TILE IDENTIFICATION

The four (4) most commonly maintained resilient floors (asphalt, rubber, vinyl composition and vinyl) can be identified with the following tests.  All tests should be run in an out of the way area like a closet, behind a file cabinet, etc. and should be performed when there is no seal, wax or polymer finish on the floor.

THE TESTS

• Scratch Test
  Using a sharp instrument, like a nail file, pocket knife, or pin, scratch the surface of the tile. If a scratchy sound in heard the tile is asphalt or viny composition because of the sand content.

• Solvent Test
  The second test is the solvent test.  Apply a small amount of solvent, like lighter fluid to the bare tile.  Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes.  Then using a white rag, rub the solvent vigorously.  If the color of the tile bleeds off onto the rage the tile is asphalt or rubber  because they are not solvent resistant.
  
  
• Burn Test
  The third test is the burn test.  In an out of the way area, cut a small sliver of tile with a pocket knife.  Hold a flame to it.  If it burns with black smoke and smells like burning rubber, the tile is rubber.  If it burns with a white smoke and does not smell like burning rubber the tile is vinyl.  This test is not applicable to asphalt or vinyl composition as, due to the sand content, you cannot cut a small sliver.

DOES NOT SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER