you sure that they are Kentile tiles as many patterns had very similar ones from other companies such as Armstrong?

Although I didn't see an exact match, our Kentile patterns list is found at

KENTILE FLOOR TILE COLOR & PATTERN KEYS

And you can see similar patterns at

BEIGE, BROWN, TAN OR WOOD-TONE ASPHALT ASBESTOS & VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILES (this is the page you are now on)

The Recommended Articles list on that page will give you live links to several articles related to asbestos floor tiles. And we will eventually move your question and photo to one of those pages.

If you knew the age of the flooring in the home (prior to 1986), it would be reasonable (and safe) to treat the flooring as presumed asbestos-containing floor tile (PACM). For a floor that is in place, intact, and is not being ground up or smashed about by demolition, the level of risk is probably below the limits of detection, and the safest and simplest thing to do is to leave the flooring in place.

[This reader comment and our reply were originally posted on a different unrelated page.]

On 2023-02-20 by Lennelle

This picture is of our basement floor. Can anyone tell me what the 3 names of the Kentiles are? We needed some to be replaced, but I doubt that will ever happen since no one sells them. Thanks for the assistance.

brown and beige floor tiles (C) InspectApedia.com Lennelle

On 2021-04-08 by (mod) - 1980s Armstrong Vernay floor tile patterns - Asbestos?

1980s Armstrong Vernay floor tile pattern - asbestos risk (C) InspectApedia.com Katie@Katie,

Interesting; flooring made after 1986 will not be likely to contain asbestos; it's possible that flooring made up to 1982 was stored somewhere and installed as "new old stock" at some later time.

So nobody would bet your life that the floor in your photo is asbestos free.

But when you can remove a flooring material by simply picking it up or rolling it up, without making a dusty mess by sanding, grinding, chopping, etc., then there isn't likely to be a detectable asbestos hazard - it's not a friable material.

Best option is leave in place and cover-over.

On 2021-04-08 by Katie

Hello — I just discovered this under carpet in my basement. It looks like the Armstrong Vernay pattern on this site, which you say didn’t contain asbestos. Is that right?

What’s odd is that it says it was stopped manufacturing in 1982, but records from the previous homeowner show this wasn’t installed until 1988?! Am I safe to remove this?
From the previous

On 2021-03-31 - by (mod) -

@Lauren, probably that flooring is from 1960s or later.

On 2021-03-31 by Lauren

What do you think? My house was built in 1956, I’m not sure if this is the original kitchen floor or not.

1960s or 1970s asbestos-suspect kitchen floor (C) Inspectapedia Lauren

On 2020-06-29 - by (mod) - asbestos in 1970 12x12 floor tiles

Yes it would make sense to either test a sample or treat the floor as presumed to contain asbestos, Dawn.

On 2020-06-29 by Dawn

12x12 no idea of manufacturer

House built in 1970 we believe
Asbestos?

On 2020-05-01 - by (mod) -

I don't know that exact pattern but warn that popular patterns were often made and thus sold both with asbestos and later without.

See

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

On 2020-05-01 by Dawn W.

House is 95 years old. By style I’d guess remodeled in 1970’s. Is this a recognized asbestos-containing tile?

On 2020-04-11 - by (mod) -

White backer vinyl floor tile with apparent fiberglass might still contain asbestos - more research needed (C) InspectApedia.com DaveDave thank you for a very helpful question.

Please find your photos and my detailed reply now posted at

FIBERGLASS ASBESTOS COMBINATIONS

On 2020-04-11 by Dave

Any thoughts on this tile? Appears to be vinyl with a fiber (glass, I hope) backing.

House was built in 1978 but likely had basement finished (and tile put down) later than that. In Detroit metro area.

Water has caused adhesive to dissolve and come up, appears white.

I'll add another picture in a subsequent comment.

On 2020-02-07 - by (mod) - Does this tile have abestos?

It might, Steph but since the pattern alone isn't sufficient to determine if a flooring has asbestos see

DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS


where the simple questions can help make a reasonable guess

On 2020-02-06 by Stephanie

Does this tile have abestos?

Mod 2019/07 - does this 1967 floor tile in Buffalo NY contain asbestos?

Viny floor tile probably asbestos, Buffalo NY 1967 (C) InspectApedia.com DomgalaMatthew:

Depending on its age both the tile in your photo and the mastic could contain asbestos. In your first note you didn't say anything about the building country, city, age &c.

A tile that looks like yours, installed in the U.S. in the late 1960s, is likely to contain asbestos. Treat it as presumed to contain asbestos.

You can also Use the on-page search box at the top or bottom of this page to see details for safe ASBESTOS FLOOR REMOVAL PROCEDURES

Some easy questions at DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/DIY-Asbestos-Floor-Test.php

can help make a reasonable guess at an answer.

Matthew Domagala 2019/07

Looking for advice on if this is asbestos.

Country: US

City: Buffalo

Age: 1967

Asbesots suspect floor tile in a 1967 home Buffalo NY (C) InspectApedia.com Domagala

is there anything else that will help?

House was built in the late 1960's (1967), this was under the tile floor. I don't see any black like substance, my contractor doesn't seem concerned

On 2018-05-29 by (mod) - probably asbestos-containing flooring 1961-64

Old floor may contain asbestos (C) InspectApedia.com

Yes, though I suspect the date may be not quite that old

On 2018-05-29 by Renee

Wondering if this kitchen sheet floor could possibly have asbestos? Guessing it's from1961-64.

Question: Does this Beige Dominion Jaspe floor tile contain asbestos?

Dominion Jaspe pattern floor tile in Canada (C) InspectApedia.com reader Jason ... Back side of Dominon Floor Tile Jaspe Catalog J-736 (C) InspectApedia.com Jason

The beige Canadian flooring illustrated above is discussed in detail

at DOMINION & Other CANADIAN FLOORING ASBESTOS

On 2015-09-22 by (mod) Beige 9x9 floor tiles, treat old floors as PACM - Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material

It's reasonable and safer to presume that the floor you discuss contains asbestos as may the black mastic adhesive.

On 2015-09-22 by Thompson

Hello. We are doing renovations in our new house. We found floor tile under other linoleum which looks like it's original, from 1951. It also has a black adhesive layer.

The tile is 9x9 and is a beige color with streaks of black, red, yellow, green and blue. Neither of these items are friable. I don't know the brand of the tile. Does anyone know if this tile contains asbestos?



...

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ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BEIGE BROWN TAN or WOOD TONE 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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