How do asbestos tiles look like

Asbestos roof tiles are made from asbestos cement. They look very similar to slate roof tiles. If your roof shingles look like they are made of cement or gray stone, it would be a good idea to have them tested by professionals — especially if they appear to be deteriorating.

The surface of the tile will have mild texturing, like a powdery appearance, and they can often be identified by their trademark pinhole markings. Asbestos wall tiles are less common, but they do exist. They were often mixed with vinyl, and come in every color under the sun. More common is asbestos-containing adhesive that was used to install wall tiles. If some of your wall tiles have come loose, and the backing appears to be thick and black, you should give our team a call. Asbestos floor tiles are usually mixed with vinyl or asphalt and come in a multitude of colors.

Asphalt tiles are usually gray or black, and often have a characteristic black and white stripy pattern to them. They may look grimy, oily, or discolored in spots, as asphalt changes color and texture as it breaks down over time.

Vinyl tiles were common in pastel hues of blue, green, pink, and cream. It is extremely hard to determine if your vinyl floor tiles contain asbestos just by looking at them. As such, the Environmental Protection Agency EPA recommends leaving damaged flooring alone until inspected by professionals. If tiles are in good condition, the risk of asbestos exposure is low. Generally, encapsulation is the most efficient way of dealing with asbestos tiles.

Covering asbestos-containing tiling seals in the toxic fibers. Also, it prevents them from becoming airborne through normal wear-and-tear from foot traffic.

Yet, many homes especially homes built before the mids already covered contaminated floor tiles with new flooring or carpet. In these cases, renovators often want to remove old floors before installing new ones.

Rely on asbestos professionals to test and remove contaminated areas. Depending on the state you live in, some laws could affect your construction plans. At times, damaged asbestos tiles, adhesives, or carpet glues become flaky. The cut area of the tile can then be covered with duct tape. You can find out more about how to safely collect samples of potentially asbestos-containing materials in our free, downloadable guide. The answer is No, they are not. That is unless they're disturbed to release the fibers.

Damaged and deteriorated tiles containing asbestos increase in friability as the exposed fibers break off into the surroundings.

Some of the causes that may increase the friability of asbestos-containing materials are:. Flooring projects are common during home remodeling.