Only a lab test can tell you for sure. Your photo helps us send the right kit.
What are they?
Thermoplastic and vinyl floor tiles were laid in a great many UK homes from the 1950s to the 1980s, often as 9-inch (225 mm) squares. Many contained white asbestos to make them hard-wearing. The black, tar-like adhesive used to stick them down, called bitumen, can contain asbestos too.
They're often still there today, hidden under carpet, laminate or a newer vinyl floor. Many people only find them when they lift a floor.
Are they dangerous?
Whole tiles that are firmly stuck down are a low risk. The fibres are bound into the tile. The risk comes when tiles or adhesive are broken up, sanded, ground or scraped, which can release fibres into the air.
What not to do
- Don't sand or grind them, or run a floor sander over them.
- Don't break them up or prise them off with a power tool.
- Don't scrape or grind off the black adhesive.
- Don't dry-sweep broken pieces or dust, or pick them up with a household vacuum cleaner.
If you're laying a new floor, covering the old tiles is often the simplest option. Ask your fitter, and test first if anything will need cutting or lifting.
How to test them
Send us a photo of the tiles, and of the adhesive if you can see it where a tile has lifted. The tiles and the adhesive can be different materials, so they may need a sample each. We'll tell you how many.
- Send us a photoUse the free AI photo check. Snap the area, answer three quick taps, and see what's worth testing and how many samples you'd need.
- Take a small sampleThe kit comes with a proper mask, gloves, sample bags, a spray bottle, a step-by-step guide and a return envelope.
- Post it to the labYour sample is analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
- KnowYour result comes to you by email, in writing.
If a tile is already loose, it's often the easiest place to take a sample from, without breaking anything new. The kit's guide shows you how, and the usual rules apply:
- Keep other people and pets out of the room while you work.
- Put on the mask and gloves before you start.
- Lightly mist the spot with water first. Damp material gives off far less dust.
- Use a hand tool, never a power tool. Take a small piece, about the size of a 20p coin, straight into the bag, and seal it.
- Wipe the area with a damp cloth, and cover the spot with tape or a dab of paint.
- Seal the cloth, gloves and mask in a bag. Your local council can tell you how to get rid of it.
If they contain asbestos
If they're whole and stuck down, you can usually leave them where they are, or cover them with a new floor. If they need to come up, use a professional asbestos removal contractor.
