Floors Archives - Asbestos Product Guide

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Bituminous membrane – felt rolls and compounds

Description

Used for waterproofing and termite prevention, as well as a durable underlayer below carpet or flooring such as linoleum or vinyl.

Applied as a rolled on felt and a bitumen paint compound applied over top or just a painted compound.

Some product had asphalt base and appearance.

Mid-20^th Century applications were coloured (red or slate) and allowed use as the top layer flooring. Advertised as having acoustic qualities and being polishable.

Advertised for use on timber and concrete.

May have appearance as that of thick adhesive.

Some products were coloured with complementary lacquers: red, blue, brown and green.

Brands/products

Ormonoid
Lastoleum
Pabco
Mastipave

Years of production/use

1900s – 1970s

Residential uses

Layer under linoleum, kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.

Industrial uses

Office and commercial flooring, tram flooring, plant rooms, factories, plant rooms, laboratories, hospitals, hotels, clubs etc with high foot traffic.

Be aware

May be covered by multiple floor coverings over time.

May be mistaken for asphalt rubber compound.

Vinyl flooring and tiles with asbestos

Description

Asbestos backed vinyl flooring and tiles, or asphalt tiles that have visual appearance of vinyl or linoleum.

Large range of colours and patterns marketed to DIY homeowners over decades.

Produced in Australia 1950s-1970s.

CSR Vinylflex asbestos flooring was still being marketed in 1979. In 1982 CSR sold their Vinylflex production arm to US-based manufacturer Armstrong-Nylex.

A large amount of production occurred in USA. Imported tiles for sale in Australia during this period cannot be estimated.

Asbestos content could range 20-45%.

Years of production/use

Production: Prior to 1980s

Use: prior to 1990

Brands/products

Vinylflex (CSR)
- Vinylflex is also a current brand name for PVC based tiles and other goods with no asbestos.
Kentile (USA)
Asphalt tiles (CSR)
Johns Manville (USA)
Dermide
Vinylcraft (Nairntile)
Dunlop Vinyl
Olympic Tyre and Rubber
Supervinyl (Nylex)
Royal Flexyl

Residential uses

Kitchens, laundries, bathrooms, and offcuts used to line cupboard shelving
Splashbacks and feature walls in kitchen or laundry areas

Industrial uses

Offices and commercial buildings, commercial kitchens, shops, cafés, restaurants, department stores, bowling alleys – community buildings/halls with high foot traffic
Government buildings – Defence, telecommunications, hospitals and other offices

Be aware

Paint-on adhesives for attachment to floorboards/slabs may also contain asbestos. Particularly if black in colour.

Non-asbestos flooring may have been overlaid on top to reduce cost/workload of removal.

Underlays of AC flat sheeting or asbestos felt.

Further information

Linoleum flooring is made of linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, pine resin and pigments, and then pressed into cotton scrim fabric.

Vinyl is a synthetic product made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When combined with asbestos, which acts as a binder, the product had durability and firmness for high foot-traffic areas. Also known as a thermoplastic tile, asbestos was added as to the vinyl resin during the manufacturing process. It may be incorporated as a backing on the tile, or in the main tile material itself.

The tiles were marketed for both flooring and walls. Tiles were not only square but produced in rectangular sizes and (feature) planks and strips. As well as plain colours, tiles and flooring imitated terrazzo, marble and woodgrain. Tile and flooring manufacturers also supplied asbestos felt underlay and adhesives for use when laying.

Tiles and feature strips were marketed to be installed in pattens at the discretion of the customer, including vertically on walls and other structures.