What Asbestos Tiles Look Like

That s because the asphalt in the tiles breaks down over time and oil from the asphalt comes out of the tiles.

What asbestos tiles look like.

Flooring made with asbestos often becomes discolored as it ages. That can leave the tiles looking oily discolored or grimy usually in patchy areas. Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. While it is not possible to identify all forms of asbestos by mere visual inspection it is possible to identify some materials that are definitely not asbestos.

One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only. Step 3 date the tiles. If you are unsure whether asbestos is present don t start work. The materials below represent some common places where asbestos can be found.

As the name suggests black is its predominant color. Some ceiling tiles or suspended ceiling drop in panels are quite obviously made of fiberglass by visual inspection. If the tiles or the floor beneath show oily discoloration the tiles very likely contain asbestos. Tiles that are disintegrating should be handled with extreme care.

We also seen very small asphalt asbestos floor tiles in a 1 1 2 size bonded to a jute backer fabric. Some of the flooring. Asbestos is a highly fibrous material and these fibers interlock to help strengthen mastic insulation and many other household building products. Aibs are often hard to identify as they often look like normal building materials such as ceiling tiles plasterboard and panels.

You will only see black asbestos mastic after a floor covering has been removed. Look at the ceiling tile material. When inspecting the tiles look for parts that are grayish brown dark gray dark brown or black. Details of asbestos floor tile identification.

Oily discoloration is often a strong indicator of asbestos in the tiles. Asphalt asbestos plastic asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles were sold in 6 x6 9 x 9 and in some years 12 x 12 sizes. What does black mastic look like. Like floor tiles vinyl sheet flooring is a long lasting and economical material and it also offers more aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste.

Asphalt is a main ingredient in asbestos tiles and the oil from the asphalt can leach out. As you can see this method is not an exact science. Below are a few examples of aib in homes and buildings. The tiles may appear stained or oily.