There are 15 steps to identify black mastic, which is a type ofAsbestos glue.

Nowadays, it's less of a concern because there are so many different types of floating flooring available.All resilient flooring used to be glue to the subfloor.Floating flooring and self-adhesive flooring are the most common types of flooring.

The removal of old linoleum or vinyl flooring may come as a surprise to some homeowners when they see some type of black glue between the tiles.This is often called black mastic.

Black mastic is common in homes built in the 20th century.You can still find mastic on old cans around the house.

The main concern is that some mastics may have something in them.There is a life-threatening condition called Mesothelioma.Black mastic can be found in your home, so it's important to identify it and deal with it correctly.

A mastic is a type of flooring glue.Modern mastics can be softened with water.There is an older type of mastic made with asphalt-based cement.

Cutback is a term that means that the floor glues that are derived from asphalt are not water-sensitive and won't change color in water.

Some of the cutback adhesives had something in them.It is thought that the compounds were added to make them resistant to fire.The primary purpose of the product was to make it more durable.These fibers interlock to help strengthen mastic, insulation, and many other household building products.

After a floor covering is removed, you will only see black mastic.Black is the main color.There may be traces of other colors, such as those from subflooring showing through mastic or pieces of floor covering that were not completely removed.

Some older latex (water-based) adhesives were black, so color alone is not a reliable identification characteristic.

Black mastic is flat against the subfloor, with no ridges, bumps, or gaps of significance.It has small marks or swirls from its first application.

There will be no visible fibers in mastic.If cutback mastic is vigorously sanded, it would become thick and tar-like from the heat.

Black mastic adhesives were mostly made in the first half of the 20th century.Some companies produced glues in the late 1980's.If your house was built around 1984 or before, there is a chance that the mastic on the floor may have been contaminated with the cancer-causing substance.

Finding an old can is one of the best ways to determine if the suspected material has the cancer-causing substance.Old cans of paint can be found in attics, basements, under stairways and in the yard of old houses.