What Does Asbestos Look Like Under Vinyl

Here is the flooring in question from a 1962 home.

What does asbestos look like under vinyl.

I took up 6 tiles of this stuff in a friend s basement. Whilst asbestos containing products can be difficult to identify from visual inspection alone we have put together some helpful guidance to help you understand what it may look like in different materials and locations around the home. Asbestos ceilings can be found in many forms which include asbestos fibre cement sheet fibro vermiculite spray applied ceilings. I am not sure the right image attached.

Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. Asbestos ceiling tiles are also comonly used. When inspecting the tiles look for parts that are grayish brown dark gray dark brown or black. Pretty much all asphalt based darker core floor tiles and most vinyl floor tiles from the 1960s would contain asbestos.

Unfortunately vinyl tiles and sheet flooring that contain asbestos pose a potential exposure risk. The vermiculate look like popcorn and many of you might remember your old high school science lab with this material. If the material is in good condition it normally does not pose a threat because the asbestos is enclosed in vinyl preventing the fibres from escaping. The vinyl acts as a binder that holds the asbestos fibres within a solid matrix.

In asbestos tiles can degrade and cause the tiles to look grimy or discolored in spots. Step 3 date the tiles. Asbestos a heat resistant. Asbestos is found in a wide range of products and materials and was also used in its pure form.

Asbestos in different products and materials. When you remove that floor covering to make way for new flooring you may encounter the mastic and wonder whether it is safe to remove the main concern surrounding this question is that black mastic often contains asbestos. One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only. Josh that looks like a vinyl asbestos floor tile.

On 2020 06 13 by josh. Common in homes built in the 20th century black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile linoleum and other flooring materials. However if your home was built before 1980 there may still be asbestos mastic under your floor tile. Top will not appreciably raise the height of the floor.

Look at your property deed title or tax appraisal to find the year your house was built.