Tiles and tile adhesive
Asbestos in tile adhesive – analysis €49.99
Tile adhesive is one of the most common asbestos suspects before a bathroom, kitchen or floor is stripped out. Asbestos usually cannot be seen with the naked eye – only a laboratory analysis gives you a reliable answer.
In short
Can tile adhesive contain asbestos?
Yes. Tile adhesive in buildings built or renovated before asbestos was banned can contain asbestos, especially in bathrooms, kitchens and older tiled floors. The EU-wide ban took effect in 2005, and many countries banned it earlier. Send the adhesive layer itself, not just the tile. Semlab analyses tile adhesive for €49.99 incl. VAT and emails the result on the day the sample arrives at the laboratory.
Identify the material
What should you know about this material?
Where is asbestos found in tile adhesive?
Typical places are bathroom wall and floor tiles, kitchen splashbacks, tiled hallway floors and older basement rooms. The risk usually lies in the adhesive, mortar or skim coat underneath the tile.
Why is it not enough to send just the tile?
The tile itself is often asbestos-free, but the adhesive or filler underneath can contain asbestos. If you send only the tile, the analysis tells you nothing about the adhesive layer that turns to dust when the tiles are knocked off.
What does the result mean for the renovation?
A negative result means that no asbestos was found in the adhesive sample examined. A positive result means that removing the tiles and adhesive must be planned as asbestos removal work, with the protective measures required by your national occupational safety rules.
Sampling
How to take a representative sample
- Prise a small piece of tile adhesive from under or at the edge of a tile.
- Put the adhesive in a sealed zip-lock bag and note where the sample was taken.
If the material crumbles, is dusty or is hard to reach, do not force it loose. Only firmly bound materials may be sent by post, never dusty insulation. If you are unsure how to take the sample safely, ask a professional.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about asbestos in tile adhesive
Test for asbestos in tile adhesive before demolition
Order the analysis online and pay by card, send the sample to our laboratory with your national postal service, and receive the result by email on the day the sample arrives.