Kent · England
Asbestos Survey in Dover
Asbestos survey for properties in Dover and Kent: asbestos surveys before work, sale or management.
- Pre-purchase checks on older properties
- The communal parts of blocks of flats
- Surveys requested by builders before work
Asbestos help in Dover
Asbestos survey in Dover
Buying an older property in Dover? A pre-purchase survey tells you what’s there before you exchange, which helps you plan and budget for any work. Typical materials include floor tiles, flues and water tanks, and typical jobs are the communal parts of blocks of flats and contractors’ requests for an asbestos report.
Surveys in a town like Dover are often triggered by a sale, a refurbishment or a landlord’s maintenance plan, scoped to suit. Every job comes with paperwork, because buyers, landlords and builders often ask for it.
How we price an asbestos survey
Our quotes take into account:
- The size of the job
- Material and condition
- How easy it is to reach
- Which survey type fits your plans
Our quotes are clear about VAT.
What to photograph
Good photos help us plan and quote. Take them without disturbing anything:
- A rough size or measurement
- Any damage, cracks or broken pieces
- A wide shot showing where the material is
- A clear close-up
For an accurate quote, tell us what you’ve found, where it is and what you’re planning. Then ring 07833 053 749, or send the details through our contact page.
Towns and villages near Dover
More for properties in Dover
What we do and don’t cover
Before you book, note that:
- A management survey is only minimally intrusive, so it will not do before building work
- A survey reflects the building on the day; condition can change, so recheck it
- The rooms in a refurbishment survey need to be cleared, so timing needs planning
If you’re unsure, describe the job and send photos, and we’ll advise.
Common materials
- Floor tiles and adhesive
- Cement sheets and cladding
- Garage and shed roofs
- Roofing felt and bitumen
- Boiler cupboards and panels
- Pipe lagging
- Water tanks and flues
- Soffits and porch canopies
- Artex and textured coatings
- Ceiling tiles
Can I do it myself?
Working on a fragile asbestos cement roof is dangerous in itself, as well as an asbestos risk, so stay off it.
Sanding, drilling, cutting and jet-washing are the worst things you can do to asbestos materials, so avoid them completely.
Materials we deal with
Roofing felt and bitumen
Bitumen felts and mastics can contain asbestos, generally bound in the bitumen.
Insulating board
Asbestos insulating board was used for panels, partitions, soffits, ceiling tiles and around heaters. Most work on it is licensed, so it’s important to know if it’s there.
Asbestos surveys in Dover: local notes
Dover is in Kent. We cover Dover as part of Kent, whatever the size of the job. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 14 miles away.
Schools such as Shatterlocks Infant School are non-domestic premises, so whoever runs them has a duty to manage asbestos and keep a register. If you manage lettings around Dover Priory station, a survey gives contractors the information they need. The sea is within about 2 miles of Dover, and coastal properties often have porches, canopies and outbuildings that a survey can include.
We handle surveys in every part of the CT17, CT16, CT15 and CT14 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include London Road, High Street and Church Road; we cover every one. Being close to the A2 and A20, Dover is simple for us to get to. We also carry out surveys in River (1 mile north-west), Maxton (1 mile south), Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Whitfield (1 mile north) and Temple Ewell (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (7 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (11 miles south-west) and Walmer (6 miles north-east). Dover is one of the larger places we cover in Kent, with homes, rented property and workplaces of every age.
Nearby you’ll also find Dover Castle (1.3 miles south-east) and Crabble Corn Mill (0.7 miles west). Within reach you’ll find Dover Western Heights.
- Local schools include St Edmund's Catholic School (less than half a mile south-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (less than half a mile south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Bull pub (less than half a mile south-west)
Common reasons for surveys in Dover
Materials age: something in good condition when it was fitted may now be damaged, and the survey assesses condition.
People typically contact us about one of these:
- Pre-work surveys for trades
- Rented homes due for maintenance
- Refurbishment, rewiring and new kitchens or bathrooms
- Pre-purchase checks on older properties
Altering an older house in Dover, wherever it is? Survey the areas you’re working on before work starts.
Before you book anyone
- The scope of the job, in writing
- The report contents
- Insurance appropriate to asbestos work
- The number of samples
How it works
If we find something that is damaged and could be releasing fibres, we tell you on the day, rather than waiting for the report. On the day, we check the area and talk you through the plan first.
- Send us the address and what you need the survey for
- We set out the survey type, the areas covered and the price in writing
- We carry out the survey on site
- Samples go to the laboratory
- The report comes to you, and we explain anything that isn’t clear
Preparing for the visit
- Keep away from the material in the meantime
- Clear the way to the work area
- Keep children and pets away on the day
Get a quote
Include any existing survey or test when you send photos through our quote form, or phone 07833 053 749.
Related guides
Landlords, managing agents and employers
Landlords of single homes do not have the same duty to manage as non-domestic duty holders, but anyone working on the property still needs to know about asbestos.
Contractors working for you need asbestos information before they start. HSE’s campaigns stress this point to building owners and trades alike.
Afterwards
Where planned work would disturb asbestos, the report says what has to come out first, and what kind of work that is.
To avoid problems in future:
- Let us know about locked rooms or unsafe areas
- Keep pets and children out of the way on the day
- Book the survey before you book builders
- Tell us exactly what work you are planning, so the scope matches
Don’ts
If a material is damaged before the survey, keep people away from it and tell us, rather than cleaning it up.
Do not take samples yourself before the survey: we take samples with wetting and sealing to limit any release.
Common questions in Dover
How far is Dover from London?
Dover is about 65 miles from central London, well within our area.
Is asbestos common in Dover homes?
Older homes can, if they date from before 2000. The only way to know is to test suspect materials. Garage roofs, Artex, floor tiles, soffits and flues are typical examples.
Do landlords need an asbestos survey?
It’s normally needed by whoever manages a workplace or the shared parts of a block. Homeowners and landlords use them as well.
Does a survey leave holes?
Sampling leaves small, sealed sample points. A refurbishment survey opens up the areas being worked on, which is why they need to be empty.
What if the weather’s bad?
It depends on the job: indoor jobs are not affected, but outdoor removal may be rescheduled for safety.
What paperwork will I get?
A survey report, laboratory results or a waste consignment note, depending on the job.
Can you help with a flat?
Yes, of course. For shared areas, ask the managing agent about the asbestos register.
Will I get the price in writing?
Every time: you get the scope and price in writing, and whether VAT is included.
- Identify it first: we test or survey before planning removal
- Work planned to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE guidance
- Everything in writing: quotes, reports, results and waste notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site