Asbestos Floor Tiles and 9x9 Tiles: How to Tell

Short answer: Vinyl floor tiles, the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and the adhesives used to lay them are on EPA’s list of household products that may contain asbestos, and they were common in homes built through the 1970s. Tile size or color cannot tell you whether a tile contains asbestos; only a lab test can, so leave old flooring and its adhesive undisturbed until an accredited professional has checked it.

Check a specific house: asbestos in floor tiles and adhesives is rated high for homes built before 1981 and medium through the 1980s. Open the House Age Decoder with 1960 loaded →

What asbestos floor tiles are

From the postwar decades through the 1970s, resilient flooring was everywhere: basements, kitchens, hallways, schools and offices. Some of it was made with asbestos fibers mixed in, which made tiles durable and fire-resistant. EPA lists three related products among household items that may contain asbestos:

Vinyl floor tiles, often called vinyl asbestos tile.
The backing on vinyl sheet flooring, the felt-like layer on the underside of roll flooring.
Adhesives used to install flooring, including the dark mastic often seen under old tiles.

Source: EPA, Learn about asbestos.

What about 9×9 tiles?

You will often hear that 9-by-9-inch tiles are a sign of asbestos. Many older tiles were that size, which is where the rule of thumb comes from. We could not find an official federal or state source that ties a tile size to asbestos content, so this guide does not treat size as a test. A 12-by-12 tile can contain asbestos, and a 9-by-9 tile may not. Treat size as a reason to ask, not as an answer.

When asbestos flooring was used

Year	What changed	Source
Before the 1980s	Vinyl tiles, sheet flooring backing and adhesives with asbestos were in common use.	EPA
1989	EPA issued a broad ban on asbestos products under TSCA. Flooring felt was one of five product types whose ban still stands; new asbestos uses starting after August 25, 1989 were also banned.	EPA
1991	A federal appeals court overturned most of the 1989 ban, so many other asbestos products were not banned by that rule.	EPA
2024	EPA finalized a ban on ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, with compliance deadlines by use.	EPA

The takeaway: old flooring in a house built before about 1990 is worth treating as suspect until tested, and flooring is often replaced or covered, so a newer house can still have older layers underneath.

How to recognize suspect flooring

You can identify the type of flooring by sight. You cannot identify asbestos by sight.

Tiles: square resilient tiles, often in a checkerboard or speckled pattern, sometimes brittle or cracked at the edges.
Sheet flooring: one-piece vinyl or linoleum-style flooring; the asbestos concern is usually the backing on the underside.
Adhesive: black or dark mastic visible where a tile is missing or at the edge of a floor.
Layers: older flooring hidden under carpet, laminate or newer vinyl, common in basements and kitchens.
Records: renovation permits, receipts or a past asbestos report from the seller.

When it is a risk

EPA explains that asbestos exposure may occur only when material is disturbed or damaged. Intact tiles that are glued down and walked on normally are generally not a concern on their own.

Flooring becomes a risk during projects. EPA’s homeowner guidance is specific about flooring: do not sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing, do not use a power stripper on flooring that may contain asbestos, and when flooring needs replacing, consider installing new flooring over it if possible. EPA also advises not to dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos, and suggests wet-mopping suspect areas you must walk through.

Projects that commonly disturb flooring include grinding or sanding a floor, pulling up tiles to install new flooring, scraping off mastic, cutting openings in the floor, and demolition in basements or kitchens.

Testing and professionals

EPA recommends that a trained, accredited professional take samples, because sampling done incorrectly can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. EPA also recommends using separate firms to assess material and to repair or remove it, to avoid a conflict of interest.

State rules on flooring differ a lot. Nebraska’s asbestos program, for example, defines asbestos-containing material as more than one percent asbestos and sets its own rules on who may disturb flooring and how. Other states set different thresholds, notification steps and licensing rules. Before any flooring project in an older house, contact your state environmental or health agency.

This guide does not give instructions for sampling, removing or encapsulating asbestos flooring. See our Disclaimer.

Questions to ask

The home inspector

What type of flooring is in the basement, kitchen and other original rooms?
Do you see older tile or mastic under newer flooring?
Is any of it broken, crumbling or damaged by water?
Would you recommend an accredited asbestos inspection before my renovation?

The seller

Is any of the flooring original? Has it been tested for asbestos? Can I see the report?
Was any old flooring removed or covered? Who did the work, and is there paperwork?

Your contractor

Will your work sand, grind, cut or remove old flooring or adhesive?
Who will test the flooring first, and are they accredited for asbestos in this state?

Your insurance company

How would a claim be handled if a covered event, such as a burst pipe, damages flooring that contains asbestos?
Are there pollutant or hazardous material exclusions that could apply?

What to do if you have it

Leave intact flooring alone while you plan.
Do not sand, grind, strip or scrape old tiles or mastic.
Test before any project that would disturb the floor, using an accredited professional.
Consider covering instead of removing, as EPA suggests, if a professional confirms it is suitable.
Keep records of tests and any work for future buyers and contractors.

Common misunderstandings

“Only 9×9 tiles have asbestos.” Size is not a test. Any older resilient flooring or adhesive can contain it.
“The tile tested negative, so the floor is clear.” Adhesive and backing can be different materials. Ask what was tested.
“Covering it with laminate removed the problem.” The old layer is still there for the next renovation.

Quick answers

Is it dangerous to walk on old asbestos tile?

EPA says exposure may occur only when material is disturbed or damaged. Normal use of intact, glued-down tile is generally not the concern; sanding, grinding and stripping are.

Can I tell by the color or pattern?

No. Colors, patterns and sizes were used with and without asbestos. Only a laboratory test of a sample taken by an accredited professional answers the question.

Does the black mastic matter?

Yes. Adhesives are on EPA’s list too, and they can test differently from the tile above them.

Before-you-buy checklist

Note any old tile, sheet flooring or dark mastic, especially in basements and kitchens.
Ask the seller for test results and records of flooring work.
If you plan to replace floors, arrange an accredited asbestos inspection before closing.
Check the era’s other materials with the House Age Decoder.

Asbestos Floor Tiles (Including 9×9 Tiles): How to Tell and What to Do