But then asbestos was found to be a health hazard.
Asbestos tile glue color.
If your building was built before 1980 mastic mixed with asbestos may have been used to seal your tiles to the floor.
Some of the flooring tiles have come off and you see thick.
In addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.
Possible signs of asbestos mastic include discoloration and an oily texture.
The good news is that the harmful fibers are securely embedded into the vinyl material so under normal conditions the fibers aren t released into the air.
It was also resistant to moisture oil grease heat alkalis and acids.
You will only see black asbestos mastic after a floor covering has been removed.
Color photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles 1900 1986 using dominant floor tile color to identify the probable asbestos containing floor tile brand pattern and age.
Over time asphalt which was a main ingredient in asbestos tiles can degrade and cause the tiles to look grimy or discolored in spots.
Mastic is a type of glue used to adhere tiles and vinyl flooring to the subfloor.
But removing the tiles can disturb this trapped asbestos so the best strategy is painting over asbestos.
How to remove asbestos tiles safely it is always safest to leave asbestos flooring removal to asbestos abatement professionals.
Asbestos adhesive was used for asphalt flooring tiles and vinyl or linoleum sheet tile because it strengthened the flooring and made it more durable.
Typical black mastic pattern on vinyl asbestos floor tile underside.
Even if the vinyl flooring is pulled up intact the old adhesive underneath may also contain asbestos.
Here is an asbestos floor tile identification key sorted by primary flooring color.
Our photos above show a typical black floor tile adhesive mastic on the underside of a 9x9 cork pattern vinyl floor tile found in a u s.
Most 9 inch vinyl tiles and many 12 inch tiles and the mastic adhesive that anchors them to the subfloor contain a level of asbestos.
Asbestos mastic will also always be black in color.
But there may be traces of other colors such as those from subflooring showing through the mastic or pieces of floor covering that were not completely removed.
Both the flooring and the mastic are likely to contain asbestos.
Beige black blue brown tan wood tone gray green red white yellow etc.
Over time weathering exposes the white asbestos fibers in asbestos containing sealant causing it to turn from black to grey.
Vinyl tiles with asbestos are all 12 12 or 9 9 tiles with asbestos.
As the name suggests black is its predominant color.
