Could this stuff under my carpet gripper strips be black asbestos mastic?

Hennymore

Taking up some carpet (that predates our living here) to have tile laid.

House is from 1906. Under the carpet is underlay and then floorboards. But toward the edges of the floor, under the gripper strips, is some sort of coarse woven material that is blackish at the top side.

I saw a mention of black asbestos mastic the other day and I figured I should ask just in case. I realise one can’t tell for absolutely sure.

To me it looks like it might be the remainders of some sort of tile. I feel like I can see some sort of diamond pattern in the top side (the blackish side).

Though asking this made me realise that even if it’s not mastic, it could be asbestos-something-else since it’s an old house…

If you think there’s a risk, what would you suggest? I do need to remove the gripper strips so can’t avoid disturbing the material somewhat but I guess I don’t strictly need to remove it.

Wear a mask, try to disturb it as little as possible when removing the strips? Wet it? Have someone test it?

Pictures:

Ruski

I'd say that was first generation Linoleum, pulled up plenty of it in the past.

Russ

Apodemus

Yep! Good old-fashioned lino! Probably containing nothing more noxious than jute, sawdust and linseed oil!

Hennymore

Sorry, forgot about this thread. Thank you both! I ended up taking precautions (wetting, double-bagging etc), but fingers crossed it was just plain lino then