Asbestos in floor tiles & adhesive
Check each affected floor layer before lifting tiles or preparing the substrate.
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Tiles, adhesive and substrates
The Asbestos Fund lists vinyl tiles, adhesives and certain coverings among possible applications. This does not mean every old tile or black adhesive contains asbestos. Analysis of a tile does not necessarily describe the adhesive beneath. Supply the full report and locations examined. Separate covering removal, identified adhesive removal and the expected screed condition; coordinate the new floor with your installer.
From the existing floor to the new finish
Match the report to the layers
Recent tiles may cover an older floor. In your enquiry, distinguish layers described in the report from materials whose composition is unknown. Mention earlier renovations and areas already opened, without continuing removal. A test result should not be applied to a different material without assessment.
Describe passages and adjoining rooms
Flooring may continue beneath fitted furniture, along a corridor or into another room. Specify thresholds, skirting to retain and access to other rooms. Mention known underfloor heating and installations that restrict access; do not lift the flooring to locate them.
Prepare the handover to the flooring installer
Ask the installer what substrate the new flooring requires, then clarify which items each quote includes. Adhesive removal, screed repairs, levelling and laying the new floor are separate operations. The schedule must allow for the area to be released before the next contractor starts.
Prepare your quote
Describe the room, approximate known area, layered coverings and anything already removed. Identify everyday passages and the planned date for the new finish. The quote must specify affected layers, waste management and handover conditions for the installer.
- Room and layers covered by the report
- Known area and access to other rooms
- Separate removal, substrate condition and new finish
Before work starts
OVAM lists removal of asbestos adhesive from screed requiring mechanical treatment among work reserved for approved companies. The method follows risk assessment. For work involving employees, the Code on Well-being at Work governs prior identification and unexpected discoveries. These site obligations go beyond holding a Flemish asbestos certificate.
Demotek SRL (enterprise number 0783.397.239) appears on the official FPS Employment list. Approval covers glove-bag removal and hermetically sealed enclosures. The method suited to your site is defined after assessment.
Asbestos rules and official sourcesYour questions
The adhesive is black. Does that necessarily mean asbestos?
No. Colour alone is insufficient. Have an expert review the documents and area and decide which checks are needed. Describe the adhesive as suspect until its composition has been established.
Is my asbestattest enough to remove the floor?
Check which materials were actually covered and the inspection’s limits. In Flanders, an asbestattest addresses normal building use; concealed layers affected by work may need further investigation. Having the document is not permission to lift or sand the floor.
Can I obtain a price per square metre without a report?
The area alone does not describe the layers to remove, access or necessary protection. You can explain the project without a report to clarify missing information. The scope and method must be established before a precise removal quote can be prepared.