Floor Tile Adhesive Containing Asbestos

It is likely that this is an asbestos containing floor tile.

Floor tile adhesive containing asbestos.

Testing found 3 chrysotile asbestos in this floor tile sample. Containing between 15 and 85 percent asbestos these adhesives were manufactured mostly in the first half of the 20th century. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. Although it can be partly removed using organic solvents that approach is dangerous and unnecessary unless you are trying to restore a historic and valuable wood floor below.

Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Black mastic also known as cutback adhesive was commonly used to glue flooring tiles down. Therefore if your house was built or remodeled around 1984 or before there is a chance that black mastic adhesive on your floor may contain asbestos. But then asbestos was found to be a health hazard.

At above left is a 12 x 12 vinyl asbestos floor tile found in a home built in 1969. Asbestos adhesive was used for asphalt flooring tiles and vinyl or linoleum sheet tile because it strengthened the flooring and made it more durable. This article provides dates of manufacture of asbestos containing adhesives mastics sealants and includes photographs and text describing the appearance of such products. It was also resistant to moisture oil grease heat alkalis and acids.

Black asphalt based floor tile adhesive often containing asbestos. For the photo and test information. Home was built in 1967 so asbestos was a concern the floor tiles are vinyl 8x8 and possibly contain asbestos so i am leaving those there and laying over them but the wall also had a different 4x4 ceramic tiles. See armstrong floor tile list 1969.

Ceramic floor tiles that are being demolished ground sanded or cut with a tile saw sometimes do contain asbestos if they are old enough to have been installed when asbestos was in common when used in grout tile bedding or in older homes with thin set tile mastic these tiles are deadly and could be hazardous and should be handled. While an expert test by a certified asbestos testing lab is required for sure identification of the asbestos content of most materials. But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. However some companies produced asbestos adhesives as late as 1984.

Here is a picture. These asbestos products can become hazardous as the adhesives become brittle and break down over time potentially releasing asbestos fibers into the air. How to recognize roof or floor adhesive mastic or sealant that may contain asbestos. I ve read that black floor adhesive contains asbestos but what about non black wall tile glue.

Thanks to reader r m.