Guide
Asbestos in old floors and coatings: test first
Old vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles, the black bitumen adhesive under them, and textured wall and ceiling coatings put up before 2000 may contain asbestos. Ceramic and porcelain tiles do not. Have the material tested before anyone lifts, sands or drills it. If asbestos is found, lifting it is asbestos work, done under HSE guidance by someone trained and equipped for it or by a licensed contractor; most tilers are neither.
Updated
Which tiles and finishes might contain it?
In UK homes built or refurbished before 2000, the materials to think about before tiling work are:
Vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles, often 9 inch (about 23 cm) squares, sometimes under later carpet or lino.
Black bitumen adhesive beneath old floor tiles.
Textured coatings on walls and ceilings.
Ceramic, porcelain, quarry, terracotta and stone tiles are not among them.
Why test before work starts?
Asbestos causes harm when its fibres get into the air, which happens when material is broken, sanded, scraped or drilled. Lifting old floor tiles with a scraper, grinding off adhesive or cutting into a textured ceiling all do that. So the order matters: test first, before anything is disturbed. For a single floor, a sample is taken and sent to a laboratory that tests for asbestos. For a bigger strip-out in a house built before 2000, a refurbishment and demolition survey of the areas to be worked on is the normal route rather than one sample. HSE publishes guidance for homeowners on what to do and who can do it.
What happens if the test is positive?
HSE guidance decides what happens next. Some asbestos work must be done by a licensed contractor. HSE treats lifting old vinyl floor tiles and their adhesive, and taking off textured coatings, as lower-risk non-licensed work, which can be done by someone trained and equipped for it under HSE's guidance. Most tilers are neither, and this site does not list anyone for asbestos work, so the price comes from whoever does it, not from a tiler listed here. Sometimes the advice is to leave the material in place and cover it; the surveyor will say.
Where does the tiler come in?
Once the floor or wall has been dealt with, or confirmed clear, the tiler prepares it and tiles as normal. A tiler who sees old vinyl tiles or black adhesive in an older house should stop and recommend a test before going further. That is a sign of a careful tiler, not an awkward one.
Common questions
Do old ceramic tiles contain asbestos?
No. Ceramic, porcelain, quarry and stone tiles are not asbestos materials. The concern is old vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles, the black adhesive under them, and textured coatings.
How do I find out if my floor tiles contain asbestos?
Have a sample tested by a laboratory that tests for asbestos, or ask an asbestos surveyor. Do not break off a piece yourself without following HSE guidance on sampling.
Can a tiler deal with asbestos floor tiles?
Lifting them is asbestos work, which under HSE guidance must be done by someone trained and equipped for it, or by a licensed contractor; most tilers are neither, and this site does not list anyone for it. A tiler lays the new floor afterwards.