England
Asbestos removal and surveys in Reading
We survey, test and remove asbestos in 34 towns and villages across Reading.
Asbestos surveys and removal across Reading
Services in Reading
Each service has its own list of towns in Reading. Choose one, or find your town further down.
Asbestos removal across Reading
Every removal job in Reading is planned first: we work out the method, the controls, the waste and whether the work must be notified, before anyone starts. Typical materials include cement roof sheets, cement soffits and floor tiles, and people generally contact us about old waste on site and old sheds and coal bunkers.
Waste is double-bagged or wrapped in heavy polythene and labelled as we go, then loaded for disposal at a permitted site.
- Describe the material and send pictures
- We test it if needed and plan the job
- You get a written quote, including waste disposal
- We remove it with controls to keep fibres down
- We clean up and send you the waste paperwork
Cost
Our quotes are clear about VAT, so you can compare like with like.
Why choose us
- We identify first and remove only what needs removing
- Records for your files
- Work done to the regulations
- Domestic and commercial work
How to get a quote
Photos from a safe distance help: send them through our contact page.
Landmarks near Caversham
In Caversham, that can mean a property near Eldon Square, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre and Chiltern Nursery Nurse Training School. Other local landmarks include The Hill Primary School (less than half a mile north-east), Grace Church (less than half a mile east) and The White Horse pub (less than half a mile north). The closest station to Caversham is Reading station, roughly 1.3 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Broad Street Mall (1.6 miles south). Green spaces within easy reach include South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Asbestos removal across Reading
Removal jobs across Reading range from garage roofs in Caversham, Norcot and West Reading to barns and outbuildings in 18 villages and hamlets. Town jobs mean planning parking; rural jobs mean planning access.
Caversham: For non-domestic buildings like The Hill Primary School, removal is planned with the duty holder and timed for when the area is empty. Older buildings in Caversham, near Grace Church or elsewhere, may have asbestos in later alterations rather than the original fabric, so we test before we plan. We plan outdoor jobs in Caversham to finish before dark: that means by about 3:55pm in December, or about 9:25pm in June.
Landlords, managing agents and employers
If you’re responsible for a non-domestic building or the common parts of flats in Reading, you have a duty to manage asbestos under regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. In practice: find it, assess it, record it and manage it.
Letting agents often ask about asbestos before maintenance work. A test or a survey gives everyone a clear answer.
Choosing the right option
What kind of work is it? The material and the job decide. See our guide to the three categories.
Questions to ask before you book
- VAT, clearly stated
- What paperwork you get
- Laboratory analysis by an accredited lab
- What’s excluded, such as making good or a new roof
Doing it yourself?
HSE’s advice to the public is not to try to repair or remove asbestos yourself. Higher-risk materials such as lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board must only be dealt with by an HSE-licensed contractor.
With a professional job, you get a record: a record that buyers, insurers and builders may want to see.
What it might be made of
Asbestos cement
Asbestos cement releases fibres when broken or cut, so we unfix and lower it rather than breaking it.
Bitumen and felt
Some old roof felts and bitumen products contain asbestos, usually tightly bound.
What we do and do not cover
Here’s what asbestos removal covers, and what it does not:
- Removal in strong wind or heavy rain may need rescheduling
- Some jobs must be notified first, which affects the start date
- Lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board are licensed work
Reading: your questions answered
Do I need my asbestos tested before removal?
Yes, if it hasn’t been tested: the way it’s removed depends on the material.
Can I stay at home during removal?
That depends: outdoor work rarely means leaving. Indoors, the work area is sealed and out of use while we work.
What if my house is newer?
Homes built after 2000 shouldn’t contain asbestos, as it was banned in 1999, though older parts, reused materials or earlier outbuildings can.
Does someone need to be there?
We need access to every area involved in the job, and it helps if you are around to answer questions.
Can you come if the asbestos is damaged?
Make the area safe first: close it off and do not clean it up yourself. Then contact us for advice on the next step.
Is asbestos removal licensed?
It varies: licensed work covers lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board; cement and textured coatings generally are not licensed.
Should all asbestos be removed?
Not always: sound material that will not be disturbed can often stay. It should be recorded and checked.
Find your town in Reading
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- Identify it first: we test or survey before planning removal
- Planned to HSE guidance and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- Paperwork for your records: reports, lab results and consignment notes
- Legal disposal at a permitted site, with a consignment note