Sheet flooring or resilient flooring identification requests & FAQs group two.

Photo above: Congoleum sheet flooring from a 1955 Life Magaine Advertisement.

This article series describes sheet flooring products known to contain significant levels of asbestos. We also include photographs for identification of known asbestos-containing resilient sheet flooring as well as unknown flooring submitted for identification.

FAQs about Asbestos in Resilient Flooring or Sheet Flooring

These questions and answers about identification of and asbestos content in older types of sheet flooring, linoleum, linoleum rugs, Armstrong sheet flooring, Congoleum and other products, were posted originally

at RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE - be sure to see that article.

The photos and questions are arranged in order from oldest floor coverings (used in the 1800's to early 1900's) to the present.

Shown at above/left, antique jute-backed sheet flooring.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2021-12-18 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Lisa,

Answering your second question first, please take a look at this article where we talk about water damaged asbestos flooring and assessing its risk:

ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD LEVELS

And as far as determining if it does have asbestos, have a sample of the flooring tested, or you can make a reasonable *guess* at whether or not the 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.

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.

That looks like a linoleum that uses of black assault impregnated paperback or. Some of those products contained asbestos. Or is in poor condition. You may find it can be simply rolled up and removed. You'll find guidelines for removing or covering flooring in this article series.

On 2021-12-18 by Lisa

I was wondering if this sheet flooring has asbestos ? I have no idea what the age of the flooring is my house was built in 1915 and was moved where it is today in 1931, I am also wondering if asbestos flooring gets this much water damage?

On 2021-11-13 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Beau J,

That flooring might contain asbestos if it was installed in a building in North America before 1987. From a photo one can’t answer your question with certainty. Popular flooring patterns were continued, without asbestos, after 1986.

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

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

On 2021-11-13 by Beau J

I was wondering if this may contain asbestos. House was built in 1980s.

On 2021-09-14 by inspectapedia.com.moderator

@Tim,

With all due respect, this is a common case in which the lost night of sleep and anxiety over flooring removed three and a half years ago are probably more harmful to your health than the floor itself.

From just your note no one can say if that floor even contained asbestos - though if it did (made or sold in the U.S. before 1986, for example, or different years in other countries) the hazard would be in the backer.

DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos - can help you make a reasonable guess.

If that was, as it appears, sheet flooring that could be removed by picking it up or rolling it up, without creating a dusty mess by grinding, sawing, chopping, then it's not likely that there was a demonstrable asbestos hazard.

On 2021-09-14 by Tim

Just lost a night of sleep after realizing that after purchase of my home 3.5 years ago, I removed what may be an ACM floor with zero recommended precautions. I’m beside myself, to be honest. I don’t have a good recollection of backing or anything; I just have this photo of the pattern. Please help.

On 2021-07-30 by inspectapedia.com.moderator

@Kevo,

Thank you for the kind words; we work hard on this information so are glad when readers find it useful;

Sorry I can't ID the specific floor pattern and brand in your photo: there are quite a few terra-cotta and brick- type floor patterns, as you'll see in this article series and in the article index.

We also welcome your content suggestions and critique.

On 2021-07-30 by Kevo

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, Thank you for your response. Your website is very informative!

On 2021-07-30 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@Kevo,

I agree that that flooring looks newer than the house, perhaps from the 1980s or later.

On 2021-07-30 by Kevo

Hi, was having trouble identifying age of this sheet flooring. The house is from 1962, but the sheet flooring looks to be newer than that.

I'm thrown for a loop due to the color of the flooring. Any idea about age, and if this could contain asbestos. Thanks!

On 2021-07-21 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - 20% Chrysotile asbestos found in the 1960s sheet flooring shown below

@Joe,

Thank you for taking the time to provide this photo of 1967 Sheet Flooring that contains asbestos - am I right that the asbestos is in a white or gray or tan backer on this flooring?

And can you tell us the country and city where this home is located?

Working together helps us both.

Daniel

On 2021-07-21 by Joe

Adding for posterity and perhaps help other users:

House was built in 1967. Unknown sheet vinyl brand, no markings found. SLI testing found 20% Chrysotile.

[Photo above]

No asbestos in mastics or other surfaces/layers, at least in this particular installation.

On 2021-06-17 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - make a reasonable guess at asbestos in flooring

@Joel,

Yes

See

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

On 2021-06-17 by Joel

House was build in 1984, and found this underneath all the flooring. Looks to be original, any idea if it could have asbestos?

[Photo above]

On 2021-04-28 - by (mod) - quote about handling of the asbestos ban is accurate but doesn't speak to what asbestos-containing flooring was sold in the U.S. after 1986.

@Anonymous,

Yes your quote about handling of the asbestos ban is accurate but doesn't speak to what asbestos-containing flooring was sold in the U.S. after 1986.

IMO manufacturers, avoiding liability, and consumers avoiding asbestos, meant that nobody in the U.S. wanted to buy asbestos-containing flooring after that time.

Of course some less fussy building suppliers might have kept and sold-on asbestos-containing flooring that they had in-stock rather than eat that cost;

But most consumers didn't want it; a vendor would have had to wait for a customer who didn't read the ingredients on the box or who didn't care.

OPINION: I hesitate to make this comparison because COVID is such a serious hazard that can have such dire health effects, ones that show up far more quickly than asbestosis; but today, too, we have a contingent of citizens who scoff at Covid-19, infection, illness, masks, vaccines, and death.

We had folks like that back then, too.

On 2021-04-28 by Anonymous

Purchased in US, not sure where it was manufactured. But the EPA site is interesting. Trying to find the article implying sales into the 1990's but haven't found it yet.
"In 1989, EPA attempted to ban most asbestos-containing products by issuing a final rule under Section 6 of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

However, most of the original ban on the manufacture, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce for the majority of the asbestos-containing products originally covered in the 1989 final rule was overturned in 1991 by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result, the 1989 asbestos regulation only bans new uses of asbestos in products that would be initiated for the first time after 1989 and bans 5 other specific product types.

On 2021-04-28 - by (mod) - use an asbestos test lab

@Anonymous,

I'm sure there are other websites offering identification photos of flooring but frankly haven't worked on this collection for over 20 years I don't think there's one that's more extensive

. In fact the volume of photographs and pictures to look through is probably too much for most people.

As you've already identified the brand of flooring, the pattern the flooring from your photo, and the approximate age from the age of your house, I'm not sure there's much to be gained.

ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Test_Lab_Lists.php

Will help you find a certified asbestos test lab.

On 2021-04-28 by Anonymous

Yes. I do understand now that that was incorrect information and we are moving forward with testing.

I have not been able to identify the flooring though. It looks similar to some others on this website, but so far, no match. Do you know of another resource that we could try to match while awaiting testing?

On 2021-04-28 - by (mod) - 9x9 tiles are NOT the only floor tile size that contained asbestos

@Alison,

Some of what you "saw" elsewhere is simply incorrect. For example it's absolutely incorrect to say that in floor coverings asbestos was principally in 9x9 tiles nor that it was principally in tiles that used black mastic adhesive.

Asbestos was found in both asphalt-based and vinyl-based floor tiles and sheet flooring, with white, cream-colored, black, red and other colored backing, and in mastic adhesives that were white, tan, brown, or black (asphalt-based), and while it's true that some 12x12" floor tiles were less likely to contain asbestos than some 9x9" tiles of the same year, that is not a reliable rule - asbestos was found in floor tiles of every imaginable size including custom cut or die-cut sizes and shapes that varied widely.

For the Armstrong floor in your photo, you should treat that floor as presumed to contain asbestos - while waiting for your sample to be tested.

Let me know what lab you use and what their report says as that will help other readers.

On 2021-04-28 by Alison

Doing some remodeling in our home and everything has layers. Flooring, paint, wallpaper, etc. From research, I saw that asbestos was usually 9x9 tiles with black mastic but then I found this site after we pulled a bunch of our linoleum sheeting up. Now I’m worried but can’t seem to identify it.

The back does say Armstrong and our house was built in 1969. Any information while I research local places to test?

On 2021-04-27 - by (mod) -

@John,

1 I would be interested in the reference that you say you read about the sale of asbestos-containing flooring in later years. It's of course possible that building suppliers or vendors kept old flooring and sold it but generally we expect that there was so much public awareness of the issue that that would not be common.

It's also the case of course that the dates for cessation of use of asbestos very considerably from one country to another. We're guessing that your material is in the US.

On 2021-04-26 by John

Oops sorry - yes asbestos. I had read some products were sold into the '90s.

On 2021-04-26 - by (mod) -

@John,

What are we questioning here, John. Asbestos? Not expected in U.S. floors post 1986. General performance?

On 2021-04-26 by John - Preference in Plainfield Beige flooring

We built our home in 1991-1992 but didn't finish the basement until mid-late '90s. Some of finished basement had Tarkett vinyl floor covering, the rest was carpeted. Due to a plumbing flood an damage when a new boiler was brought in, all need to be replaced.

The pattern was Preference in Plainfield Beige but I thought the back picture with the numbering might be more useful.

I know the '90s period was questionable. Any insight you could provide would be very much appreciated. Thanks for everything you do.

On 2021-03-24 - by (mod) -

@Anonymous, do tell me the result

On 2021-03-24 by Anonymous

thanks for your reply. The second picture just shows the same material, but I suppose it has bunch of glue on it from something. I just took a sample to the lab to see what they say.

On 2021-03-24 - by (mod) -

@Nick, I' m not sure what the question is in your second photo; we see adhesive mastic and some debris.

On 2021-03-24 by Nick

@Nick, also just to add to it, this is another pic under a different part of the floor. Not sure what is going on here. I don’t see any tiles which is making it difficult to tell.

On 2021-03-24 by Nick

Hello,

My house was built in 1930. We are redoing our kitchen and these are the old floors under the newer linoleum. Does anyone have any thoughts on if this could contain asbestos? I can’t tell the age of this floor, but it looks old.

On 2021-03-23 - by (mod) -

@Mary,

It seems likely that the flooring was dating from before 1986 and so is likely to contain asbestos.

However by your report in by the photo of the total amount of damage is trivial as likely to be beneath the limits of detection.

In the recommended articles above see ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION

On 2021-03-23 by Mary

Hello. Thank you so much for the work you do. Our new to us 1928 home has these same tiles in a basement bathroom and a landing where people enter the house from. The basement tiles are in good shape mostly.

There are some cracks on the landing with this being the worst. It’s covered currently by a thick welcome mat. The house has had some renovations throughout the years. Thoughts? Thanks.

On 2021-03-15 - by (mod) -

@Anonymous, the vacuum that you described is typically associated with linoleum type sheet flooring

On 2021-03-07 - by (mod) -

@JasonG, in my opinion, Yes.

To know for sure you need to test a sample

On 2021-03-15 - by (mod) -

@Anonymous, the backing that you described is typically associated with linoleum type sheet flooring

On 2021-03-15 by Anonymous

Hello, curious as to your opinion on this vinyl sheet flooring. It appears in a 1953 brick ranch that we recently purchased; you can see the original hardwood underneath.

My best guess is this was installed anywhere from 1960s-1980s. The flooring is a faux wood pattern with what appears to be green felt-like backing. Thank you,

On 2021-03-07 - by (mod) -

@JasonG, in my opinion, Yes.

It would be sensible to treat that 1970s sheet flooring as presumed to contain asbestos - at least in the flooring backer material.

To know for sure you need to test a sample for asbestos.

On 2021-03-07 by JasonG

Hi all.
I have a house that was built in Dallas, TX in ~1973 which has this sheet flooring (not tiles) in the kitchen and utility room bathroom.

The material is fairly thin and rips easily, and it appears to be attached to a paper-like backing with glue below.
Is this likely to contain asbestos?

Thanks for any help and insight!

On 2021-03-02 - by (mod) -

@Stephanie,

The floor tiles - green and red-orange below your sheet flooring look like something from the 1950s or 1960s and often contain asbestos; the gray paper backer on your newer sheet flooring might contain asbestos depending on when it was made.

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

should be of some use

On 2021-03-02 by Stephanie

I was interested in the checker underneath started ripping and then the thought of asbestos came to mind and stopped.

On 2021-02-21 - by (mod) -

@Ioana,

Sorry, no. I don 't know that floor pattern.

If you knew the flooring were made in the U.S. after 1986 (other countries have different "safe" dates) you'd not expect the floor to contain asbestos.

Do post your test results as that'll help other readers.

Check out

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

Also see ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos-Hazard-Reduction.php

On 2021-02-21 by Ioana

The laundry room in the 1970s home we purchased is lined with these tiles: Armstrong 705 070299. Many have detached from the unfinished floor and we will need to decide on our course of action.

The house was renovated in late 1980 / early 1990s and again sometime in 2000. Size is 12x12 and the tiles seem fairly rigid, with what looks like a fiberglass mesh backing. No visible trace of adhesive on the back or on the exposed floor.

None of the detached tiles has broken. Because they were mounted with some spacing, there is a layer of dirt that constantly smears over the tiles.

Despite looking like glossy vinyl, they are sticky and incredibly difficult to clean. Have you encountered these tiles? Could you help me tell when they were made? I do plan to run an asbestos test, but identifying what we're looking at would be helpful as well. We are in the mid-Atlantic region in the US.

 

On 2021-02-15 - by (mod) -

I'm sorry, Autumn because our website is founded on being useful, but from your photo I can't name the manufacturer. There are thousands of patterns and probably hundreds of manufacturers. I can say that I don't recall seeing that exact pattern so it's probably not in our reference series of floor tile ID articles.

When you're trying to id flooring, including age (as you did) is helpful, but so is including the country and perhaps city where the flooring is installed, as some floor manufacturers distribute only within country or within a few countries.

On 2021-02-14 by Autumn

I cannot find manufacturer, installed early 7os, sheet vinyl. Can you help identify?

On 2021-02-04 - by (mod) -

Yes

On 2021-02-04 by Jason

Sheet vinyl, 1977 house. Could this be asbestos backed?

On 2018-05-29 by (mod) - worried that the sheet flooring below contains asbestos?

Lisa it's not likely that a 1985 home in North America would have used asbestos-containing flooring.

On 2018-05-28 by Lisa

We began to remove this sheet vinyl flooring in our bathroom. The house was built in 1985 and the floor is original to the house.

I’m now worried after having removed approximately a 2 x 3 square that it may contain asbestos. We did not have proper protection while removing that area and my kids were in the house.

Does anyone know if this pattern contains asbestos. I have no clue of the brand.

On 2018-05-04 by (mod) - treat this floor as PACM

Stacy

Based on the house age and the appearance of the floor it would make sense to treat it as PACM - Presumed to Contain Asbestos Material.

Be sure to review the asbestos flooring Hazard reduction article in this series. Usually you can remove sheet flooring with a minimum of demolition and dust, thus minimizing the possible hazard.

If you need to grind, saw, or otherwise create dust from the floor, either treat it as asbestos and follow our asbestos floor removal procedures (from the EPA) or have a sample tested by a certified asbestos test lab.

You can find an asbestos test lab from links we give at our page top or top menu bar "EXPERTS DIRECTORY"

On 2018-05-04 by Stacy

Hi,
Could you help me identify this flooring? The House was built in 1970 and the flooring is a sheet. The backing is white with no labels. Unfortunately we already started pulling it up before my brother in law warned that it could be asbestos!

On 2018-04-23 by (mod) -

Kristine,

Your first flooring pattern is one that we've seen before and that typically contains asbestos. II flooring pattern is not one that I recognize.

From your estimate of the flooribg age it would make sense to treat it as presumed to contain asbestos. Be sure to review the asbestos flooring Hazard reduction article in this series.

On 2018-04-23 by Kristie

Any ideas on this second flooring? It likely was put down late 70’s early 80’s. Thanks so much!

On 2018-04-23 by Kristie

Hi there
Your website has been so helpful. I am a little confused though as I have found this particular flooring in two different places on your site and one says it contains asbestos and one says it does not.

This one [below] probably can from the mid 1970’s. It has an asphalt impregnated backing. Any ideas?

On 2018-04-11 by (mod) -

I would treat the flooring in your photos as presumed to contain asbestos, Nancy.

By the way, your flooring, shown on the stair risers, is a floor tile, not sheet flooring.

You may find that the black mastic adhesive also contains asbestos.

On 2018-04-11 by Nancy

It is attached to the wooden basement stairs with a black colored adhesive that I was able to remove with paint thinner. Thanks in advance!

On 2018-04-07 by (mod) - If the floor was installed before the mid 1980'

If the floor was installed before the mid 1980's in North America you should treat it as presumed to contain asbestos, or have a sample tested.

On 2018-04-07 by karson.levely

I’m trying to determine if these tiles are asbestos. Any help would be appreciated!

On 2018-03-14 by (mod) -

Noel

I can see jute-backed flooring, telling us this is probably an older form of sheet flooring, possibly a linoleum-like product. Beyond that I can't comment.

On 2018-03-14 00:17:11.176780 by Noel

Can you identify this flooring - Sorry the house was built 1935

On 2018-03-07 by (mod) -

Kelly

I don't recognize the specific pattern of the flooring in your photo. If it was produced in the U.S. before the early 1980's it may indeed contain asbestos.

While nobody with any sense can guess at the asbestos hazard in a building from a brief e-text and a photo, still IMO the possible asbestos hazard from pulling up otherwise intact but stapled-down vinyl flooring on a shelf is most likely far beneath the limits of detection and is not something about which to panic.

On 2018-03-07 by Kelly

Can anyone tell me how old this is? My SO ripped this stuff of of a shelf it was stapled to before I told him it could be asbestos.

Now we're both freaking out. No markings on back but looks like a cream paper back.

On 2017-12-15 by (mod) -

Karson, of the flooring was installed before the early to mid 1980's it's be reasonable to assume it contains abestos.

On 2017-12-15 by Karson Levely

I'm trying to determine if these tiles (below) are asbestos.

Any help would be appreciated.

On 2017-12-16 by (mod) -

Anon / Karrie:

Click to enlarge any image at InspectApedia.com and you will nearly always be shown a much larger, higher resolution copy of the image.

I'm doubtful that knowing the exact flooring pattern design sub-name is going to change the advice of what you should do with the floor.

...

Continue reading  at RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID FAQs-3 - more-recent questions & answers on identifying sheet flooring or resilient flooring that might contain asbestos

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
• ASBESTOS FLOOR IDENTIFICATION - home
• 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 -
• ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
• ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION
• ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE
• ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES
• ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST
• IDENTIFY SHEET FLOORING TYPE
• POURED-IN-PLACE FLOORING, RESILIENT
• RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE - home
• SHEET FLOORING INSPECT / TEST
• SHEET FLOORING NON-ASBESTOS EXAMPLES
• SHEET FLOORING POSSIBLE ASBESTOS - 1960-1987
• SHEET FLOORING INSPECT / TEST
• SHEET FLOORING TYPE IDENTIFICATION

Suggested citation for this web page

RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID FAQs-2 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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