Wokingham · England
Asbestos Testing for Reading
Looking for asbestos testing in Reading? We work across Reading and the towns around it, with plain-English advice and a written quote.
- Answers trades need before starting
- Soffit boards
- A material damaged during DIY
Asbestos testing in Reading
What happens
If we spot other materials that might contain asbestos, we will mention them, in case you want them tested as well. We arrive at the agreed time, check the area and explain what we’ll do before we start.
- Describe the material and send a photo
- We agree the number of samples and send a quote
- Samples are taken with controls
- The laboratory analyses the samples
- You get the written result and our advice
How to prepare
- Clear belongings, but leave the material alone
- Let neighbours know if the work is near them
- Keep away from the material in the meantime
How to get a quote
Send us the address in Reading, a description and some photos: send photos through our quote form, or phone 07833 053 749, and we will reply with a quote.
Related guides
Asbestos testing for Reading properties
Worried about an Artex ceiling, old floor tiles or a garage roof in Reading? Testing a sample settles the question. If it’s clear, work can go ahead normally; if not, you’ll know what precautions are needed. Common materials are garage roof sheets, floor tiles and panels behind heaters, and typical jobs are something broken during building work and Artex before downlights or rewiring.
In a large place like Reading, 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 leaving a material alone is the sensible choice.
Places near Reading
More for properties in Reading
Limits to be aware of
So you know what to expect:
- A test only covers the materials sampled, so bigger work needs a survey
- Photos cannot confirm asbestos; only a lab can
- Sampling high or hidden materials may need access equipment
If in doubt, ask: we’ll recommend a test, a survey or removal.
Materials in Reading
- Bitumen adhesive
- Pipe lagging
- Panels behind heaters
- Floor tiles
- Flue pipes
- Garage roof sheets
- Soffit boards
- Roof felt
- Artex and textured ceilings
- Water tanks
Testing materials in Reading
Reading is about 38 miles west of London, in Wokingham. Reading has a mix of older and newer buildings, and anything built or refurbished before 2000 can contain asbestos. Reading is one of 35 towns and villages in Wokingham where we work.
On busy roads like the A4 and A33, parking can be tricky, so mention it when you get in touch. For older homes anywhere in Reading, from near All Nations Christian Centre outwards, test any suspect materials before renovation.
Anywhere in RG6, RG31, RG1 and RG30, we can help with asbestos testing. Local streets include Downshire Square, Market Way and Market Place; we cover every one. Being close to the A4 and A33, Reading is simple for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover include 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). Further out, we also cover 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). As one of the bigger places in Wokingham, Reading has a wide mix of older and newer buildings.
Other landmarks nearby include The Oracle (less than half a mile north-east) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (0.8 miles east). The countryside around Reading includes Sonning Hill and Longwater.
- Local schools include Eurospeak Language School (0.5 miles north) and Kendrick School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include Former Kennet Arms (under half a mile east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include University of Reading library (1.5 miles south-east)
What it might be made of
Floor tiles and adhesive
Tiles are often found under newer floors; test before lifting them.
Cement sheets
We sample from the edge of a sheet, without standing on the roof.
DIY and asbestos
If you do find something during DIY, stop: keep people away, don’t sweep or vacuum it up, and get advice.
Asbestos waste can’t go in household bins, recycling or skips. It must go to a permitted site; check with your council about small amounts.
How we price asbestos testing
What drives the price:
- Parking and access charges
- Lofts, voids and outbuildings to include
- How much there is
- Material and condition
Access makes a big difference to cost, so tell us about access.
What to photograph
For a quick quote, include:
- How we’d reach it
- A closer photo of the material, without touching it
- Visible markings
- Any damage, cracks or broken pieces
Each job is priced individually. To start, fill in the enquiry form or give us a call on 07833 053 749.
Options to consider in Reading
Testing before work generally costs less than dealing with asbestos found halfway through a job, when everything stops and areas may need cleaning. Our quotes are clear about VAT, so you can compare like with like.
Why people choose us
- Clear notes on any areas not reached
- Condition assessed for every material
- Houses, flats and business premises
- Practical recommendations
See our prices page and the cost guide.
Reading questions
Could my house in Reading contain asbestos?
Homes built or refitted before 2000 can. The only way to know is to test suspect materials. Look at garage roofs, textured ceilings, old floor tiles, soffits and flues.
Do you cover Reading from London?
We cover Reading, about 38 miles from central London.
My sample contains asbestos. What now?
You’ll know what type of asbestos is present. From there, we will talk through leaving it, covering it or removing it.
Do you work on commercial premises?
Yes: shops, offices, industrial units and community buildings as well as homes. Non-domestic premises have a duty holder who should hold an asbestos register.
Should I check for asbestos before buying?
Yes. A pre-purchase survey tells you what’s there before you exchange, with the seller’s permission.
Do you work for landlords and businesses?
We do. We work for landlords, managing agents, employers and contractors as well as homeowners.
How do I know if a material in Reading contains asbestos?
Not by looking: only laboratory analysis of a sample can tell you for sure. We sample it and have it analysed.
Could my home contain asbestos?
You can’t tell by eye. Laboratory analysis of a sample gives the answer, especially in buildings from before 2000.
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.
If you are responsible for a non-domestic building or the common parts of flats in Reading, you have a duty to manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. In practice: find it, assess it, record it and manage it.
What we deal with in Reading
The risk typically comes from drilling or sanding something nobody had tested. A test beforehand prevents it.
People usually contact us about one of these:
- Lab results for contractors before they start
- Something broken during building work
- Checks before maintenance in rented homes
- Boiler cupboard panels
Schools such as Coley Primary School should have an asbestos management plan, and staff can ask to see how it works.
What your quote should include
- What exactly is included: the areas, materials or samples
- Areas included and excluded
- Which laboratory analyses samples
- Insurance appropriate to asbestos work
- Survey or test first when it isn’t clear what a material is
- Planned to HSE guidance and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- Everything in writing: quotes, reports, results and waste notes
- Waste sealed and labelled, then taken to a permitted site