Help! We just bought a house near Chicago and are planning to redo part of the basement rec room which was built in 1970. (The house was built in the early 50s.)

After pulling up the old wall-to-wall carpeting and old padding, we noticed a black covering that was glued to the floor. Someone at ********** told us it might be a vapor barrier.

My husband started scraping it away until I freaked out and told him there could be asbestos in it. It's pretty easy to scrape off -- kind of powdery. This black stuff is also on the stairs under the carpeting going up to the first floor. It is in such bad shape, it has turned into a black powder that has fallen through the cracks of the stairs and has made little piles underneath.

Any idea what this stuff is? I have hidden all scrapers from my husband until I have a little more info.

Thanks!

MarthaB