Inspections and certifications

Aluminous cement test

We check whether the joists in your home or building contain aluminous cement. A technician from the practice takes the samples and we take them to the UPC materials laboratory. You receive the result for each sample and, if you ask for it, our report explaining what it means and what to do.

Laboratory

Analysed at the UPC
Each sample is analysed at the UPC materials laboratory.

Samples

We take them
Up to 3 samples, with no false ceiling, are taken by the technician on the visit.

Report

Know what to do
With the optional report, we interpret the result and tell you the next steps.

What it is

What is the aluminous cement test?

Aluminous cement was used in many floor joists made between the 1950s and the 1970s. Over time and with damp, that concrete can lose strength: this is known as aluminosis. The test detects whether a joist contains aluminous cement; it is the first step to knowing whether the floor needs monitoring or strengthening.

A positive result does not mean there is aluminosis. The test tells you whether the joists analysed contain aluminous cement. To know the condition of a building’s structure you need a wider study: a test opening plan.

When you need it

  • You are buying a flat in a building from that period and want to know before signing
  • The community or the ITE recommend checking the floors
  • You are renovating and want to know what the structure is like before you start
  • You see cracks, rust stains or pieces of concrete coming away from the ceiling

Is it for a whole building? Then what you need is a test opening plan: preliminary inspection, search for the original project in the municipal archive, drawings showing each opening, on-site assistance while a builder makes the openings, analysis at the UPC and a single final report with recommendations for the repair. Write to us and we will send you a quote.

What it includes

What it includes and what it costs

In Barcelona, the test with one sample costs €315 + VAT, and each extra sample €105 + VAT. Outside Barcelona, travel to the municipality is added; the quote tool gives you the exact price.

Visit and sampling

€95 + €20 per sample, plus travel. Up to 3 samples with no false ceiling are taken by the technician; we only need a tall ladder.

Phenolphthalein test

Included. It checks on the visit whether the concrete in the joists is carbonated.

Aluminous cement test

€85 per sample. Carried out by the UPC materials laboratory.

Laboratory handling

€90. We take the samples, handle the analysis and send you its results report.

Conclusions report

Optional, €90. We interpret the result and tell you what to do, including how to repair the openings.

Repair of the openings

Not included: the technician does not close the openings, a builder you pay does. With more than 3 samples or a false ceiling, a builder you hire also takes them; we send you their quote when you accept the proposal.

How we work

From quote to result

You pay 50% on acceptance and 50% the day after sampling. The laboratory’s timescale does not depend on us: ask us first if you have a signing date. If you add the test to a pre-purchase or construction inspection, we take the samples on the same visit and you save the visit and travel.

1. Quote

You get it online in a minute and receive the proposal as a PDF.

2. Sampling

A technician from the practice checks the floor, takes the samples and carries out the phenolphthalein test.

3. Laboratory

We take the samples to the UPC materials laboratory and send you its results report.

4. Conclusions

If you ask for it, we interpret the result and recommend what to do, including how to repair the openings.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the aluminous cement test

One for each floor or area you want to check. The result applies to the joist the sample comes from, so in a home it usually makes sense to take them from different floors. We advise you when we prepare the quote.

Up to 3 samples, if there is no false ceiling, are taken by the technician on the visit using a tall ladder you provide. With more samples or a false ceiling, a builder you hire takes them; we send you their quote when you accept the proposal.

A builder you pay. The technician does not close the openings, and the repair is not included in the price. The conclusions report explains how to do it.

The UPC materials laboratory. We take the samples, handle the analysis and send you its results report.

Not necessarily. The test tells you whether the joist contains aluminous cement; to know whether the concrete has lost strength you need a wider study, such as a test opening plan.

Yes. We take the samples on the same visit, with no visit or travel cost: €195 + VAT for one sample, and the result is included in the report.

In Barcelona, €315 + VAT with one sample and €105 + VAT for each extra sample. The conclusions report is optional (€90 + VAT). Outside Barcelona, travel is added; get the exact price with the online quote tool.

We work every day in Barcelona and the surrounding area. These are some of the municipalities where we work most:

  • Barcelona and surrounding area: Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs.
  • Baix Llobregat: Cornellà de Llobregat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, El Prat de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Molins de Rei, Viladecans, Gavà, Castelldefels and Begues.
  • Maresme: Mataró, Premià de Mar, Premià de Dalt, El Masnou, Montgat, Tiana, Alella, Teià, Cabrils, Vilassar de Mar, Vilassar de Dalt, Cabrera de Mar, Argentona, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Sant Vicenç de Montalt, Caldes d’Estrac, Arenys de Mar, Arenys de Munt and Canet de Mar.
  • Vallès Occidental: Sabadell, Terrassa, Sant Cugat del Vallès (including Valldoreix and La Floresta), Cerdanyola del Vallès (including Bellaterra), Rubí and Matadepera.
  • Vallès Oriental: Granollers and Mollet del Vallès.
  • Garraf: Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú.

Anywhere in the province of Barcelona, the online quote includes travel costs based on the municipality. We also take on work in the provinces of Tarragona, Girona and Lleida: if you want to keep travel costs down, we schedule the visit when several jobs coincide in the area or we are nearby.

Related

Learn more

Want to know whether your joists contain aluminous cement?

Get the price in a minute and we will send you the proposal as a PDF. For a whole building, write to us and we will prepare the test opening plan.