Are These Asbestos Floor Tiles?

Thinking of a kitchen remodel? How old is your house? If it was built before the early 1980’s, you might have asbestos floor tiles in the kitchen, bathroom or basement.

Telltale Signs of Asbestos Floor Tile

Although you cannot tell just by looking at it, there are some indications that you might be dealing with asbestos floor tile:

1. House built between 1920 and 1960–Asbestos floor tile was very popular during this time period, due to its durability and resistance to water damage.
2. Nine inch by nine inch squares–Get out the measuring tape and see how big the tiles are. 9″ x 9″ was the common size of asbestos floor tiles.
3. Dark gray or brown discoloration–Asbestos floor tiles were made with asphalt, which would turn dark with age and damage.

What to Do If You Have Asbestos Floor Tile

Asbestos fibers could be released into your environment and cause serious–if not fatal–disease. One exposure is enough to damage your health. But most asbestos floor tile is unbroken and relatively safe. However, it could be damaged in a natural disaster and it is not safe to remove it yourself in a renovation project since it could be broken up and release fibers. The adhesive holding down your asbestos floor tiles can also contain asbestos. If you want to remove it rather than covering it with another form of flooring, you need to call a professional asbestos removal company.

At Alliance Environmental, we are specialists in removing: vinyl asbestos tile, VAT, linoleum, vinyl sheet goods, transite pipe, transite siding, transite roofing, duct work, stucco, texturecoat, drywall, acoustic ceiling, popcorn ceiling, plaster, lath and plaster, buttonboard, fireproofing, mastic, pipe covering, mag piping, mag block, and other asbestos containing materials safely and using best practices.

Asbestos–whether in floor tiles, roof shingles, insulation or anywhere else–should always be taken seriously. Don’t just pull up that ugly old tile, make sure it’s safe first!

We wish you a very Happy New Year!

Download a free copy of our Asbestos, Lead Paint & Mold eBook to learn how to mitigate the liability risks associated with common environmental threats found in residential properties.