Thread: Is this asbestos?

Found this under some vinyl and carpet in a bedroom. The cement sheeting is approx 3 mm thick and it is attached good and proper to some masonite.

Looks like old Lino tiles to me.

If it is cement sheeting as you say - and it looks like it, a good chance it is asbestos containing. You should be wearing safety gear doing any demolition type work anyway. But if it only 3mm thick then will not be asbestos cement sheet, but as droog said old brittle vinyl tiles - and they might or might not contain asbestos. In any case read the stickies and wear safety gear - masks and goggles etc as you remove. I have no doubt others will jump on and tell you to get it tested and/or pay for a professional asbestos remover - your call IMO, but treat it with care.

They look like asbestos containing vinyl tiles attached to masonite, if you don't want to get it tested then make sure you handle it as if it were asbestos & dispose of it as if it were asbestos. Not just dumped into your wheely bin.
regards inter

Vinyl asbestos tiles glued to masonite. If they are 9 inch square or 12 inch ( 305 mm ) they are asbestos. If 300mm they are

asbestos if manufactured before the mid 80s. Leave them glued to the masonite and take all proper precautions.

Thanks guys, I'll measure them to make sure.

That marbleing surface pattern is what gives them away. They were installed by the millions in the 60s and 70s. In

just about every building in the country, homes, schools , hospitals, offices you name it. Most have been since ripped up with

no precautions and dumped. Still made to day with out asbestos. You can see them on the floors of K marts and all the

major supermarkets. The asbestos was a bound fibre which went right through the tile but was abraided away to powder

by foot traffic and floor polishers .

Originally Posted by goldie1

That marbleing surface pattern is what gives them away. They were installed by the millions in the 60s and 70s. In

just about every building in the country, homes, schools , hospitals, offices you name it. Most have been since ripped up with

no precautions and dumped. Still made to day with out asbestos. You can see them on the floors of K marts and all the

major supermarkets. The asbestos was a bound fibre which went right through the tile but was abraided away to powder

by foot traffic and floor polishers .

No - the marbling is not an indicator of asbestos use - some vinyl, rubber based and other had asbestos, but many others others had cellulose, some had natural fibres as reinforcement such as jute, hemp & sisal.

Testing is the only way to be sure.

Originally Posted by Bloss

No - the marbling is not an indicator of asbestos use - some vinyl, rubber based and other had asbestos, but many others others had cellulose, some had natural fibres as reinforcement such as jute, hemp & sisal.

Testing is the only way to be sure.

What I really meant to say was the marbling surface pattern gives away the fact that they are CSR vinylflex

marble effect floortiles which allong with a similar product from Armstrong Nylex supplied allmost all of the

Australian floor tile market at the time. ( there were very few imported tiles because of the high import tariffs)

and if they were installed before the mid 80s they certainly contained asbestos. I agree that there were other

flooring products that didn't contain asbestos and that testing is the only way to be sure.

Now why didn't I say that in the first place I hear you ask ? I suffer from a rare condition called "Pitmans

Sydrome" where I have things in my mind in a clear detailed form yet they appear on the page in a much shorter

version.

Originally Posted by goldie1

I suffer from a rare condition called "Pitmans

Syndrome" where I have things in my mind in a clear detailed form yet they appear on the page in a much shorter

version.

I often have a similar condition, but was told it was Gregg's Syndrome (but I've spent time in the US!) . . .

BTW - Wasn't having a go - just trying to clarify.

Originally Posted by Bloss

I often have a similar condition, but was told it was Gregg's Syndrome (but I've spent time in the US!) . . .

BTW - Wasn't having a go - just trying to clarify.

Had to look up Greggs