Your vinyl flooring might contain asbestos if it was installed before the 1980s. Asbestos is typically used in old vinyl floor backing. This backing resembles felt. It was used to soften the floor. Indications that a building has asbestos floors include installation prior to 1980, a slippery appearance, black or colored adhesive, and squares of 9x9, 12x12, or 18x18 inches.