Wokingham · England
Asbestos Surveys in Reading, Wokingham
Asbestos survey in Reading: surveys that find, sample and record asbestos, for homes, rented property and workplaces. Planned to HSE guidance, with written results and paperwork.
- Shops, offices and industrial units
- Planned refurbishment work
- Common parts of flats and HMOs
Asbestos help in Reading
Asbestos survey in Reading
We survey houses, flats, commercial buildings and outbuildings across Reading. Every report records the materials found, their location and condition, the lab results and our recommendations. Typical jobs include pre-purchase checks on older properties and rented homes due for maintenance, including garage roofs, flues and floor tiles.
Across Reading, surveys range from single houses before a kitchen refit to commercial units before a fit-out, each scoped to the work planned. We explain what we find in plain English, including when it’s better to leave a material in place.
Reading buildings and asbestos surveys
Reading is about 38 miles west of London, in Wokingham. If your survey is in Reading, let us know about access. Reading is one of 35 places in Wokingham where we work.
A school such as Coley Primary School counts as non-domestic premises, where the law requires asbestos to be managed; we survey non-domestic buildings by arrangement with the duty holder. If you are a landlord near Reading West station, it helps to know what’s in the building before repairs.
We cover surveys across RG6, RG31, RG1 and RG30 and the streets around it. That could mean a property on Downshire Square, Market Way and Market Place or the roads around them. Being close to the A4 and A33, Reading is simple for us to get to. Nearby, we also cover Coley Park (1 mile south-west), West Reading (1 mile north-west), Newtown (1 mile east), Lower Caversham (1 mile north-east) and Whitley (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also work in Wokingham (6 miles south-east), Woodley (3 miles east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east), Lower Earley (3 miles south-east), Winnersh (4 miles east) and Woosehill (6 miles south-east). Reading is among the bigger towns we cover in Wokingham, with every kind of building, from homes to workplaces.
Other landmarks nearby include The Oracle (under half a mile north-east) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (0.8 miles east). The countryside around Reading includes Sonning Hill and Longwater.
- Nearby schools include Eurospeak Language School (0.5 miles north) and Kendrick School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include Former Kennet Arms (within half a mile east)
- Other local spots include University of Reading library (1.5 miles south-east)
Places near Reading
What affects the price in Reading
Our quotes take into account:
- How easy it is to reach
- How much sampling is needed
- The size of the job
- The building’s size and layout
Access makes a big difference to cost, so photos of the area and the way in help us quote accurately.
What to photograph
To help us quote quickly, send:
- The parking area
- A close-up from a safe distance
- A wide shot showing where the material is
- Damaged areas
For a quote, fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749. Include the postcode, the material and some photos.
Why people call us in Reading
Many buildings have been extended, refitted and repaired over the years, so asbestos may be in later alterations as much as the original structure, so a survey checks the whole scope, not just obvious spots.
Common situations in older properties include:
- Shops, offices and industrial units
- Demolition of garages, extensions and buildings
- Pre-work surveys for trades
- Pre-purchase checks on older properties
Got an older property in Reading, close to All Nations Christian Centre or further out? Survey the areas you’re working on before work starts.
What to look for in a quote
- What exactly is included: the areas, materials or samples
- Which areas are covered, and which aren’t
- Suitable insurance for the work
- VAT, clearly stated
For businesses and landlords in Reading
Contractors working for you need asbestos information before they start. HSE’s campaigns stress this point to building owners and trades alike.
Community buildings count as non-domestic premises, so whoever runs them has a duty to manage asbestos.
Your questions about an asbestos survey in Reading
Can you survey a school or hall near Reading?
Yes, working with whoever is responsible for the building. Non-domestic buildings should have an asbestos register and management plan.
Do you cover Reading and the area around Reading West station?
Yes, we cover Reading and the area towards Reading West station, about 0.7 miles north-west.
Do I need a test or a survey?
Testing covers particular materials, while a survey covers everything in scope. Before building work, you normally need a survey.
Does someone need to be there?
We need access to every area involved in the job.
Does asbestos always have to come out?
Not necessarily. Sound material that will not be touched can often stay, as long as it’s recorded.
How quickly can you come out?
We agree a date when you accept the quote. Some work has to be notified to the enforcing authority first, which affects timing.
How do I know if my property contains asbestos?
If it was built or refurbished before 2000, it may. Testing a sample is the only way to know.
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.
DIY and asbestos
Never put asbestos in a bin or skip. It has to go to a site that accepts it, and some councils accept small amounts from residents by arrangement.
Power tools, sanding and jet-washing release the most fibres.
How we work
The surveyor photographs and records each material’s condition, for the report. At the end, we tell you what was done and what happens next.
- Describe the property, its age and the work you have in mind
- We confirm whether you need a management, refurbishment and demolition or pre-purchase survey
- On the day we inspect, sample and photograph
- Each sample is analysed by an accredited laboratory
- The report sets out what was found and what to do next
Preparing for the visit
- Ensure we can get to the area
- Keep children and pets away on the day
- Tell us about anything that is already damaged
Ask for a quote
For an accurate quote, tell us what you’ve found, where it is and what you are planning. Fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749.
Helpful guides
Choosing the right option
The cheapest survey isn’t always the best value. Check how many samples are included, which areas are covered and what the report contains, so you’re comparing like with like. We do not publish a price list, because jobs vary so much. Our cost guides show published ranges, with dates and sources.
Why people choose us
- Each material’s condition recorded
- Management, refurbishment and demolition, and pre-purchase surveys
- Samples analysed by an accredited laboratory
- Reports that say what wasn’t accessed
See how we price jobs and published price ranges.
Materials, one by one
Textured coatings
Textured ceilings are sampled where they’re in scope, before plasterers or electricians start.
Asbestos cement
Garage roofs, sheds and flues made from asbestos cement are common in surveys of older homes. Its condition matters as much as its presence.
After we have finished in Reading
For duty holders, the survey feeds the asbestos register and management plan, which need reviewing regularly.
Once we’re done:
- Tell us about any areas that are locked or unsafe
- Have any old surveys or plans ready
- Describe the work you’re planning, so the scope matches
- Make sure we can get into the loft, garage and cupboards
Things not to do
Until the survey is done, don’t drill, sand, cut or break suspect materials.
Do not take samples yourself before the survey: we take samples with wetting and sealing to limit any release.
- Survey or test first when it isn’t clear what a material is
- Planned to HSE guidance and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- Written paperwork: reports, results and waste consignment notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site