Reading · England
Asbestos Survey for Fords Farm
Any pre-2000 building in Fords Farm may contain asbestos. We offer asbestos surveys for homes, landlords and businesses.
- Purchases of older homes and buildings
- Managing asbestos in workplaces and non-domestic premises
- Schools, halls and community buildings
Get a quote for Fords Farm
How it works
The surveyor photographs and records each material’s condition, for the report. On the day, we check the area and talk you through the plan first.
- Describe the property and the reason for the survey
- You get a written quote for the agreed scope
- On the agreed day, the surveyor inspects, photographs and samples
- An accredited laboratory analyses the samples
- The report comes to you, and we explain anything that is not clear
How to prepare
- Warn neighbours if needed
- Make sure pets and children are elsewhere
- Clear the way to the work area
Ask for a quote
You’ll get a written quote. Call 07833 053 749 or use our quote form with the details, including any survey or test you already have.
Related guides
About our asbestos survey in Fords Farm
An asbestos survey finds out whether a building contains asbestos, where it is, how much there is and what condition it’s in. In Fords Farm, we carry out management surveys, refurbishment and demolition surveys and pre-purchase surveys, and samples go to an accredited laboratory for analysis. From checks on rental property and the communal parts of blocks of flats, we cover flues, floor tiles and soffits.
In areas like Fords Farm, surveys usually cover a house plus its garage and outbuildings, because cement sheet roofs are common on older garages. You get written paperwork for every job: a report, laboratory results or a waste consignment note, for your records.
- Where
- Fords Farm (RG30, RG31)
- County
- Reading
- Service
- Management, refurbishment and demolition, and pre-purchase surveys
- Afterwards
- A written report with lab results
- Quote
- A written quote before work starts
- Telephone
- 07833 053 749
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
What happens next
Material in good condition often does not need removing. The report tells you what to keep an eye on.
After the job, keep these in mind:
- Keep pets and children out of the way on the day
- Have any old surveys or plans ready
- Tell us about any areas that are locked or unsafe
- Clear access to lofts, garages, cupboards and outbuildings
What to avoid
If a material is damaged before the survey, keep people away from it and tell us, rather than cleaning it up.
Don’t take samples yourself before the survey: sampling is part of the survey, done with controls to keep dust down.
Why people call us in Fords Farm
Asbestos was used in British buildings for much of the 20th century, until it was fully banned in 1999. That is why so many buildings in Reading can contain it, from garage roofs and soffits to textured ceilings and floor tiles.
Asbestos can be in a lot of places in buildings from before 2000. Typical situations are:
- Demolition projects
- Pre-work surveys for trades
- Checks on rental property
- Common parts of flats and HMOs
A school such as Kennet Valley Primary School counts as non-domestic premises, where the law requires asbestos to be managed, and a management survey is generally where that starts.
Comparing quotes
- Which laboratory analyses samples
- What you’ll receive in writing
- The scope, in writing
- Which areas and materials are covered
Places near Fords Farm
Also in Fords Farm
Asbestos surveys in Fords Farm: local notes
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. Fords Farm is part of the area we cover, on everything from houses and flats to workplaces and garages. Fords Farm is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
Got an older property in Fords Farm, close to St Matthew's or further out? Get the work areas surveyed before anything is opened up. If you’re a landlord near Reading Green Park station, it helps to know what’s in the building before repairs.
Here we cover the RG30 and RG31 postcode area. From Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Fords Farm we cover include Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also work in Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Fords Farm includes Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Local schools include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
What it costs
What drives the price:
- How many different materials need sampling
- How easy it is to reach
- How much there is
- The number of samples or the size of the building
The cost of an asbestos survey depends on the job: the materials involved, how much there is, access and paperwork. We quote each job individually.
What to photograph
Helpful photos:
- Any labels or markings, if you can see them safely
- A closer photo of the material, without touching it
- An overall view
- How we’d reach it
The quickest way to a quote is to send photos and the postcode: send photos through our quote form, or phone 07833 053 749.
DIY and asbestos
Power tools, sanding and jet-washing release the most fibres.
Home testing kits exist, but you have to disturb the material to use one. HSE recommends a competent person takes samples.
The scope of an asbestos survey
To be clear about the scope:
- A refurbishment and demolition survey needs the areas to be empty, so plan it around the building’s use
- Inaccessible areas are recorded, and must be treated as containing asbestos until checked
- A management survey is only minimally intrusive, so it is not enough before refurbishment
If in doubt, ask: we’ll recommend a test, a survey or removal before booking.
Materials in Fords Farm
- Ceiling tiles
- Boiler cupboards and panels
- Soffits and porch canopies
- Cement sheets and cladding
- Floor tiles and adhesive
- Artex and textured coatings
- Roofing felt and bitumen
- Pipe lagging
- Garage and shed roofs
- Water tanks and flues
Fords Farm: your questions answered
Do you cover Fords Farm from London?
Fords Farm is about 40 miles from central London, well within our area.
Do older homes in Fords Farm have asbestos?
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.
Is a homebuyer survey the same as an asbestos survey?
No. It may flag possible asbestos, but it does not typically take samples for analysis. A pre-purchase asbestos survey does.
Do you work for landlords and businesses?
Yes, as well as homeowners. Send the details.
Do you give written quotes?
Always: the quote is in writing and sets out what’s included.
Can you survey offices and warehouses?
Yes: offices, shops, warehouses, industrial units, schools and halls as well as homes. Send us the details of the building.
Do I get anything in writing afterwards?
That depends on the job: a report for a survey, a lab result for a test, or waste paperwork for removal.
What if asbestos is found during building work?
Stop work in that area and keep people out, then have the material identified before anything else happens.
Materials, one by one
Floor tiles and adhesive
Vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles and black bitumen adhesive can contain asbestos. They’re often hidden under newer flooring.
Pipe lagging
Lagging on older pipes and boilers can contain asbestos and releases fibres easily. It’s licensed work.
Your options compared
A building survey for a purchase isn’t the same as an asbestos survey. It might mention possible asbestos without testing anything, which is where a pre-purchase asbestos survey comes in. There’s no one-size price, as every job differs. Our cost guides show published ranges, with dates and sources.
Why choose us
- Homes, rented property and workplaces
- Reports and results you can share
- Clear written quotes
- Inaccessible areas listed clearly
Read how we price jobs or the cost guide.
- Nothing removed blind: unknown materials are tested first
- Work planned to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE guidance
- Written paperwork: reports, results and waste consignment notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site