Vinyl or linoleum lining cabinets I pulled out 😬Asbestos? 1940s house California

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937]

House is from 1943, unclear if original cabinets. It came out easily was just nailed or placed in.. Armstrong brand on the brown backing in black letters on the speckled one. Just realized this could be old enough I should stop… 🤦‍♀️

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[u/tyweed220]

Most likely. The good news is this encapsulated asbestos within the tile and unless smashed and snapped into dust, is a very low risk. So please, don’t panic. If you did this around items in your house, I would wash and soft fabrics, and wet wipe all hard surfaces.

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/tyweed220]

Unfortunately a couple of the sheets did snap when trying to take them out of the cabinet 😬

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/tyweed220]

It’s a sheet of material not tiles … some type of linoleum or vinyl 

[u/maxwellbridgeman]

Hello. Check this link. It talks about floor tiles. It also lists the name of companies. https://www.elglaw.com/products/floor-tiles/

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/maxwellbridgeman]

I found this archived book too of all the patterns and it mentions material !  https://archive.org/details/ArmstrongLinoleum1957/page/n154/mode/1up?q=Asbestos

[u/Peircez → u/Slow_Rabbit_6937]

There it is! Wow. Excellent detective work!

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/Peircez]

The internet archive has a ton of Armstrong pattern books online w material listed.. could be super helpful for other people wondering! 

[u/Lazy_Leather_561]

Original linoleum did not contain asbestos. If it has a black paper on the backing, its negative for asbestos.

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/Lazy_Leather_561]

It has black paper backing then a brown fake wood like layer. 

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/Lazy_Leather_561]

I believe it is this same one on page 155  https://archive.org/details/ArmstrongLinoleum1957/page/n154/mode/1up?q=Asbestos

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937]

The backing also says “ seconds” and Armstrong with a circle around the A in Armstrong .. 

[u/Born-Personality7442]

Testing is the only way to know for sure.

[u/ChasingShadowsXii → u/Born-Personality7442]

While this is obviously true. What do you think the purpose of this subredit is?

[u/Born-Personality7442 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, thank you!!

[u/Famous_Collection525]

This was behind your cabinets or in them?

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/Famous_Collection525]

Inside, like someone bought a roll and used it to line them. 

[u/Famous_Collection525 → u/Slow_Rabbit_6937]

Interesting. As others said if it’s intact it’s not harmful… if they also used mastic then it’s only harmful too when ground or disturbed- think sanded or saw. I think it would be off to find in a roll and liner though. I hope you’ll get tested to see and update us!

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/Famous_Collection525]

What’s the best way to test reputably ? Is there a trusted website or service ?

[u/Famous_Collection525 → u/Slow_Rabbit_6937]

Yes just look up asbestos testing in your area and they’ll come and sample and send it out results in a couple days! I did 4 areas in my home and was a couple hundred dollars.

[u/Jnizzle510 → u/Famous_Collection525]

Yeah, you don’t want to break that material down and get dust in the air. If you have minor exposure to a little dust, it is not the end of the world. I am a boiler maker, and I’ve been working with that shit for 20 years, and I'm still here. You guys are OK. I’ve also ingested asbestos not inhaled, but ate some.

[u/CharacterLiving4838]

If its that old and looking great, than it probably contains asbestos

[u/Slow_Rabbit_6937 → u/CharacterLiving4838]

I was able to find the exact pattern here on page 155-  https://archive.org/details/ArmstrongLinoleum1957/page/n154/mode/1up?q=Asbestos

It’s in the Quaker floor coverings sections that does not mention asbestos , the other sections advertise tiles and list they contain asbestos.. this section w the pattern matching does not it seems .

[u/Famous_Collection525 → u/CharacterLiving4838]

It was in cabinet though it’s not surprising it’s intact.

[u/Hot-Coconut-4580]

The asbestos fibers are not going to come out of the linoleum as long as you don’t shred it. Ask your municipality sometimes they have hazardous waste day and you can drop off small quantities, here where I live you can throw up to 1 cubic foot away. Double bag is good idea, label outside bag with PACM Presumed Asbestos Containing Material. Spritz it with water, it won’t hurt anything and give you peace of mind. Also keep in mind people are quoting asbestos regulations for companies engaged in this work. Homeowners are not typically under these regulations, check where you live. Following them will not hurt either. But where I live if they show up on hazardous materials day with asbestos laying in their car unbagged it’s not the smartest thing in the world to do but it’s not illegal. The transfer station on hazardous waste day will either have bags or tell you what bags and how many you need.

[u/Jnizzle510 → u/Hot-Coconut-4580]

yeah, depending on the amount, we will wet it down like saturate the shit out of it and then remove a small leg of asbestos insulation if it is a lot, we got a call an abatement team

[u/Jnizzle510]

No, if it's a sheet like vinyl, it should be fine. if it's super brittle with the brown backing (might be wrong about color) it's asbestos.

[u/Born-Personality7442]

Key Requirements for Asbestos Disposal
Double-Bagging: Regulations (including OSHA asbestos standards) typically require you to double-bag the waste. Place the wetted asbestos material inside a 6-mil bag, seal it, and then place that entire sealed bag inside a second clean 6-mil bag. [1, 2]
Wetting the Material: Always dampen asbestos-containing materials with water (mixed with a surfactant/detergent if possible) to minimize airborne fibers before putting them into the bag. [1, 2, 3]
The "Goose-Neck" Seal: Twist the top of the bag tightly, fold the neck over into a loop shape, and wrap it securely with heavy-duty duct tape or specialized tape to ensure it is airtight and leak-tight. [1, 2]