Asbestos survey

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Asbestos survey

Asbestos is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, as it was used and removed for so many years before we understood how dangerous it is. It was used in homes, public and commercial buildings from the early 1900s and was extremely popular between the 1950s-80s. It wasn’t banned in the UK until 1999, and because it was so popular, any buildings constructed or refurbished during that time is likely to contain asbestos. That’s why in many cases it’s a legal requirement to have an asbestos survey carried out.

When asbestos is broken down, for example during a renovation, tiny fibres are released into the air. If a person isn’t wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), they can breathe these fibres in where they get lodged in the lung tissue. Because the fibres are so tiny, they get pulled deeper into the lung tissue with every breath, eventually causing diseases like asbestosis, COPD and cancer.

Why should I get an asbestos survey or test?

If you’re doing any home improvements to a property that was built before the 21st century, there is a strong likelihood that there is asbestos present somewhere in the house. A common place you’ll find asbestos is in artex ceilings, which are those with a textured look rather than a smooth finish. If you start scraping off the artex finish and there is asbestos in it, you will release the fibres into the air and anyone that’s not wearing the correct PPE will breathe these harmful fibres in.

If you test anywhere that’s likely to have asbestos in it, you can take the appropriate action and get asbestos removal specialists in to remove it to avoid causing harm to you, your family or any other tradespeople.

Are there different types of asbestos tests and surveys?

There are two main ways that you can get your property tested for asbestos: with a do-it-yourself sampling kit, or by having a full asbestos survey.

Asbestos testing kits

Asbestos testing kits allow you to take a small sample of the area you suspect could have asbestos and package it up and send it away to a lab for analysis. The kits cost around £40 from reputable brands, and you can often have the results within 24 hours of sending the sample off. A DIY testing kit can seem like a money-saving option. But you’ll only be testing where you suspect there to be asbestos – and since asbestos was used so widely, you may not test everywhere that it could be present if you don’t have specialist knowledge.

You can also ask an asbestos contractor come to your property to take a sample, which is a safer option as they will be able to tell you whether they suspect there could be asbestos in any other areas you’re planning to renovate. This usually costs between £100-160.

Asbestos surveys

If you’re carrying out a full renovation of your home, it’s well worth getting a comprehensive asbestos survey. The contractor will come to your property and carry out a thorough search, looking for places that you might not have thought of. At the end of the survey, they will produce a report telling you their findings and will advise on the next steps.

A complete asbestos survey usually costs between £400-800.

Will an asbestos test or survey save me money?

Having an asbestos test or survey will definitely save you money in the long term. If you don’t have a test carried out and you disturb asbestos, it could cost you thousands of pounds in damage and will put your renovation project back by months.

More importantly, an asbestos survey or test could save lives. If you disturb asbestos, those tiny fibres will get into yours, your family’s and other tradespeople’s lungs and could cause potentially fatal diseases.

Average Asbestos survey cost

How much an asbestos survey costs depends on the area you need surveying and the location of your property. However, the common UK cost for an asbestos survey is currently approximately £200.

Average price per Asbestos survey job in 2024

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£165

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£374

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Prices based on actual Asbestos survey costs for your area, as reported by local Quotatis members.

Asbestos survey installation cost in your area 2024

Labour cost £140
Material cost £50
Waste removal £10
Time frame: 1 day

Advantages for Asbestos survey

  • Discover if you have asbestos in your home or garage
  • Accurate lab results confirming what type of asbestos it is
  • Ensures you are not handling or exposed to the asbestos while collecting - unlike DIY asbestos testing kits
  • Without a confirmed test many asbestos removal companies won't be able to assist

Disadvantages for Asbestos survey

  • More costly than a DIY asbestos kit

Asbestos survey Manufacturers

Asbestos survey FAQs

Where does asbestos come from?

The deposits of asbestos are commonly found in both rocks and soil throughout the globe. Historically, this material has been incorporated for more than 4,500 years for a number of purposes by our ancestors. However, mining of asbestos in large scale started only in the 1870’s in Quebec, Canada. It only took about a decade after this commencement before other countries picked the trail and also began the production of asbestos for industrial uses as asbestos rapidly grew to become an ubiquitous phenomenon across many nations of the world such as the USA, Russia, Italy as well as South Africa.

Today, several countries have placed a total ban on the production as well as exportation of asbestos as a result of the harmful fibre it contains. Asbestos has been discovered to be a life threatening material which when disturbed, it releases a harmful fibre that can lead to a number of serious health issues if inhaled over a long period of time. Most recently in 2019, the material was popularly banned in Canada, who for several years has operated the world’s largest mine of asbestos in Quebec.

Despite how harmful the material is, it’s however still being mined in some countries with some of its exporters being Russia, Kazakhstan, China as well as Brazil, with Russia taking the lead, covering for over 53 percent of the world’s total production.

Contrary to many beliefs, asbestos is not a man made material but a group of six types of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are commonly found in rock and soil which are collectively known as asbestos. These minerals are primarily composed of both silicon and oxygen but also includes other minor elements.

Do I need an asbestos survey to sell my house?

There is no legal requirement to have an asbestos survey done to sell your house. However, some mortgage lenders, estate agents and insurance companies may require one. Many home buyers and/or valuers will want to know before submitting an offer for your property.

What does asbestos look like?

The ability to identify exactly what an asbestos looks like can possibly save you from deadly health conditions that can arise as a result of a prolonged exposure to the dangerous material. It is one of the most frequent questions asked by homeowners in the UK and for a good reason. However, this question is not as simple or straightforward as it sounds because asbestos can actually take on a number of forms. As a result, this makes it a lot difficult to identify asbestos just by visual analysis or comparing an area which you suspect to be an asbestos to an example online. Therefore, the best way to truly identify if the area you suspect is really asbestos, then you’d have to send away a sample of the material to a certified asbestos testing lab in a safe way.

This happens to be the most effective way to verify if there’s a presence of asbestos in your home or property. Legally speaking, commercial properties are necessitated to undergo a total asbestos audit which involves carrying out lab tests on each and every material that’s suspected to include the deadly asbestos fibre substance. From these tests, you’ll get to know whether the asbestos present are friable or non friable which can go a long way to help identify the level of risk that’s posed by various building materials.

Upon the reception of the suspected asbestos-contained material, a certified asbestos testing laboratory will incorporate a form of transmission electron microscopy to reveal as well as determine the type of asbestos fibres that are in the sample. In the event whereby you discover a material you suspect to be an asbestos in your home, do not just go ahead to remove it. It’s strongly recommended to call in a specialist who can help to safely remove and send the suspected material to the lab for verification before further actions would be taken.

Do I have to have an asbestos test?

The legal requirement to have an asbestos survey carried out applies to non-domestic properties. If you own or operate a non-domestic property such as an office, shop, or warehouse, an asbestos survey and management plan must be in place. For domestic properties, there is no legal requirement to have an asbestos survey.

What is an asbestos testing?

An asbestos survey is a property inspection to check for the presence of asbestos. A professional will go around your building and look at and take samples of any materials that they think may contain asbestos. These will then be tested to see if asbestos is present.

There are two types of asbestos survey, a Management Asbestos Survey and a Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Survey. A Management Asbestos Survey is mainly conducted to check if any materials containing asbestos pose a risk to inhabitants during everyday use of a building. A Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Survey is designed to check for any asbestos exposure risks before building work is started on a property.

How to identify asbestos?

Asbestos is a perfect example of a silent and hidden killer. The harmful fibre it releases is not only totally invisible to the eye, but also absolutely odourless, therefore can’t be smelt. As a result, you can walk into a room completely filled with asbestos and you still won’t suspect a thing. If you live in an old building ( built before the 1980’s) in the UK, it’s very possible that there’s some asbestos in the house.

Asbestos causes up to 5000 deaths in the UK on a yearly basis. When asbestos materials are disturbed, they release asbestos fibres, which when inhaled can result in lung cancer, asbestosis as well as mesothelioma which are all painful and fatal diseases. And perhaps even more importantly, you won’t notice any symptoms of having these diseases until after several years after your first exposure to asbestos fibres.

Therefore, to reduce these numbers, there’s a crucial need to to know how to identify asbestos so as not to put both ourselves and loved ones at risk.

There are three types of asbestos which includes blue or crocidolite, brown or amosite, and white or chrysotile. So they can easily be identified by their respective colour names, right? Wrong! Asbestos fibres can not be seen with the eye, it can only be detected under a microscope. They’re very tiny and light, and once disturbed and in the air, they can float can days. Asbestos are commonly found in several building materials such as cement products, floor tiles, paints, adhesive, partitions, cladding, insulation, doors and lots more. With its wide acceptability in the past, any building product you can probably think of could contain asbestos.

When was asbestos used in homes?

In recent times, when about to purchase or renovate a building that was constructed before the 1980’s, most homeowners will be particular about knowing whether or not asbestos containing materials are present. Also when a property is being checked, a lot of individuals would want to know the peak years for asbestos to be used in homes.

Modern asbestos production started in the 1800s during the time of industrial revolution, but after some regulation were made to ban some asbestos products and uses in the late 1970’s, the production witnessed a significant drop. The United States was the foremost users of asbestos according to the USGS but this lasted until the 1960’s when it was overtaken by the Soviet Union. In this article, we’ll look at the years of use for asbestos containing materials like pipe insulation, vermiculite as well as wall systems.

✓ Insulation. Asbestos insulation was commonly used in homes with lots of focus on both piping and ductwork. This was started in the year 1908 but was ended between 1915 and 1920 by Air-Cell pipe insulation.

✓ Vermiculite. This refers to a mineral that’s popular for its insulating properties and mostly used as insulation for attics. It possesses a gold to brown kind of appearance and it’s also a pebble material that shimmers in the light. According to the EPA, if this material is suspected in a home it should be assumed to contain asbestos.

✓ Wall Systems. Plaster and drywall are very common wall types that are asbestos containing. And until asbestos was banned both wall systems are said to have asbestos. For example the drywall sheets as well as it’s joint compound both features asbestos from the 1930s to the 1980s.

How to test for asbestos?

If your house is built before the 1980’s it’s likely to contain some form of asbestos material which when disturbed can release some harmful fibres whose inhalation can lead to a number of fatal diseases and health issues like lung cancer and asbestosis. If you suspect that your house contains some asbestos materials, the best step to take is to call in a qualified asbestos consultant to carry out a thorough inspection of the area so as to identify the potential asbestos containing materials in your property.

The result of the testing done will bring a peace of mind as it’ll confirm whether or not the material actually contains asbestos. In the event whereby the testing result shows that the material does not contain asbestos, this will significantly reduce your renovation or demolition cost. So if you’re wondering how asbestos testing can be done, simply continue reading.

Identifying asbestos is as simple as just looking at the material with the naked to check if it contains the harmful substance. The presence or otherwise of a potential asbestos containing material can only be confirmed by laboratory testing. A qualitative identification of asbestos in a bulk sample is the best method for testing for asbestos. This asbestos testing process involves taking a look at the fibres under a polarized light microscope and under varying conditions to determine the kind of asbestos it is, if present. The result of the testing, if positive, will identify the type of the asbestos discovered and this can be either white or chyrsotile asbestos, brown or amosite asbestos or, blue or crocidolite asbestos. However in the event whereby the sample doesn’t contain any asbestos, the test result will show NAD or No Asbestos Detected.

Where to find asbestos in houses

WestCross Environmental Services

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Alan J., TS10
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Rikesh R., RM2
18th January 2022

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Quick and clear

Purus Contract Services

Based: in Chelmsford, CM3

Asbestos Surveys, Consultancy, Removals and Remediation

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Julie M., DA8
26th January 2021

Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in Erith

No quote required

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Based: in Ashford, TN26

Innox is a fully licensed asbestos removal and management company based in Ashford Kent, We cover th...

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Barry P., ME2
2nd October 2021

Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in Rochester

Excellent company. Work carried out in a professional manner. Cleaning and removal of...

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JCMES is a HSE licensed asbestos removal contractor, capable of undertaking all forms of asbestos ma...

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David A., TS13
6th June 2021

Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in Saltburn-by-the-Sea

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DAC Surveys

Based: in Hemel hempstead, HP4

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David O., NW11
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Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in London

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Ecorex

Based: in London, N1

One of the leading asbestos removal company. 40 years combined experience with a highly trained and ...

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David O., NW11
2nd March 2021

Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in London

Did not use them as DAC surveys responded first

Mishor Services

Based: in Chatham, ME5

We are a Health abd Safety consultancy company with the asbestos division. We take health and safet...

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Julie M., DA8
26th January 2021

Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in Erith

Would 100% recommend.

AirSafe Environmental

Based: in Ayr, KA7

Our mission at AirSafe Environmental is simple: to provide high-quality services in a timely, cost-e...

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Alexander S., KA8
17th November 2020

Asbestos | Survey / Sampling in Ayr

Excellent response, contacted on Saturday sample taken on Monday. Personnel from comp...

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DAC Surveys Ltd

30 review(s)
Based: in Hemel hempstead, HP4 1SD

DAC Surveys Ltd is a well established company carrying out asbestos surveys, sampling and asbestos awareness training in this very specialist industry. The managing director Doug Olive managed an asbestos removal and asbestos surveying company for o...

WestCross Environmental Services Ltd

1 review(s)
Based: in Slough, SL1 4LP

Licensed Asbestos Removal

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8 review(s)
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Mishor Services Limited

4 review(s)
Based: in Chatham, ME5 9RG

We are a Health abd Safety consultancy company with the asbestos division. We take health and safety very seriously and will remove all asbestos as safety as possible. Our prices are very competitive. We will always take calls up to 10pm in the even...

Asbestos Services and Roofline Limited

146 review(s)
Based: in Doncaster, DN8 4NJ

We are a family run business with over 20 years combined experience within the asbestos industry, we will and can undertake any issues arising in regards to asbestos

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23 review(s)
Based: in London, N1 7GU

One of the leading asbestos removal company. 40 years combined experience with a highly trained and professional team. Apprentice of the year award winners. Why work with us? Low cost, reliable, quick response and a cracking breath of fresh air. ...

Innox Waste and Recycling

6 review(s)
Based: in Ashford, TN26 3DJ

Innox is a fully licensed asbestos removal and management company based in Ashford Kent, We cover the South of England for surveys, management, individual sampling and testing and full removals. We are a new company run by two driven directors with a...

JCM Environmental Services LTD

5 review(s)
Based: in Cleveland, TS21 3EE

JCMES is a HSE licensed asbestos removal contractor, capable of undertaking all forms of asbestos management and removal. We are over 50 years combined experience in asbestos surveying. We currently hold a EA waste carriers piecemeal and capabl...

Tasc environmental services

13 review(s)
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Ranson Surveying LTD

2 review(s)
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We offer 15 years of experience in the asbestos consultancy industry. Our services range from simple bulk sampling of possible asbestos, to full refurbishment and demolition surveys. Our experienced asbestos professionals hold both the BOHS P402 ...

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