Looking for asbestos when you buy a house
When buying a new house, it’s always a good idea to find out if there is any asbestos first. Being aware at the beginning can avoid any potential harm or costs in the future.
But you may have moved into a new house already, and you are wanting to know if your home has asbestos? If you are planning to do some renovation works and you are unsure how to tell if there is asbestos in your home, always check before starting any work.
As asbestos can be found in many places in the home (read our previous blog ‘Where can asbestos be found in the home?’) it can be hard to identify whether you have asbestos materials.
The first ban on using asbestos in the UK was in 1985. The material was then phased out but still used as many old stocks and supplies were already made. Asbestos was not banned fully in the UK until 1999.
Do not rule out any properties built before 2000, as they may contain asbestos.
It’s always recommended to double-check to avoid any risk.
Home buyer survey vs asbestos survey
When you buy a house in the UK, you should have a home buyer’s survey that will pick up if there’s any potential asbestos. Depending on what level of survey you pay for will depend on how in-depth the survey goes. Usually, they will highlight if there is any reason for concern based on the year the house was built and any areas of the house that are outdated or with commonly found asbestos types (e.g. artex or ceiling tiles). They will not test or confirm.
You should always ask for an independent asbestos survey from an accredited company if there is any doubt. These companies will survey your property for any asbestos-containing materials, test them, and confirm the findings in a report.
The asbestos survey should also provide you with information on how high-risk the materials are, meaning if they are in good condition or not. It may be that there is an area of the property that you are unlikely to ever need to renovate/demolish, therefore not disturb asbestos. In these cases, it’s advised to have a management survey to ensure that the material is not deteriorating over time. For a list of asbestos surveyors accredited with UKAS, view the information here Analysts and Surveyors info.
Artex and asbestos
Artex is a general term that has been used for many years for textured thick plaster-like paint finishes on walls. It is also often referred to as textured type coatings. Non-asbestos versions are still used in modern properties, but how do you tell if it is asbestos or not?
When looking at artex materials, an asbestos surveyor will be able to take a small sample to test for asbestos chrysotile fibres.
Artex can be removed yourself, but there needs to be extreme care taken when doing so to avoid exposure to fibres. It is advised to get an asbestos removal company to safely remove and dispose of any asbestos to ensure your safety and avoid any issues.
Better safe than sorry when it comes to asbestos
Asbestos is incredibly dangerous to our health. You want to be sure that you’re not disturbing asbestos materials when doing DIY.
There have been many cases reported where the homeowner did not know there was asbestos present, so did some home improvements and exposed themself to asbestos. Imagine drilling some screws into the wall to hang a picture or a shelf, only to find you’ve drilled directly into fibrous asbestos insulation board?
Don’t let that happen - have a full asbestos survey done before you buy a home.
Removing asbestos if you find it in your home
If you do have asbestos in a property, and you are ready to remove it, always get advice from a professional removal company. E4 Environmental are members of ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association) and have a full HSE License to remove asbestos.
Do your due diligence before taking on a removal company, make sure their licenses and certificates are in date.
We offer free no-obligation quotes for all asbestos removal works, so you have an idea of how much asbestos removal will cost. The price varies completely between each job. If you are planning renovation works and need an idea of costs to budget, don’t hesitate to get in touch for advice.
Offering asbestos removal service across the whole of the UK, we are experts with years’ worth of knowledge.
Putting your mind at ease and your health first.
