Linoleum Flooring Materials

History, Components, Identification: this article provides information about linoleum flooring: the history of linoleum, linoleum ingredients, and the properties of linoleum resilient or sheet floor coverings.

Linoleum Floor Covering Materials: history, ingredients, uses FAQs

These questions and answers about linoleum and other types of sheet flooring, its identification, and whether or not such floor coverings contain asbestos were posted originally at LINOLEUM & OTHER SHEET FLOORING - please be sure to see the guidelines given thexre.

Also see ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION where we pose 5 questions that can help make a reasonable guess at whether or not a specific flooring product contains asbestos before a lab test.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2020-02-15 - by (mod) - Spattered squares sheet flooring / linoleum asbestos?

That photo [shown above] looks like a spatter pattern resilient flooring in sheet form (as you don't say it's individual tiles).

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.

If we're right that your floor isn't tile but sheet flooring you want to see

at RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE - (sheet flooring) organized by year and manufacturer where there are similar floor coverings.

On 2020-02-15 by C M G

Searched for a photo of what I believe is linoleum floor tiling. Should I be worried?

This Q&A were posted originally at ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE IDENTIFICATION PHOTOS 1949-1959

On 2020-01-24 by Janet - Linoleum fragments from a 1954 Lake Erie NY home

Thank you so much for your help!

On 2020-01-24 by (mod) -

Typically the original floors in a 1953 Lake Erie cottage would have been at least wood subfloor common pine and sometimes pine finish floor, on occasion more elevated materials as a finish floor such as heart pine.

If the linoleum is not glued down then it's usually pretty easy to remove.

On 2020-01-23 by Janet

Sorry, I forgot to mention. It’s in Western NY on Lake Erie and the cottage was built in 1953.

The bedrooms have hardwood painted the same color, so I assume there is wood under it and this may have been added later?

Of course, I prefer the wood, but if there is chance of asbestos, we will lay a floor over it

On 2020-01-23 by (mod) - how do I safely remove the nails and staples in old Linoleum flooring?

Janet that looks like a linoleum sheet flooring product; depending on the home's country and city and age and of course flooring age, it may contain abestos, typically in the asphalt-impregnated flooring backer.

Just pulling out carpet tacks sent through the floor ought to merely leave tiny holes and most-likely no detectable airborne asbestos, but you can use damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming as clean-up to minimize the risks.

Leave the old flooring in place and install your new floor covering over it - safest and least expensive.

More options are found in the ARTICLE INDEX for example a live link to ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION

On 2020-01-23 by Janet - Does it look like asbestos ?

We just purchased a cottage and after removing the carpet we got this little surprise!

It is looks like it is a if sheet and glued to the floor. I broke a piece off to see what it looked like.

Does it look like asbestos and if so, how do I safely remove the nails and staples from the carpet to lay a floor over it?

On 2019-11-11 by (mod) -

CJ

I'd like to see a photo of the floor - use the Add Image button

and see DOES THIS FLOORING CONTAIN ASBESTOS?

On 2019-11-11 by CJ

I have a floral pattern I Wn
Ant to match and see if it has asbestos

On 2019-04-02 by (mod) -

BB

Thanks for the follow-up - that will be helpful to other readers; we'll keep your photos and report with this article series - ultimately moving it into the FAQs page

On 2019-03-15 y bbuck002

So it turned out that one of the layers conained 55% Chrysotile asbestos as sheet vinyl. I'm assuming that the asbestos is in the white layer on top.

I think the linoleum is actually just hard to see. I've uploaded an image from the side. I think here you can see the vinyl was glued straight to the top of the linoleum.

The black glue showed no asbestos, so I'm assuming that is hide glue for the linoleum. The vinyl then is sandwiched between the linoleum and a 1/4" plywood layer with the newer vinyl on top that we see everyday.

I also assuming at this point, my best course of action (and cheapest) is to just lay my new LVT floor over everything that is already there.

This is unfortunate because of the step up into the kitchen is going to get bigger by 8mm over that already 3/8-1/2" that is already there. Thanks for the information provided here.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-03-07 by (mod) -

Thanks Buck

Keep in mind if you can roll up the material without a lot of chopping or grinding you're minimizing the risk;

You can always follow up with damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming too.

On 2019-03-07 by bbuck002

I have a test kit on the way. I will update you with the results when I get them. I'm sending this piece that is in the pictures for the testing.

On 2019-03-07 by (mod) -

BB

There could be asbestos in the white body of the sheet flooring; the jute backer itself is probably just that, jute _ adhesives.

I have seen later flooring of the same pattern, without the jute, that test results pinned as containing asbestos.

I would treat this floor as presumed to contain asbestos or have a sample tested; If you do decide to do that please keep me posted.

On 2019-03-07 by bbuck002

Here is a picture of the back of the flooring.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-03-07 by bbuck002

I pulled up a corner of flooring in my kitchen to see what is there for when we do a new floor. Under the newer layer of vinyl and plywood, I found jute backed flooring. Is this linoleum? Is it likely to contain asbestos?
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-01-20 by (mod) - chances of asbestos in this old sheet flooring from Kent England?

Michael

True "linoleum" was not an asbestos-containing product. But the word "linoleum" continues to be used more broadly to encompass a range of sheet flooring products, some of which do contain asbestos.

A closer look at your photo (as I will post below) shows some very long large fibres that are not likely to be asbestos. But we can't rule-out asbestos used as a reinforcing fibre or even as a filler in asphalt-based flooring core or backer material.

You read and are perhaps disappointed in my reply to this point as clearly I'm saying "I don't know" and "We can't know" for sure without either more information about the material or a lab test. (I'd like to see a photo of the flooring showing its pattern if that's possible).

Separately, ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION

I pose 5 questions that can help make a reasonable guess at whether or not a specific flooring product contains asbestos before a lab test.

Please take a look there and let me know what else you can say or what further questions you have.

Thanks for the interesting question and photo. Cheers. DF

On 2019-01-20 by Michael

I was taking up some old carpet in a Victorian house in Kent, England and spotted this under the flooring - brown paper sandwiching black oily material with fibres.

Below this was a speckled pattern covering with a black backing. I'd love your advice. Thanks

 

On 2018-10-17 by (mod) - Old sheet flooring in 1957 Ken Craft trailer

That's a spatter pattern floor tile, possibly a Kentile - if those are in fact tiles, not sheet flooring; from your photo I can't be sure.

Kentiles are illustrated in this article series.

On 2018-10-17 by Jennifer

Curious if anyone has ever seen a modern version of this pattern anywhere. Or something close? Or maybe even just the name and manufacturer if it originally?

This is what was in my 1957 Ken Craft trailer. The floor is mostly gone, just a couple small pieces of this left

. I love it and would like to restore the trailer with this or something close. I have been looking and have hit most of the pages you have listed. I will make my way through the rest.

On 2018-05-06 by (mod) - seal and leave old flooring in place

Yes, Kim there are clear floor sealant products, some of which are quite compatible with old linoleum.

See ASBESTOS FLOORING LEFT IN PLACE

found by using the InspectApedia.com on-page search box to look for "seal asbestos floor"

You'll see that you will probably want to clean the surface using a wax stripper first.

On 2018-03-30 by Kim

I bought a small old drop leaf table with what looks like old linoleum in a blue marble pattern on the entire table top. It is completely intact though it was quite dirty.

I cleaned it with a gentle soap and water cloth and some of the color came up on the cloth. Is there anything I can safely seal the table top with that won't disturb the beautiful pattern?

On 2017-08-27 by Courtney Smith

Hello
the house is about 150 years old, I want to refinish old fir floors and in middle of the living room,

there's a stain from the old Linoleum looks like oil or tar stain fairly dark. Is there any way to get it out? Or can I lighten it? Maybe get a lighter stain in the end, And then try to match that, And re-stain the whole floor for even color?

On 2017-02-28 by (mod) -

Graham, as you'll read at LINOLEUM & SHEET FLOORING, true Linoleum is not an asbestos-product.

However many people use the term "linoleum" to refer to other forms of sheet flooring, including vinyl and vinyl asbestos sheet flooring.

On 2017-02-28 by Graham Biddulph

Could you please tell me if Asbestos has ever been used in the manufacture of Linoleum

On 2017-01-2 by Victoria Mann

I am looking for a place to purchase retro/vintage or even the 80's vinyl flooring
EVERYTHING on the market now looks like wood or stone. I hate it

On 2015-11-09 by (mod) -

Thanks so much, Marty.

I would much like to see some good photos of the flooring - both sides, that we could add to the online information for our readers and of course we're happy to cite and link to technical content contributors.

If you want to also send me a small fragment - maybe just a few square inches - I can take a look in the lab under magnification - we might see something interesting.

My email is at the page bottom CONTACT link.

We also particularly welcome questions, critique, content suggestions from readers such as you who have real-world practical experience.

On 2015-11-09 by Marty Atkins

Hi, I've had home repair businesses for years and appreciate the information available on this website.

I'm doing work on a home in Oregon originally built in 1905 and I have two samples of jute backed floor sheeting that I can send you at my cost to use for sharing information if you are interested, or I can simply send photos if I can have your contact info. I'm sure the flooring is not original but it is certainly old. Thanks

...

Continue reading at LINOLEUM & SHEET FLOORING - 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
• ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST


• DOES THIS FLOORING CONTAIN ASBESTOS?


• FLOOR, RESILIENT VINYL or CORK
• IDENTIFY SHEET FLOORING TYPE
• RESILIENT SHEET FLOORING ID GUIDE - home
• SHEET FLOORING NON-ASBESTOS EXAMPLES
• SHEET FLOORING POSSIBLE ASBESTOS - 1960-1987
• SHEET FLOORING INSPECT / TEST

Suggested citation for this web page

LINOLEUM & SHEET FLOORING FAQs 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 BUILDING FLOORING

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Or see

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING INTERIORS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Questions & answers or comments about linoleum floor coverings, age, history, safety, materials, contents.

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---