Kent · England
Asbestos Sampling and Testing in Ashford, Kent
Need asbestos testing in Ashford? We work across Ashford and the towns around it, with plain-English advice and a written quote.
- Single materials in rented homes between tenancies
- Boiler cupboard panels
- Tiles found under carpet
Get a quote for Ashford
About our asbestos testing in Ashford
Asbestos materials often look just like materials without it. Only a laboratory can tell you for sure, and that’s what we arrange in Ashford. Typical jobs include boards and panels before a kitchen or bathroom refit and something broken during building work, involving panels behind heaters, garage roof sheets and floor tiles.
In a large place like Ashford, we test materials in houses, flats, shops and offices, from textured ceilings to floor tiles and roof sheets. We explain what we find in plain English, including when it’s better to leave a material in place.
Materials we deal with
Floor tiles and adhesive
Tiles are often found under newer floors; test before lifting them.
Textured coatings
Artex and similar coatings are a frequent request. Older coatings can contain a small amount of asbestos.
Also near Ashford
What else we do in Ashford
Should you do it yourself?
Power tools, sanding and jet-washing release the most fibres.
Never put asbestos in a bin or skip. It must go to a permitted site; check with your council about small amounts.
After the job
If asbestos is found, we’ll explain your options: it may be left, covered or removed, depending on your plans.
To avoid problems in future:
- Keep the results for future work or a sale
- Not sure between a test and a survey? Ask
- If tiles and adhesive are both exposed, mention it
- Make the area easy to reach
Avoid these
If a material is already damaged, keep people and pets away from it, and do not try to clean it up.
Please do not take your own sample; tell us where it is and we will sample it safely.
Typical tests in Ashford
Textured coatings, floor tiles, cement sheets and boards can all look the same with or without asbestos, so you can’t go by looks or age alone.
You cannot tell by looking, but these are common reasons people contact us:
- Something broken during building work
- Single materials in rented homes between tenancies
- Soffit boards
- Floor tiles and black adhesive
For older homes anywhere in Ashford, from near Christ Church outwards, it’s worth testing suspect materials before work.
Before you book anyone
- VAT, clearly stated
- Which areas are covered, and which are not
- Whether extra samples cost more
- The scope of the job, in writing
Prices and what affects them
The cost depends on:
- How many different materials need sampling
- The type of material and its condition
- How many outbuildings are included
- How easy it is to reach
Identifying asbestos early is cheaper than stopping work later, when everything has to stop.
Photos that help
For a quick quote, include:
- A wide shot showing where the material is
- The parking area
- The access route
- Damaged areas
Photos and a postcode help us quote quickly: fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749.
How it works
We use the right protective equipment and keep people away while sampling, even for a single sample. Before anything starts, we confirm the areas and materials with you.
- Let us know which materials you are worried about
- We confirm the number of samples and the price
- We visit, take the samples and seal each point
- The samples are logged and sent to an accredited laboratory
- The written results come back to you, and we explain them
Before we arrive
- Keep away from the material in the meantime
- Warn neighbours if needed
- Find any old asbestos reports
Ask for a quote
For an accurate quote, tell us what you’ve found, where it is and what you are planning. Then ring 07833 053 749, or send the details through our contact page.
Helpful guides
Landlords, managing agents and employers
If you own a block of garages or outbuildings that you let should find out whether the roofs are asbestos cement, before anyone carries out repairs.
For managing agents and freeholders in Ashford, the register for shared areas needs keeping current and sharing with trades, and condition checked regularly.
Ashford properties and asbestos testing
Ashford is in Kent. Ashford has a mix of older and newer buildings, and anything from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our area stretches from Ashford to Canterbury (13 miles away).
For properties on main roads such as the A20 and A28, let us know where we can park. At a school like Chilmington Green Primary School, the duty holder keeps asbestos records, which staff and parents can ask about. Ashford is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, where cement sheeting on outbuildings is common.
Wherever your property is in TN23, TN24, TN25 and TN26, asbestos testing is available. Whether your property is on Market Lane, Church Road and Station Road or anywhere nearby, the process is the same. With the A20 and A28 close by, Ashford is simple for us to get to. Close by, we cover Stanhope (1 mile south-west), Newtown (1 mile south-east), South Willesborough (1 mile south-east), Godinton (1 mile north-west) and Willesborough (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (10 miles south-east) and Davington (12 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Kent, Ashford has buildings from every era.
Nearby you’ll also find William Harvey Hospital (2.1 miles east) and Ashford Designer Outlet (0.6 miles south-east). Within reach you’ll find Hatch Park.
- Schools near Ashford include Ashford School (0.8 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Locomotive pub (within half a mile east)
Weighing up your options
How many samples? Each different material needs its own sample, and sometimes tiles and adhesive or coatings in different rooms need separate samples. We don’t publish a price list, because jobs vary so much. Our guides list published price ranges from other companies, with sources.
What you get
- Clear notes on any areas not reached
- Reports and results you can share
- Condition assessed for every material
- Samples analysed by an accredited laboratory
Take a look at how we price jobs and our cost guide.
Ashford: your questions answered
Do you cover Ashford and the area around Ashford International station?
Yes. Ashford International station is close to the centre of Ashford, and we cover the whole area.
Do you work on properties in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. The asbestos rules are the same in protected landscapes, but access to farm and rural buildings can take planning.
Do you give written quotes?
Every time: you get the scope and price in writing.
Can I put asbestos in a skip?
Never: it’s hazardous waste. We take it to a permitted site with paperwork.
Can you test the air for asbestos?
Clearance air testing after licensed removal must be done by an independent analyst accredited by UKAS. We will tell you whether you need it.
What if asbestos is found during building work?
The builder should stop and close off the area. We can test the material and, if needed, plan its removal.
Does weather affect the work?
Indoor jobs go ahead in any weather. Outdoor removal may be postponed in strong wind or heavy rain, for safety.
Is a home built after 2000 likely to contain asbestos?
Asbestos was banned in 1999, so buildings built after 2000 shouldn’t contain it, although older materials can sometimes be reused or left in extensions.
- 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
- Legal disposal at a permitted site, with a consignment note