Advice
Asbestos advice and guides
Plain-English guides to surveys, testing, removal and the rules, checked against HSE guidance and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Costs
How much does asbestos garage roof removal cost?
Published guides put a single garage roof at a few hundred to well over a thousand pounds. Here’s what moves the price and what a fair quote should cover.
How much does an asbestos survey cost?
Survey prices depend on the type of survey, the size of the building and how many samples are needed. Here’s how to read a quote.
How much does asbestos testing cost?
There are three main kinds of asbestos testing, and they answer different questions. Here’s what each costs and when you need it.
Is it asbestos?
Is my garage roof asbestos?
Many older garage roofs are asbestos cement. You can spot the likely signs, but only a lab test can confirm it.
What does asbestos look like?
Asbestos fibres are invisible. What you can learn to spot are the products that often contain it.
Where is asbestos found in homes?
Asbestos may be in any home built or refurbished before 2000. These are the places it most often turns up.
Asbestos in older homes, era by era
The age of a house gives clues about what to look for, but only a test can confirm what a material is.
Types of asbestos
There are six minerals called asbestos. Three of them account for almost all the asbestos in UK buildings.
When was asbestos banned in the UK?
The UK banned asbestos in stages. Here’s what the dates mean for the age of your building.
Artex and asbestos: what to do about a textured ceiling
Older textured coatings can contain a small amount of asbestos. Here’s how to find out, and what your options are.
Asbestos floor tiles and black adhesive
Old floor tiles and the black glue under them can contain asbestos. Here’s what to do about them.
Asbestos water tanks and flue pipes
Grey cement water tanks and flue pipes are common in older homes. Here’s how they’re dealt with.
Asbestos soffits and fascias
Old soffit boards may contain asbestos. Whether they’re cement or insulating board makes a big difference.
Asbestos pipe lagging and boiler cupboards
Lagging and insulating board are among the higher-risk asbestos materials. Here’s how to deal with them safely.
Asbestos cement sheets: what you need to know
Asbestos cement is the most common asbestos material on UK homes. It’s lower risk than many others, as long as it isn’t broken up.
Surveys and testing
Which asbestos survey do I need?
The right survey depends on what you’re doing with the building. Here’s how the types compare.
Do you need an asbestos survey before renovation?
If you’re opening up walls, ceilings or floors in a pre-2000 building, find out about asbestos before the builders arrive.
Buying a house with asbestos: what you need to know
Asbestos is common in older homes. Finding it doesn’t have to stop a purchase, but it should shape your decisions.
Asbestos surveys for commercial property
If you own, let or occupy a pre-2000 commercial building, you’ll need to know where its asbestos is.
Asbestos air testing and four-stage clearance explained
Air tests show whether asbestos fibres are in the air. Clearance checks show an area is fit to use again after licensed work.
Removal and disposal
Licensed vs non-licensed asbestos work: what’s the difference?
UK law splits asbestos work into three categories. The category decides who can do the job and what paperwork comes with it.
What happens during asbestos removal?
From the first test to the final paperwork, here’s what a proper asbestos removal job involves.
Can I remove asbestos myself?
The honest answer: sometimes it isn’t illegal, but it’s rarely a good idea. Here’s what the rules say.
Asbestos shed removal: a practical guide
Plenty of old sheds and outbuildings have asbestos cement roofs or walls. Here’s how to deal with one safely.
Asbestos roof: repair, paint, overclad or replace?
An old asbestos cement roof doesn’t always need to come off. Here’s how the options compare and what HSE says about each.
Encapsulation or removal: should asbestos stay or go?
Asbestos in good condition can often stay where it is. The right choice depends on its condition and what you plan to do.
Asbestos waste disposal: how to get rid of asbestos legally
Asbestos can’t go in the bin or a skip. Here’s how it must be packed, moved and disposed of.
How to choose an asbestos contractor
A good contractor will be happy to show you their paperwork. Here’s what to ask for, and what should make you walk away.
Landlords, employers and duty holders
The duty to manage asbestos: what regulation 4 asks of you
If you own, let or look after a non-domestic building, the law expects you to find, record and control any asbestos in it.
Asbestos for landlords: what you need to know
Your duties depend on what you let. A single house is treated very differently from the shared parts of a block.
The asbestos register and management plan
The register says where asbestos is. The plan says what you’ll do about it. Duty holders need both.
Asbestos in schools and public buildings
Many schools, libraries and halls were built or extended when asbestos was common. Here’s how it should be managed.
I think I’ve been exposed to asbestos. What should I do?
Try not to panic. A single, short exposure usually carries a low risk, and there are clear steps to take now.
Not sure what you need? Ask us
- Survey or test first when it isn’t clear what a material is
- Work planned to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE guidance
- Written paperwork: reports, results and waste consignment notes
- Asbestos waste double-bagged or wrapped and taken to a permitted site