Guide to gray colored asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles, 1900 -1986 using gray as the 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: gray.

This article series provides a guide to identifying asphalt-asbestos flooring (1917 - ca 1960) & vinyl asbestos floor tile (ca 1952 - 1986): 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.

Examples of Gray asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos floor tiles

The asphalt asbestos flooring installed in the First Presbyterian Church, Hudson Valley NY might be classified as gray or taupe.

On this page we give examples of popular gray or mostly gray floor tiles that contained asbestos. Click the pattern names to see images not already shown, or

[Click to enlarge any image]

Below, the gray floor tile shown is an Armstrong flooring product from the 1960's.

The gray asphalt asbestos floor tiles shown below were in Armstrong's 1954 catalog.

Above: several of Armstrong's asphalt-asbestos floor tiles from 1954 look "black' though the company assigned more-refined colour names.

• AUTUMN GRAY 879 floor tile from Armstrong, from the company's 1962 flooring catalog.
• AZTEC GRAY 775 [Click to see]

• BEDFORD GRAY 736 floor tile, shown above from 1956, includes flecks of red, yellow, white, black, on a gray background.

• CHIPPEWA GRAY No. 703 floor tile from 1959

• CUSTOM IMPERIAL style flooring tiles (White sea gray 1112, above left) floor tile images from 1966

• GRANITE GRAY 878 [click to see]

• GRAY 51883, by Armstrong Flooring, shown above, was produced at least between 1973 and 1983

• GRAY SILVERGOLD 354 floor tile, shown above from 1960

• MINERAL GRAY 768 (1962) look nearly black in low light

• MINTONE 831 floor tiles - shown above - were also widely-sold in 1959

• MOHAWK GRAY 771 - popular, widely sold, shown above from 1955

• NAVAHO GRAY 781 - popular, widely sold, also from Armstrong's 1955 floor tile sales literature

• PASTEL GRAY 870 floor tiles - above - from 1961

• POLKA GRAY No. 802 floor tile shown above, also from 1961

• POWDER GRAY 51861 floor tile - above, from 1974

• SILVER GRAY 761 floor tiles like this one were widely sold in 1956.

• SLATE GRAY 751 floor tile, 1954

• WORCESTER GRAY 749 floor tile (above) is a gray spatter pattern tile from Armstrong's 1961 flooring catalog.

Click to enlarge any image]

Photo above: a gray, green, and light tan asphalt-asbestos floor tile installed in a northern Minnesota home in 1962.

We had this flooring tested for asbestos.

sIn our OPINION our test lab produced a "safe for them" somewhat odd report:

During TEM examination Chrysotile asbestos was detected. The total concentration was <1% (see attached report).

Lab results and details are

at 1960-1969 ARMSTRONG EXCELON FLOOR TILE GUIDE

Avoid These Errors in Comparing Gray Floor Tile Colours

Watch out: variations in lighting, use of flash, cleanliness, layers of wax or other coatings and even the colour of the lighting source can all affect the perceived colour of floor coverings.

This mix of red and gray floor tiles can look maroon and green when poorly-lit.

When looking through colour examples or pattern photographs for a match for your floor tile or sheet flooring keep this in mind. The photographs below of red and gray Armstrong vinyl-asbestos floor tiles show the same floor under two different lighting levels.

Similarly, among some floor tile products, especially the earlier asphalt asbestos and some early vinyl asbestos flooring, flooring sold with the same pattern and hue name may vary by manufacturing batch. Later improvements in the manufacturing process made the production of flooring more consistent in appearance.

Gray & Gray-Green-blue Chip Pattern Flooring Asbestos

On 2018-03-20 by (mod) - asbestos-containing sheet flooring from the 1960's - 1970's

The flooring in your photos looks like asbestos-containing sheet flooring from the 1960's - 1970's. It would be prudent to treat it as presumed to contain asbestos.

We have published similar photos of this flooring that I inspected in a home in Two Harbors MN.

Light gray, beige, blue, white chip pattern sheet flooring like that shown just below is discussed

at MARBLE / STONE CHIP PATTERN FLOORING ASBESTOS

On 2018-03-20 by HMK - help identify this gray flooring pattern of small tumbled uniformly-shaded squares/blocks.

Here is another photo of the same/similar flooring.

I'm trying to identify this sheet vinyl flooring, and figure out whether it contains asbestos.

It covers the entire second floor of my home. In the bedrooms and hallway, wall-to-wall carpet was installed directly overtop - in the bathroom, new sheet vinyl was glued down over it.

It's got to be older than 1980, because I remember seeing the same flooring in Victoria General Hospital (Pembina Hwy) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where I live.

The pattern can best be described as small tumbled uniformly-shaded squares/blocks.

The photos I'm uploading are from an internet search - from "photo collector" websites that hide the sources, and contain viruses.

 

 

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2021-05-15 - by (mod) -

On 2021-05-15 by (mod)

@Suzanne, if there was no dusty mess and you're leaving g the flooring in place and covering it there ought not be an issue.

On 2021-05-15 by Suzanne

Found this tile under the base of a built in cabinet in our 1961 built house after mold was found in the cabinet. Contractor insists it's not asbestos. It looks like Armstrong Pastel gray 870. It feels like a very hard, dense material. Thoughts?

On 2021-03-12 - by (mod) - gray background, floral pattern linoleum: asbestos?

@kerry,

Your photo shows a linoleum rug that you will find in our articles found in the page bottom ARTICLE INDEX under "Linoleum"

Or go directly to LINOLEUM & SHEET FLOORING

Some of those products contain asbestos in the asphalt paper backer.

On 2021-03-12 by kerry

I am trying to figure out if this flooring maybe asbestos. Any help appreciated.

On 2020-06-08 - by (mod) - 1980s gray & white speckled floor might contain asbestos

Mike,

It would be prudent to treat that floor as presumed to contain asbestos.

You'll want to review ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE

as well as other risk reduction options mentioned at the end of that article.

On 2020-06-08 by Mike

The house that I’m thinking of buying. The flooring is from 1980 and it don’t know if it has asbestos in it.

On 2020-05-25 - by (mod) - chance of asbestos in this gray-background spatter pattern 1964 floor tile

Beth,

Chances of asbestos in that spatter pattern 1960's floor tile are good.

On 2020-05-25 by Beth

This is the tile in a house built in 1964. What are the chances this has asbestos?

On 2020-02-28 - by (mod) - asbestos in UK Council House floor tiles gray in colour

Alex

DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS?

for some basic questions that help you make a reasonable guess at whether or not your floor contains asbestos

And

Yes black mastic adhesive often contained asbestos.

On 2020-02-28 by AlexPet

Found these tiles under my laminate. House was built 1920s ex council property. I'm assuming asbestos tiles?

I am worried about them too as think have black adhesive

On 2020-02-12 - by (mod) - so does my floor tile contain asbestos or not?

Thank you for the asbestos-suspect flooring question and for the photo, Erin.

Because popular floor patterns were made by more than one manufacturer, and because popular flooring patterns were produced across and past years when asbestos was a common ingredient, one cannot safely say, on a photo alone, whether or not a particular floor tile or sheet flooring pattern contains asbestos.

Short of having a sample of the flooring tested, you can make a reasonable *guess* at whether or not your floor 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.

As you may have seen, you can often find a match in the ID-library of asbestos flooring beginning

ADVICE: For buildings with floor tiles that could be assumed to have been installed in North America before 1986 it would be prudent to treat the flooring as "PACM" or "Presumed Asbestos Containing Material".

The presence of known asbestos-containing flooring does not mean we should panic nor that we should undertake an expensive and dangerous asbestos removal project.

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.

Generally the safest approach is to leave such flooring alone and to cover it with a coating or with another layer of flooring.

On 2020-02-12 by Erin P -

Hi! I saw the identical tile on a page about asbestos tile removal. Do we think this tile contains it?

On 2020-02-11 - by (mod) -

Yes that's likely to contain asbestos. Treat the floor as presumed to contain asbestos or have a sample of the flooring and the mastic tested.

On 2020-02-11 by Nicole R - grey & white floor tile from 1968 - asbestos?

This is our kitchen floor that was “redone” in 1968. The house was built around 1938. I didn’t think it had mastiff because it didn’t look black, but now I’m not sure.

The glue looks more dark grey

On 2018-08-12 by (mod) - asbestos likely in gray 12x12 flooring in 1950's home

Grace, it would be prudent to treat the floor in your photo as presumed to contain asbestos - which is not a reason to panic but it is a reason to avoid creating dust and debris.

On 2018-08-12 by Grace

House was originally built in 1958, but we dont know when this vinyl was installed. Its 12x12

On 2018-02-15 by (mod) - 1950s asphalt-asbestos floor tiles, gray-green color

CS

Your floor tile (shown below) looks like a 1950's asphalt-asbestos floor tile product, perhaps by Armstrong.

On 2018-02-15 by CS Anyone recognize this tile?

Anyone recognize this tile?

On 2018-02-13 by (mod) - gray-green brick pattern flooring asbestos

Maybe you mean

Cover up?

Fine

On 2018-02-12 by Amy

Sorry apparently my phone keeps changing my words .. it should say scrape .... let’s see if it posts correctly this time !

On 2018-02-12 by Anonymous

Ok thank you! Is it safe to scrape up or should it be left as is and gone over with new flooring?

On 2018-02-12 by (mod) - gray-green brick pattern sheet or tile flooring asbestos

That's a common "brick pattern" of vinyl sheet flooring; particularly of the age you cite, early 80's or older, it's likely to contain asbestos.

On 2018-02-12 by Amy Trying to determine if this vinyl flooring contains asbestos

Trying to determine if this vinyl flooring contains asbestos... any help is appreciated.. our house was built in the late 70’s or early 80’s.

thanks I’m trying to convince the hubby to leave it be.. he’s insisting on tearing it up!

[Photo above]

 

On 2018-03-09 by (mod) - gray & green floor tiles, Wards? From the 1970s in Seattle, WA

Scott

What country, city, state or province is the building location?

The flooring looks a lot like Montgomery Ward vinyl asbestos flooring from the 70's. To know for sure if it contains asbestos you'd need to test a sample. I would treat the floor as PACM (Presumed Asbestos Containing Material)

...

Scott said

The building is in Poulsbo, WA. West of Seattle. I’ll have it tested.

On 2018-03-02 by Scott Schmidt - asbestos in 1970's 12x12 floor tiles from Poulsbo WA

Hi,

I am trying to identify these 12 x 12 tiles. I have not found anything similar on the web site yet.

Could you help identify it? It is in a medical building built around 1970. Thanks.

On 2017-06-16 by Melissa

After reviewing the photos on your site, it appears as though the flooring in our basement (built in 1959) might be the Worcester Gray 749 from Armstrong. By chance, has anyone else submitted information, or do you have information on the asbestos percentage of that particular tile?

On 2013-02-08 by Mike

I have a vinyl 12 x 12 tile floor in my basement and the name and number on the back side is "KC Armstrong 0252 100206. The color is light gray and the sticky side is also a light gary. The tile is self sticking. Have no idea about the year installed. The house was built in the 70s. But this floor is in too good of a condition to be that old.

 

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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

• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INDEX - all brands, all years
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE PHOTO ID GUIDE - home
• ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION COLOR KEY - home
• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
• ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE
• ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE
• DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos -
• FLOOR TILE / SHEET FLOORING PHOTO GUIDES

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ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION GRAY 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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