Over time weathering exposes the white asbestos fibers in asbestos containing sealant causing it to turn from black to grey.
Asbestos tile glue color.
Asbestos mastic will also always be black in color.
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.
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.
Asbestos was a common ingredient in plastic cements and sealants for rooftops.
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.
Vinyl tiles with asbestos are all 12 12 or 9 9 tiles with asbestos.
Beige black blue brown tan wood tone gray green red white yellow etc.
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.
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.
In addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.
As the name suggests black is its predominant color.
Both the flooring and the mastic are likely to contain asbestos.
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.
You will only see black asbestos mastic after a floor covering has been removed.
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.
Even if the vinyl flooring is pulled up intact the old adhesive underneath may also contain asbestos.
Some of the flooring tiles have come off and you see thick.
If your building was built before 1980 mastic mixed with asbestos may have been used to seal your tiles to the floor.
Possible signs of asbestos mastic include discoloration and an oily texture.
Home built in 1960.
Typical black mastic pattern on vinyl asbestos floor tile underside.
Asbestos adhesive was used for asphalt flooring tiles and vinyl or linoleum sheet tile because it strengthened the flooring and made it more durable.
Manufacturers have been using asbestos for decades so asbestos containing tiles come in a vast array of colours styles and sizes.
