Asbestos Tiles: Identification, Risks & Safe Removal
Asbestos tiles were widely used in homes, schools, and businesses from the 1920s through the 1980s. These floor and ceiling tiles look ordinary but can release deadly fibers if damaged or disturbed. Always assume older tiles may contain asbestos and consult certified professionals for testing and removal.
Asbestos tiles are vinyl, asphalt, or ceiling tiles manufactured before the mid-1980s that contain asbestos fibers for strength, heat resistance, and insulation. They remain in millions of U.S. buildings today and pose serious health risks when disturbed.
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Quick Facts About Asbestos Tiles
- Years Produced: 1920s – late 1980s
- Common Sizes: 9×9, 12×12, 18×18 inches
- Friability: Non-friable when intact, friable when damaged
- Toxicity: Causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis
- U.S. Ban Status: Phased out by early 1990s, no new sales today
Types of asbestos tile products:
- Vinyl asbestos tiles (VAT): Commonly 9×9 inches; found in bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, and commercial flooring
- Asphalt asbestos tiles: Heavier and darker; more common before 1960
- Acoustic ceiling tiles: Often found in offices, schools, and basements
- Adhesives and mastics: The glue used to install asbestos tiles also often contained asbestos, especially if it’s black in color
How to Identify Asbestos Tiles
Visually identifying asbestos tile can be extremely difficult. Many older tile patterns and sizes were standardized, and modern asbestos-free tiles may look nearly identical.
However, there are clues that can help you assess whether testing is necessary.
Look for the following signs:
- Tile size: Asbestos floor tiles were commonly manufactured in 9×9, 12×12, and 18×18 inches, with 9×9 being the most closely associated with asbestos
- Color and finish: A dull, matte surface—often solid or speckled in appearance
- Age of the building: Any property built or renovated before the mid-1980s could contain asbestos
- Adhesive color: Black cutback adhesive is a strong indicator that asbestos may be present
- Brand markings: If any original packaging or labels exist, they may indicate whether the tiles are from a known asbestos-producing manufacturer
Safe steps for identifying asbestos tiles:
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Determine the approximate construction date of your home or building
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Inspect tile sizes and patterns — especially 9×9 tiles in basements and kitchens
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Check for discolored, worn, or peeling tiles
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Avoid disturbing any suspected tiles
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Contact a certified asbestos inspector to perform lab-based sample testing
Important: Never try to remove or sample tiles yourself. Improper handling can release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air — increasing the risk of long-term exposure.
Where Asbestos Tiles Are Still Found Today
Despite being phased out decades ago, asbestos tiles remain in millions of buildings across the U.S.
Common locations where asbestos tiles still exist:
- Basements with older vinyl flooring
- Commercial offices with drop ceilings or acoustic tiles
- Public schools, especially those built between 1940–1980
- Hospitals and clinics in non-renovated areas
- Military housing and veteran facilities built pre-1980
- Rental properties with original flooring underneath newer overlays
Because asbestos tiles were often covered rather than removed, they may still exist beneath modern laminate, carpet, or tile floors.
If you’re renovating or demolishing walls or floors, it’s critical to check what lies beneath surface layers before proceeding.
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
When asbestos-containing tiles are damaged, cut, sanded, or deteriorated with age, they can release tiny, airborne fibers. These fibers are sharp, non-biodegradable, and once inhaled, can remain in the lungs or body tissues for life.
Diseases associated with asbestos exposure:
- Mesothelioma: A rare cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). It’s almost exclusively caused by asbestos.
- Asbestosis: Chronic scarring of the lung tissue. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness, and chronic cough.
- Lung cancer: Asbestos exposure dramatically increases the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers.
- Pleural effusion or thickening: Fluid buildup or thickening around the lungs, which can restrict breathing.
- Ovarian and laryngeal cancers: The WHO recognizes asbestos exposure as a contributing factor.
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Diseases may not develop for 10–60 years after exposure, which is why proactive testing and mitigation are essential.
What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos Tiles
If you suspect asbestos tiles in your home or property, your immediate goal should be to minimize disturbance and contact professionals.
Recommended actions:
- Do not sand, scrape, drill, or cut any tiles
- Avoid sweeping or vacuuming the area with standard equipment
- Limit access to the affected area
- Turn off HVAC systems that could circulate fibers
- Hire a licensed asbestos testing and abatement contractor
Most asbestos professionals will take a sample (in controlled conditions) and send it to an accredited lab for analysis. Based on the results, they will recommend encapsulation, enclosure, or full removal.
How Asbestos Tile Is Safely Removed
The removal of asbestos tile is a regulated process that must be performed by certified professionals using specialized tools and safety protocols.
Steps in professional asbestos tile removal:
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Site preparation: The area is sealed off with plastic sheeting and negative air pressure systems
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Protective gear: Workers wear disposable coveralls, gloves, boot covers, and P100 respirators
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Wet methods: Tiles are sprayed with water or encapsulant to prevent dust
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Careful removal: Tiles are gently lifted using hand tools — not power tools
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Waste handling: Debris is double-bagged, labeled, and disposed of at licensed hazardous waste facilities
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Air monitoring: Post-removal air quality tests are often conducted to ensure safety
Depending on tile condition, your contractor may recommend encapsulation (sealing tiles under a protective coating) or enclosure (installing new flooring over them) instead of removal.
Legal and Financial Considerations
If you or a loved one has developed a condition linked to asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma, you may qualify for financial compensation through a variety of legal avenues.
Available legal options:
- Asbestos lawsuits against manufacturers, contractors, or employers
- Bankruptcy trust funds, set up by companies that previously used asbestos materials
- Veteran compensation programs for military service-related exposure
- Workers’ compensation or wrongful death claims in some states
Payouts can cover:
- Medical bills and travel
- Lost wages or future earnings
- In-home care and support
- Pain and suffering damages
- Wrongful death
It’s best to consult with an asbestos litigation attorney to understand your rights, as there are statutes of limitations that limit how long you have to file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only a lab test conducted by a licensed asbestos inspector can confirm the presence of asbestos. Visual inspection alone is not reliable.
asbestos tiles pose less risk. However, over time, deterioration, impact, or renovation can release dangerous fibers.
Yes. Encapsulation is a safe and often cost-effective solution. A professional can install new flooring over the old tile using approved adhesives and barriers.
Immediately stop work, isolate the area, turn off HVAC systems, and contact an asbestos abatement company. Do not try to clean it up yourself.
Removal typically costs between $10–$25 per square foot, depending on your location, the size of the area, and the accessibility of the tiles.
No. Asbestos floor tiles haven’t been legally sold or installed in the U.S. since the 1990s, but they remain in many existing older structures.
Asbestos tile may appear harmless, especially when intact, but it poses real and long-term health risks. Identifying and safely managing these tiles is crucial—whether you’re a homeowner, property manager, or contractor. Always consult certified professionals for testing and removal, and never attempt DIY handling of materials that may contain asbestos. The consequences of exposure are severe, and prevention is the best protection.
Sources
This article contains 12 cited sources. All information is supported by government guidance, peer-reviewed research, and industry best practices.
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EPA. (2024, September 11). Since asbestos was banned, do I need to be worried about products on the market today containing asbestos? Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses/asbestos-was-banned-do-i-need-be-worried-about-products-market-today
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EPA Press Office. (2024, March 18). Biden-Harris Administration finalizes ban on ongoing uses of asbestos to protect people from cancer. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-ban-ongoing-uses-asbestos-protect-people-cancer
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EPA. (2024, March 6). List of Uses Covered under April 2019 Final Rule. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/list-uses-covered-under-april-2019-final-rule-restrictions-discontinued-uses-asbestos
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Lutz, A. (2024, April 26). How to Identify and Remove Asbestos Floor Tiles. Architectural Digest. Retrieved from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/reviews/flooring/asbestos-floor-tiles
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OSHA. (n.d.). Asbestos. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/asbestos
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RPF Environmental. (n.d.). How to Identify Asbestos Floor Tiles. Retrieved from https://www.airpf.com/asbestos-floor-tiles-what-asbestos-in-flooring-looks-like/
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Zichella, L. et al. (2021, Feb 20). Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Risk Exposure in Three Different Simulations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2073
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Casetext. (2024, February 27). McWilliams v. A.O. Smith Water Prods. Co. Retrieved from https://casetext.com/case/mcwilliams-v-ao-smith-water-prods-co-in-re-nyc-asbestos-litigation
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Perfect Primer. (n.d.). How Do I Encapsulate Asbestos Mastics? Retrieved from https://perfectprimer.com/how-do-i-encapsulate-asbestos-mastics/
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InspectAPedia. (n.d.). How to Identify Asbestos-Containing Flooring. Retrieved from https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos-Floor-Tile-Identification.php
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Jones-Stohosky, L. (2021, April 29). Everything You Need to Know About Asbestos in Flooring. JSE Labs. Retrieved from https://jselabs.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-asbestos-in-flooring/
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MJ Engineering Projects. (2022, April 14). Magnesite Flooring Concerns. Retrieved from https://mjengineeringprojects.com.au/what-is-magnesite-flooring/
