Sheet flooring or resilient flooring identification requests & FAQs set #5:

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.

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.

Q&A#5 on Presence of sbestos 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.

On 2019-04-28 by Anonymous - Armstrong sheet flooring a 1959 home's kitchen

Re-posting from private email:

Trying to find out if anyone has inquired about Armstrong sheet flooring in our kitchen shown in the attached photo [shown above].

Pattern shows what appears to be pumpkins and corn. We found extra unused sheeting in the attic, shows Armstrong on the backing, with no other identification.

House was built in 1959, but do not know if this is original to the house.

No info as to any remodeling 8n the kitchen since Backing is greyish colored. Just trying to see if anyone has identified this pattern as containing asbestos. Thanks for any info whatsoever!

Here is the back-surface of the Armstrong sheet flooring shown below.

Moderator reply: treat white-backed Sheet flooring from pre mid 1970's in North America as PACM

I don't know that exact pattern of sheet flooring but will be glad to post & research it a bit. IT would be most helpful to also have a photo of the imprint or markings on the back of the material.

The flooring backer looks to me newer than 1958 - for which we provide a series of photo guides starting

at ARMSTRONG SHEET FLOORING 1940 - 1980

Watch out: But I would treat any white-backed sheet flooring of unknown age and that may be older than the mid 1970s as presumed to contain asbestos. (PACM)

That doesn't mean its a severe asbestos release hazard: if the flooring can simply be rolled up and is not ground, chopped, made into a dusty mess, the asbestos release from it is usually below detection. If it's glued-down then it's best to leave it alone, in place, and to cover it over.

On 2018-08-23 by Aaron

My house, which was built in 1964 has this sheeting flooring installed in the kitchen. I do not know when it was installed. Does anyone recognize this pattern or know if it likely contains asbestos?

Thanks

Aaron

Moderator reply:

Take a look

at ASBESTOS FLOOR IDENTIFICATION - 5 steps to determine if a floor contains asbestos

On 2017-06-09 by (mod) - financial risk & health hazards of fear of asbestos

I would not advise giving in to total terror, Karen as that invites gouging by contractors and is bad for your health in and of itself.

What may be useful to tell you if there's an asbestos worry or not resulting from the vinyl tear-out you did:

1. Dust testing: collect a settled dust sample to send to a certified asbestos test lab (search InspectApedia.com for ASBESTOS TEST LAB LIST)

2. More cleaning: if the building dust that represents general conditions in the home has significant asbestos particles, then you will want to use a professional cleaner who uses an appropriate cleanup process, typically a combination of damp-wiping and HEPA vacuuming and of course cleaning any ductwork if you've got ductwork

On 2017-06-09 by Karen - Now I'm terrified we released our own death

We recently ripped up the huge sheet of vinyl in our basement. Age unknown but the house was built in 1965 with the basement having a bathroom installed in 1975?.

Never thought about asbestos. Just grabbed the floor stripper machine from Home Depot and two hours later it was ripped up in pieces in the garbage. Now I'm terrified we released our own death and that of our childrens' in to the air.

There is absolutely NO identification on the back of this flooring - but it is sheeting, looks to be 12 foot by 16 foot sheeting and resembles the Armstrong Caligula tiles from the 1970s, though not perfectly. Its thick vinyl and thick white paper on the back of it. It was glued with cream colored glue to cement. Anyone?

On 2017-01-06 by Anonymous

Very helpful. Thank you.

...

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 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-5 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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