Surrey · England
Asbestos Sampling and Testing in Guildford, Surrey
Worried about asbestos in Guildford? We provide asbestos testing with written results, explained in plain English.
- Textured ceilings before a renovation
- Debris found after DIY
- Tiles found under carpet
Asbestos help in Guildford
Asbestos testing in Guildford
A test is a simple, definite way to find out. The result shows whether asbestos was found and, if so, which type, and we will explain what that means for your plans in Guildford. People often contact us about garage and shed roofs before removal or repair and checks before maintenance in rented homes, including soffit boards, textured ceilings and floor tiles.
In a large place like Guildford, we test materials in houses, flats, shops and offices. Everything is explained in plain English, including when leaving a material alone is the sensible choice.
Duty holders and landlords in Guildford
Duty holders for workplaces and the shared parts of flats in Guildford must manage asbestos under regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. That means finding it, assessing it, recording it and planning how to manage it.
Community buildings count as non-domestic premises, so the duty to manage applies.
Doing it yourself?
Working on a fragile asbestos cement roof is dangerous in itself, as well as an asbestos risk, so stay off it.
Home testing kits exist, but you have to disturb the material to use one. HSE advises that samples are best taken by a competent person.
After the job
Each sample gets a written result, stating whether asbestos was detected and what type.
Once you know what’s there, a few simple habits help:
- Not sure between a test and a survey? Ask
- Clear access to the area
- Let us know what you want to do next
- Keep the results for future work or a sale
Things not to do
Please don’t take your own sample; tell us where it is and we’ll sample it safely.
Keep everyone away from damaged material, and don’t sweep or vacuum up debris.
The process
If we spot other materials that might contain asbestos, we’ll mention them, in case you want them tested as well. If anything unexpected turns up, we stop and talk to you.
- Send us photos of the material
- We confirm a test is the right choice, rather than a survey
- Our surveyor takes the samples
- The lab tests the samples
- We explain what the result means for your plans
How to prepare
- Find any old asbestos reports
- Make sure pets and children are elsewhere
- Mention any damage before we arrive
Ask for a quote
Photos and a postcode help us quote quickly: just send photos through our quote form, or phone 07833 053 749.
Related guides
Guildford questions
Do you cover Guildford and the area around London Road (Guildford) station?
Yes, we cover Guildford and the area towards London Road (Guildford) station, about 0.6 miles south-east.
Can you deal with asbestos on rural buildings in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes, the same rules apply there, though access to rural buildings may need planning.
Can you come if the asbestos is damaged?
Make the area safe first: close it off and do not clean it up yourself. Then contact us for advice on the next step.
My builder has found asbestos. What now?
Stop work in that area and keep people out, and the material needs identifying before work resumes.
Do you work in Guildford?
Yes, we do: Guildford is within the area we cover in Surrey. Share the postcode and a short description for a quote.
Will I get the price in writing?
Yes, always, including whether VAT is included.
Can I put asbestos in a skip?
Never: asbestos waste is hazardous and cannot go in skips, bins or recycling. It has to go to a site that accepts it, with the right paperwork.
What if the weather’s bad?
That depends: indoor work carries on, while outdoor roof work may be postponed in strong wind or heavy rain.
Your options compared
Testing before work generally costs less than dealing with asbestos found halfway through a job, when work has to stop and the area may need decontaminating. Every quote says whether VAT is included.
Why choose us
- Clear notes on any areas not reached
- Clear written quotes
- Accredited laboratory results
- Plain-English advice, including when to leave things alone
Read how we price jobs or the cost guide.
Materials, one by one
Boards and panels
Some boards are insulating board, which is higher risk. A test tells you which.
Roof felt and mastics
Older bitumen felts and mastics sometimes contain asbestos.
Asbestos testing in Guildford: local notes
Guildford is about 27 miles south-west of London, in Surrey. Properties in Guildford range from older houses to newer estates and commercial buildings, and anything from before 2000 may contain asbestos. We cover all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages.
For properties on main roads such as the A3 and A25, let us know where we can park. If you let property close to London Road (Guildford) station, you can test a material while the property is empty. Guildford is within about 6 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where cement sheeting on outbuildings is common.
Here we cover the GU1, GU2, GU4 and GU3 postcode area, and your test can be anywhere in it. Your property could be on Church Road, Market Street and High Street. Guildford is on the A3 and A25, which makes it simple to get to. Neighbouring places we cover include Bellfields (1 mile north), Abbotswood (1 mile south-east), Stoughton (1 mile north-west), Westborough (1 mile west) and Burpham (1 mile north-east). We also cover nearby towns such as Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (9 miles north-west), Epsom (15 miles north-east), Farnham (10 miles west), Egham (13 miles north) and Walton-on-Thames (12 miles north-east). Being one of Surrey’s larger places, Guildford has a wide mix of older and newer buildings.
Other landmarks nearby include Guildford Castle (0.9 miles south) and Guildford House (0.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Silent Pool and Pewley Hill.
- Local schools include Surrey Maths School (0.5 miles south-west) and Guildford High School (0.6 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The King's Head pub (less than half a mile south-east)
How we price asbestos testing
The biggest factors in the price are:
- What the material is and its state
- The quantity or area
- Location, parking and any London charges
- The building’s size and layout
Dealing with asbestos before building work is usually cheaper than finding it mid-job, when everything has to stop.
Sending photos
For a quick quote, include:
- A close-up from a safe distance
- Damaged areas
- The access route
- An idea of size
Each job is priced individually. To start, ring 07833 053 749, or send the details through our contact page.
Places near Guildford
Other services in Guildford
What’s included, and what isn’t
So you know what to expect:
- If the material is in a hard-to-reach place, access may need planning
- We can’t confirm asbestos from a photo; only a lab can
- Identifying the material is the first step; removal is planned separately
If in doubt, ask: we will recommend a test, a survey or removal before you book.
What we deal with
- Panels behind heaters
- Roof felt
- Flue pipes
- Floor tiles
- Water tanks
- Garage roof sheets
- Artex and textured ceilings
- Bitumen adhesive
- Soffit boards
- Pipe lagging
- Nothing removed blind: unknown materials are tested first
- Work planned to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE guidance
- Paperwork for your records: reports, lab results and consignment notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site