What Asbestos Tiles Look Like

That can leave the tiles looking oily discolored or grimy usually in patchy areas.

What asbestos tiles look like.

In most cases it is extremely difficult to determine the difference between an asbestos insulation board and a non asbestos material without specialist testing. Over time asphalt which was a main ingredient in asbestos tiles can degrade and cause the tiles to look grimy or discolored in spots. Aibs are often hard to identify as they often look like normal building materials such as ceiling tiles plasterboard and panels. Details of asbestos floor tile identification.

Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. We also seen very small asphalt asbestos floor tiles in a 1 1 2 size bonded to a jute backer fabric. You will only see black asbestos mastic after a floor covering has been removed. As you can see this method is not an exact science.

Asphalt is a main ingredient in asbestos tiles and the oil from the asphalt can leach out. The materials below represent some common places where asbestos can be found. Flooring made with asbestos often becomes discolored as it ages. As the name suggests black is its predominant color.

Below are a few examples of aib in homes and buildings. 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. Look at the ceiling tile material.

Vinyl or asphalt tiles that have these colors in it have a high likelihood of asbestos fibers. 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. Some of the flooring. 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.

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. Asbestos is a highly fibrous material and these fibers interlock to help strengthen mastic insulation and many other household building products. If you are unsure whether asbestos is present don t start work. One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only.

That s because the asphalt in the tiles breaks down over time and oil from the asphalt comes out of the tiles. The tiles may appear stained or oily. Tiles that are disintegrating should be handled with extreme care. Oily discoloration is often a strong indicator of asbestos in the tiles.