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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

• BALLET TAUPE 803 floor tile from 1961 - above

• CAYUGA BROWN 715, a 1962 asphalt asbestos floor tile, given above.

• CAPE COD BEIGE 737 - shown above, popular in North America in 1956

• COPPERTONE BEIGE 865 - from 1962, shown above from an Armstrong flooring catalog

• CORK LIGHT 798 cork style vinyl-asbestos floor tiles were among the most-popular patterns, widely sold over many years. This image (above) is from a 1956 flooring catalog.

• CORK MEDIUM 797 corkstyle floor tiles also were sold over nearly 20 years - the image above is from 1956.

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

• CORK DARK 799 [click to see]

• DARK WOODTONE No. 789 wood pattern flooring - our example is from 1957.

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

 

• DAYTONA TAUPE 51760 - shown above, from 1973, a vinyl asbestos floor tile product.

• DUSTY CEDAR 874 flooring, as shown above, dating from a1961 Armstrong catalog

• EXCELON SHATTERED STONE EMBOSSED patterned floor tiles (shown above) 12 x 12 x 1/16" shown above, along with other shattered stone or stone or marble chip pattern flooring is discussed in more-detail

  at MARBLE / STONE CHIP PATTERN FLOORING ASBESTOS [web article]

• IVORY TAN 766 - above, from 1958

• Excelon Dark WOODTONE, an example taken from a 1957 flooring catalog, asphalt asbestos flooring.
• IROQUOIS TAN 783 [click to see]
• IVORY TAN 766 [click to see]

• KASHA TAUPE 769, shown above from 1961

• LIGHT WOODTONE 788 - this example is from Armstrong's 1956 floor tile catalog.
• MALIBU BEIGE 51764 - [click to see]

• MAPLEWOOD TAN 863 illustrated above from a 1962 floor tile catalog
• MANILA TAN 756 [not shown]
• MEDIUM OAK 851 - [click to see any of these if you don't see an image above the pattern name]

• MERIDIAN TAUPE 747 in Armstrong's Excelon series, asbestos floor tile from 1960 - above
• METRO TAUPE 807

• MONTEPLIER BEIGE 51950, 1974 floor tile
• NOUGAT BEIGE 51138
• NUTMEG BROWN 877

• PAWNEE BEIGE 778 floor tile, above, 1955.
• PERUVIAN BEIGE 54192
• Plain Brown 795 Excelon color strips

• PEBBLE BEIGE 872 in 1961 - above
• PILGRIM TAUPE 864

• REDWOODTONE 796 - 1958
• Rutland Beige 746

• SADDLE 57141 - as shown above, this is a 1980's vinyl asbestos floor tile
• SAND BEIGE 762
• SANDTONE 830

• CUSTOM SHALESTONE flooring (Tioga beige 57001) - above - from 1968

• EMBOSSED PEBBLETTE - above - from 1965

• MARBLE style (Quartz ivory 54231) - above - from an Armstrong 1968 flooring catalog

• SHATTERED STONE BEIGE 51170 - above

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

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

• SIROCCO TAUPE 757 - floor tile from 1954 - shown above

• SMOOTH SURFACE PALATIAL NICE GOLD 51601, shown above, from 1973

• ALBA BEIGE 51602 - shown above, from a 1973 flooring catalog

• CANNES BEIGE 51603, floor tile dated 1973 from an Armstrong floor tile catalog

• SONATA BEIGE 800 floor tiles using a round spot pattern were in the 1961 Armstrong flooring catalog.

• TAUPE BRONZE 355 - shown above
• WACO SAND 702 - [click to see]
• WILD HONEY 876

• ZUNI BROWN 785 floor tile from 1956, shown above.

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

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

at SHEET & TILE FLOORING ASBESTOS ID-WHITE BRICK

• EXCELON CUSTOM GLENMORE GOLD 57132 - shown above, was a gold-toned brick-pattern floor tile also sold in similar sheet form.

• GOLD 54523 "Chande" floor tile pattern from 1973 - shown above

• MAPLEWOOD 863 floor tile from 1962
• Also see FLOOR TILES BEIGE BROWN TAN or WOOD TONE

Octagon or Hexagon Pattern Beige Flooring

More examples of this pattern are at

HEXAGON & OCTAGON FLOORING PATTERN ID

 

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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.

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

@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.

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) -

Dave 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?

Matthew:

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

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

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?

...

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?

...

Continue reading at DOES THIS MATERIAL CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if a BUILDING MATERIAL probably contains asbestos, 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 FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION BEIGE BROWN TAN or WOOD TONE
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Suggested citation for this web page

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.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ASBESTOS HAZARDS

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