Buckinghamshire · England
Asbestos Sampling and Testing in Latimer, Buckinghamshire
Need asbestos testing in Latimer? We work across Latimer and the towns around it, with plain-English advice and a written quote.
- Artex before downlights or rewiring
- Debris found after DIY
- Corrugated roof sheets
Asbestos testing in Latimer
DIY and asbestos
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.
HSE advises the public not to repair or remove asbestos themselves. Higher-risk materials such as lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board must only be dealt with by an HSE-licensed contractor.
How asbestos testing works in Latimer
You cannot tell whether something contains asbestos by looking at it. Only a laboratory can tell you for sure, and that’s what we arrange in Latimer. People often contact us about something broken during building work and corrugated roof sheets, involving textured ceilings, floor tiles and black adhesive.
In towns and villages like Latimer, outbuildings and farm buildings are common testing jobs, where cement sheet roofs and cladding were often used. We start with a clear answer: is it asbestos, and what should you do about it.
- Where
- Latimer (HP5)
- Area hub
- Buckinghamshire
- What we do
- Testing of suspect materials
- Paperwork
- A written result for each sample
- Quotes
- Quoted individually, in writing
- Phone
- 07833 053 749
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
How it works
We seal the sample point with a suitable sealant or tape, leaving the material safe while you wait for the result. We wear suitable protective equipment for the job, and use controls to keep dust down.
- Tell us what you’d like tested
- We confirm the number of samples and the price
- We visit, take the samples and seal each point
- We send the samples to an accredited laboratory
- You get the results, and we talk you through them
Getting ready
- Do not disturb the material before we get there
- Mention any damage before we arrive
- Find any old asbestos reports
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.
Helpful guides
Latimer: your questions answered
Can you deal with asbestos on rural buildings in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, the same rules apply there, though access to rural buildings may need planning.
Do you cover small places like Latimer?
Yes. We cover villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about access and parking.
What’s the difference between a test and a survey?
Testing tells you about particular materials; a survey inspects the whole building or work area and records everything it finds.
My sample contains asbestos. What now?
Your options depend on what it is, its condition and what work you’re planning: leave it, cover it or have it removed.
Should all asbestos be removed?
No. Material in good condition that will not be disturbed can often be left and managed. Keep a record and check its condition.
Do I get anything in writing afterwards?
It depends on what we do: a survey report, a laboratory result, or a consignment note for removed waste.
Can I put asbestos in a skip?
Never: asbestos waste is hazardous and can’t go in skips, bins or recycling. It must go to a permitted site.
How quickly can you come out?
It depends on the job and our diary. You’ll get available dates with the quote, and notifiable work needs notifying before it starts.
Also near Latimer
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
Felt can be tested before re-roofing.
Testing materials in Latimer
Latimer is about 2 miles east of Amersham, in Buckinghamshire. If your test is in Latimer, let us know about access. Latimer is one of 263 towns and villages in Buckinghamshire where we work. Our area stretches from Latimer to London (about 23 miles away).
Schools such as Little Chalfont Primary School should have an asbestos management plan, and staff can ask to see how it works. If you are a letting agent with homes near Chalfont & Latimer station, a single material can be tested between tenancies. Latimer is within about 7 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, and rural properties nearby often have outbuildings with roofs worth testing.
For tests in HP5, just send the postcode and a few photos. Streets in the area include Spring Close, The Grove and The Ridings, and asbestos testing is available on all of them. If your property is just outside Latimer, we also cover Little Chalfont (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also work in Aylesbury (15 miles north-west), High Wycombe (9 miles south-west), Chesham (3 miles north-west), Marlow (12 miles south-west), Beaconsfield (6 miles south-west) and Chalfont St Peter (5 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Amersham Hospital (3.1 miles south-west) and Amersham Fair Organ Museum (1.7 miles west). Open spaces near Latimer include Sarratt Bottom nature reserve.
- Schools near Latimer include Dr Challoner's High School (1.2 miles south-west)
What’s included, and what is not
Some limits to bear in mind:
- Sampling high or hidden materials may need access equipment
- Clearance air testing after licensed work is done by an independent UKAS-accredited analyst
- Testing doesn’t look for anything else, so bigger work needs a survey
Not sure what you need? Send us photos and we’ll tell you honestly.
Materials in Latimer
- Water tanks
- Panels behind heaters
- Flue pipes
- Artex and textured ceilings
- Soffit boards
- Roof felt
- Garage roof sheets
- Floor tiles
- Pipe lagging
- Bitumen adhesive
What affects the price in Latimer
What changes the cost:
- The size of the job
- Parking and access charges
- Which survey type fits your plans
- The building’s size and layout
Dealing with asbestos before building work is usually cheaper than finding it mid-job, when the whole project can be held up.
What to photograph
The most useful photos are:
- The route in: gates, steps, stairs or the loft hatch
- Approximate dimensions
- Damaged areas
- A clear close-up
Send us the address in Latimer, a description and some photos: fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749.
Typical tests in Latimer
Asbestos was used in building products until 1999, so pre-2000 buildings across Buckinghamshire may have it.
Common situations in older properties include:
- Garage and shed roofs before removal or repair
- Porch canopies
- Tiles found under carpet
- Artex before downlights or rewiring
For older homes anywhere in Latimer, from near Church of St Mary Magdalene outwards, a quick test before work is sensible.
What to look for in a quote
- How many samples are included
- Which areas are covered, and which aren’t
- If the price includes VAT
- Insurance appropriate to asbestos work
Looking after things afterwards
If asbestos is found, we’ll explain your options: it may be left, covered or removed, depending on your plans.
If asbestos stays in the building:
- Tell us if there is adhesive under tiles
- Keep the results for future work or a sale
- Ask us if you’re unsure whether you need a test or a survey
- Group several materials into one visit
What to avoid
Until you have the result, do not drill, sand, scrape or cut the material.
Do not break off a piece to test yourself; tell us where it is and we will sample it safely.
Landlords, managing agents and employers
Letting agents often ask about asbestos before maintenance work. A test or survey gives a definite answer.
For managing agents and freeholders in Latimer, the asbestos register for common parts should be kept up to date and shared with contractors.
- Survey or test first when it isn’t clear what a material is
- Done to the regulations: HSE guidance and CAR 2012
- Written paperwork: reports, results and waste consignment notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site