Asbestos tiling isn’t as commonly used today as it once was. Yet, between the 1950s and 1980s, asbestos-containing flooring was hugely popular. Asbestos tile looks like regular tiles between 9”x9” and 18”x18” in size. Sometimes, dark discoloration appears after years. Due to the danger of exposure, homeowners and construction workers should not disturb or demolish asbestos-containing materials.
In flooring, asbestos tiles look like common vinyl tiling. Starting in the 1940s, manufacturers ramped up the use of asbestos as an additive. Mixing the mineral into products fireproofed and soundproofed them as well as added chemical corrosion resistance. In the 1950s, asbestos-containing vinyl floor tiles were installed into many buildings and homes.
Flooring materials that may contain asbestos include:
Usually, you can’t tell whether tiles have asbestos just by looking at them. Moreover, asbestos tile removal could expose you and your family to toxins. However, there are a few factors to help you identify potential asbestos-containing tiles. For instance, contaminated vinyl flooring was often manufactured in certain sizes.
Use the below table for help identifying asbestos tiles.
Identifying Asbestos Vinyl Flooring |
|
| Size | 9 inches by 9 inches, 12 inches by 12 inches, 18 inches by 18 inches |
| Area of home/building | Kitchen, hallways, and mudrooms are most likely to have asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in the floors. |
| Other flooring | Encapsulation (sealing old flooring by covering it with new floors) has long been an abatement technique in the U.S. Removing floors could reveal tiles with ACM. |
| Testing | Asbestos testing by a lab is the best way to confirm unlabeled ACM. |
Asbestos tile, on the vinyl’s surface, can be any color or design. Beneath, ACM vinyl flooring sometimes has an oily or dark discoloration. Over time, oils in the asphalt added to the tiles seep out.
Other conditions, such as mold, cause dark colors on tiling. As such, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends leaving damaged flooring alone until inspected by professionals. If tiles are in good condition, the risk of asbestos exposure is low.
Generally, encapsulation is the most efficient way of dealing with asbestos tiles. Covering asbestos-containing tiling seals in the toxic fibers. Also, it prevents them from becoming airborne through normal wear-and-tear from foot traffic.
Yet, many homes (especially homes built before the mid-1980s) already covered contaminated floor tiles with new flooring or carpet. In these cases, renovators often want to remove old floors before installing new ones.
Rely on asbestos professionals to test and remove contaminated areas. Depending on the state you live in, some laws could affect your construction plans.
At times, damaged asbestos tiles, adhesives, or carpet glues become flaky. Crumbling ACM is a health risk because it releases fibers too small to see into the air.
Large amounts of friable asbestos form loose asbestos dust. Dust is even more hazardous because it attaches to skin and clothes and can be transferred to other people.
While there are no immediate symptoms, exposure puts individuals at risk of asbestos-causing diseases like lung cancer, colon cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.
Destiny Bezrutczyk is a content writer from Iowa and has earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Texas Tech University. After working as a freelance script and blog writer, she began writing content for tech startups. Maintaining a passion for words, she took on a variety of projects where her writing could help people. She enjoys spicy food and video games about robots.
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Home Flooring Pros. (n.d.). Asbestos Floor Tiles – How to Identify & How to Remove Asbestos Flooring. Retrieved on July 1, 2021, from https://www.homeflooringpros.com/asbestos-floor-tiles/
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos. Retrieved on July 1, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-exposures-asbestos#whattodo
University of Connecticut. (n.d.). Asbestos Procedures For Carpet Removal and Installation. Retrieved on July 1, 2021, from https://ehs.uconn.edu/occupational-health-and-safety/carpet-removal-and-installation/
Wallender, Lee. (2020). Identifying and Treating Asbestos Tiles in the Home. Retrieved on July 1, 2021, from https://www.thespruce.com/asbestos-vinyl-tiles-1822799