Kent · England
Asbestos Testing for Canterbury
Asbestos testing across Canterbury and nearby. Planned to HSE guidance, with written results and paperwork.
- Porch canopies
- Floor tiles and black adhesive
- One-off checks in rented property
Asbestos help in Canterbury
How asbestos testing works in Canterbury
A test answers one question: is this material asbestos? In Canterbury, we take samples of suspect materials and send them to an accredited laboratory, so you have a written answer before any work starts. Typical materials include floor tiles, soffit boards and panels behind heaters, and typical jobs are corrugated roof sheets and boards and panels before a kitchen or bathroom refit.
Testing in Canterbury covers homes and workplaces alike, from textured ceilings to floor tiles and roof sheets. Every job ends with paperwork: a report, results or a consignment note, for your records.
After the job
If asbestos is found, we will explain your options: it may be left, covered or removed, depending on your plans.
Once you know what’s there, a few simple habits help:
- Send photos of the material and where it is
- Tell us what work you’re planning
- Group several materials into one visit
- Not sure between a test and a survey? Ask
Things not to do
Test before you book the builders, so you can plan properly.
Don’t break off a piece to test yourself.
Testing around Canterbury
Canterbury is in Kent. Canterbury is within our Kent area, for tests of every size. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent.
If you are a letting agent with homes near Canterbury East station, a quick test between tenants is worth considering. If your home is one of the older properties in Canterbury, near Church of St Margaret or elsewhere, a quick test before work is sensible.
We handle tests in every part of CT1, CT2, CT4 and CT3. That could mean a property on Long Market, High Street and High Street St Gregorys, wherever it is in Canterbury. Main roads around Canterbury include the A2 and A28; tell us about parking if you’re on a main road. If your property is just outside Canterbury, we also cover Wincheap (1 mile south-west), Harbledown (1 mile west), Hales Place (1 mile north), Thanington (1 mile south-west) and Stuppington (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Ashford (13 miles south-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south-east), Folkestone (14 miles south), Ramsgate (15 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles north-west). Canterbury is one of the larger places we cover in Kent, with homes, rented property and workplaces of every age.
Other landmarks nearby include Whitefriars Shopping Centre (within half a mile south-west) and Canterbury Roman Museum (less than half a mile south). Within reach you’ll find Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Local schools include Barton Court Grammar School (0.5 miles east) and Canterbury School of Architecture (0.5 miles south-east)
- Churches close by include St Thomas of Canterbury Church (under half a mile south-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Old Buttermarket pub (under half a mile south-west)
DIY and asbestos
With a professional job, you get a record: results, a report or a consignment note, which buyers and builders may ask for.
HSE’s advice to the public is not to try to repair or remove asbestos yourself. Licensed materials are strictly for licensed contractors.
Weighing up your options
One sample or several? Each different material needs its own sample, and sometimes tiles and adhesive or coatings in different rooms need separate samples. Our quotes are clear about VAT, so you can compare like with like.
Why us?
- Recommendations in plain English
- Clear advice on your options
- Records for your files
- Covering London and the South East
Also near Canterbury
More for properties in Canterbury
Good to know
Here’s what asbestos testing covers, and what it does not:
- Identifying the material is the first step; removal is planned separately
- Sampling high or hidden materials may need access equipment
- A test only covers the materials sampled, so bigger work needs a survey
Not sure what you need? Send us photos and we’ll tell you honestly.
Materials we see
- Floor tiles
- Bitumen adhesive
- Soffit boards
- Water tanks
- Garage roof sheets
- Roof felt
- Panels behind heaters
- Artex and textured ceilings
- Pipe lagging
- Flue pipes
For businesses and landlords in Canterbury
Void periods are a good time for asbestos work, when rooms are empty and work can be done without disruption.
Before contractors start, they need to know about any asbestos. HSE regularly reminds owners and trades of it.
How we price asbestos testing
Every quote reflects:
- The building’s size and layout
- The number of materials to sample
- Access: height, lofts, steps and space
- The type of material and its condition
Dealing with asbestos before building work is normally cheaper than finding it mid-job, when everything has to stop.
What to photograph
The most useful photos are:
- A closer photo of the material, without touching it
- Damaged areas
- Street parking nearby
- Visible markings
Include any existing survey or test when you use our quote form or call 07833 053 749; it helps us quote accurately.
Common questions in Canterbury
Is asbestos common in Canterbury homes?
Any home in Canterbury built or refurbished before 2000 can contain asbestos, but you can’t tell by looking. Garage roofs, Artex, floor tiles, soffits and flues are typical examples.
Do you cover Canterbury from London?
Canterbury is about 53 miles from central London, well within our area.
Do you work for landlords and businesses?
Yes, we do. We work for landlords, managing agents, employers and contractors as well as homeowners.
Do you give written quotes?
Always: the quote is in writing and sets out what’s included.
Do I need more than one sample?
One for each different material, and sometimes more where the same material is in several places. We’ll advise when you tell us what you are testing.
Can you quote from photos?
Photos are often enough to give a quote, though some need a visit first.
Can you come if the asbestos is damaged?
Keep people away from damaged material and do not clean it up yourself. Then contact us and we will advise on the next step.
My builder has found asbestos. What now?
The builder should stop and close off the area. We’ll identify it and advise on removal.
Step by step
Each sample is small, sealed in a bag, labelled and logged, then sent to an accredited laboratory. We keep the work area clear of other people while we work, so please keep children and pets away.
- Describe the material and send a photo
- We agree how many samples are needed and send a quote
- We take each sample with wetting and controls, and seal it
- The samples are analysed by an accredited laboratory
- We send the result and explain your options
Before we arrive
- Keep away from the material in the meantime
- Keep children and pets away on the day
- Find any old asbestos reports
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to send photos and the postcode: ring 07833 053 749, or send the details through our contact page.
Read more
What it might be made of
Boards and panels
Some boards are insulating board, which is higher risk. A test tells you which.
Cement sheets
We sample from the edge of a sheet, without standing on the roof.
- Identify it first: we test or survey before planning removal
- Done to the regulations: HSE guidance and CAR 2012
- Everything in writing: quotes, reports, results and waste notes
- Asbestos waste double-bagged or wrapped and taken to a permitted site