In a kitchen renovation, asbestos is most often found in vinyl flooring and its adhesive, in tile adhesives and grout, and in wall and ceiling filler. If the kitchen was built or renovated before 1994, these materials must be examined in an asbestos survey before any cabinets, tiles or flooring are removed. The survey shows which surfaces need asbestos removal and which can be stripped out as ordinary renovation work.
Do you need an asbestos survey for a kitchen renovation?
Yes, if the building or the kitchen materials date from before 1994 and the work involves removing or working on existing structures. The requirement is based on Finland’s Asbestos Act (684/2015) and the Government Decree on the safety of asbestos work (798/2015), and it also applies to detached houses and to shareholders’ own renovations in a housing company. Replacing cabinet doors or repainting does not require a survey, but as soon as you lift flooring, remove tiles or drill into old filler, you need one.
Which kitchen materials are tested?
A kitchen usually has several layers from different decades. The surveyor checks at least the following:
Vinyl flooring and its adhesive
Old vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl tiles and especially the dark adhesive underneath are among the most common asbestos findings in kitchens. The backing of the flooring may also contain asbestos felt. An old floor is often still hidden under a newer one, so concealed layers are tested too. Read more about asbestos in vinyl flooring.
Tile adhesive and grout
Asbestos was used in floor and wall tile adhesives and grouts, especially from the 1960s to the 1980s. The tile itself tells you nothing, so the sample is taken from the adhesive and the grout.
Wall and ceiling filler
Filler covers the largest area in a kitchen. It turns into dust when walls are sanded or drilled, or when cabinets are taken down. Asbestos in filler is completely invisible to the eye.
Splashback tiles
The tiling between the worktop and the wall cabinets is replaced in almost every kitchen renovation. The adhesive and the filler behind it are part of the survey, even if the tiled area is small.
Surfaces behind the cabinets
Behind the cabinets there is often original filler, paint and sometimes boards that have never been replaced because the units have covered them. The surveyor checks these surfaces, for example by opening a small area behind a cabinet or looking underneath and between the units.
Ventilation duct penetrations
Where the cooker hood duct passes through the wall or ceiling, there may be asbestos-containing sealants, insulation or fire boards. In blocks of flats the duct usually belongs to the housing company, so work around it should be agreed with the property manager. See also asbestos in ventilation ducts.
What if the kitchen has already been renovated once?
An earlier renovation does not mean the asbestos is gone. In the 1990s and 2000s new flooring was often laid on top of the old vinyl and new filler applied over the old. The asbestos-containing layer is then still there, just hidden. The surveyor examines the structure layer by layer and samples every layer that dates from before 1994.
The order of work in a kitchen renovation
- Plan the scope. What will be removed, what stays and where will you drill?
- Order an asbestos survey. The surveyor samples every material that will be removed.
- Wait for the report. It usually arrives within 1 working day of the visit.
- If asbestos is found, the asbestos-containing materials are removed by an authorised asbestos removal contractor before any other demolition.
- Normal demolition and building can begin once the asbestos-containing parts have been removed or it has been confirmed there is no asbestos.
In a housing company the shareholder must also submit a notice of alteration work, and many companies require the survey report to be attached.
Can you take the kitchen samples yourself?
If you suspect only one material, such as an old vinyl floor, you can send a sample by post for 39,90 € + VAT per sample. A kitchen renovation usually involves several layers, though, and a self-taken sample does not replace a survey that covers every material affected. Depending on the city, a survey costs from 119 € incl. VAT, and the price includes the survey, all samples, the laboratory analysis, travel and the report.
Checklist before stripping out the kitchen
- Check the year of construction and any previous kitchen renovations.
- List the surfaces to be removed: floor, splashback, walls, the areas behind the cabinets and the duct penetration.
- Order the survey before the kitchen designer or contractor starts demolition.
- Leave time in the schedule for possible asbestos removal.
- In a housing company: submit the alteration notice and attach the report.
Renovating the bathroom or sauna at the same time? See what is checked in a sauna renovation, or order an asbestos survey.