Tiles and adhesives
Asbestos in tile adhesive – analysis €39.90
Tile adhesive is one of the materials most often suspected of containing asbestos before a bathroom, kitchen or floor is stripped out. Asbestos is not usually visible to the naked eye, so the definitive answer comes from the laboratory.
Short answer
Can tile adhesive contain asbestos?
Yes. Tile adhesive installed before 1994 may contain asbestos, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens and older floor tiling. Include the adhesive layer itself in the sample, not just the tile. Onelab analyses tile adhesive for €39.90 + VAT and delivers the result on the day the sample arrives.
Identifying the material
What do you need to know about this material?
Where is asbestos found in tile adhesive?
Typical places are bathroom wall and floor tiles, kitchen splashback tiles, hallway floor tiles and old cellars. The risk usually lies in the adhesive beneath the tile, in the bedding compound, in the mortar or in the filler.
Why is the tile alone not enough as a sample?
The tile itself is often asbestos-free, but the adhesive or filler beneath it may contain asbestos. If you send in only the tile, the analysis may say nothing about the adhesive layer that will create dust when the tiles come off.
What does the result mean for the renovation?
A negative result means that no asbestos was detected in the tile adhesive sample examined. A positive result means that removing the tile and the adhesive must be planned as asbestos removal work with the appropriate protective measures.
Sampling
How to take a representative sample
- Detach a small piece of tile adhesive from beneath the tile or along its edge.
- Pack the adhesive layer in a sealable minigrip bag and note where the sample was taken.
If the material crumbles, gives off dust or sits somewhere awkward, do not force it loose. Ask a professional how to take the sample safely if you are unsure.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about asbestos in tile adhesive
Check for asbestos in tile adhesive before demolition
Order the analysis online, post the sample to us and receive the result by email on the day the sample reaches the laboratory.