Greater London · England
Asbestos Testing for Southwark
Need asbestos testing in Southwark? We cover Southwark and the surrounding area, with plain-English advice and a written quote.
- Floor tiles and black adhesive
- Soffit boards
- Boards and panels before a kitchen or bathroom refit
Get a quote for Southwark
About our asbestos testing in Southwark
Asbestos testing tells you whether a specific material contains asbestos We sample suspect materials in Southwark and have them analysed by an accredited laboratory, so you know before you drill, sand or remove anything. Common materials are textured ceilings, soffit boards and flue pipes, and typical jobs are soffits and porch canopies before replacement and Artex before downlights or rewiring.
In places like Southwark, we often test a single material in a flat before work, when a full survey would be more than you need. Small jobs get the same care as big ones, with the same attention to the regulations.
- Area
- Southwark (SE1, SE11)
- County
- Greater London
- What we do
- Testing of suspect materials
- You receive
- Lab result in writing
- Price
- Quoted individually, in writing
- Phone
- 07833 053 749
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Your options compared
One sample or several? Each different material needs its own sample, and sometimes tiles and adhesive or coatings in different rooms need separate samples. There’s no one-size price, as every job differs. Our guides list published price ranges from other companies, with sources.
Why us?
- Every main survey type
- Honest advice, even when the answer is to leave it
- Accredited laboratory results
- Covering London and the South East
See our prices page and the cost guide.
Towns and villages near Southwark
More for properties in Southwark
Your questions about asbestos testing in Southwark
Do you work in Southwark despite London parking restrictions?
Yes, we work across London. Tell us about parking, permits and access so we can plan.
Is asbestos common in Southwark homes?
It depends on its age and history: asbestos was used until the 1999 ban, so older homes and older alterations in Southwark can contain it. Garage roofs, Artex, floor tiles, soffits and flues are typical examples.
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.
Can I put asbestos in a skip?
Never: it’s hazardous waste. When we remove it, it’s taken to a permitted site with a consignment note.
Does weather affect the work?
That depends: indoor jobs aren’t affected, but outdoor removal may be rescheduled for safety.
Should I use a home testing kit?
HSE’s advice is for a competent person to take samples. If you are unsure, ask us to take it.
Can you help with a shop or office?
We do, alongside homes. The duty holder should be able to share the asbestos register.
What if my house is newer?
Buildings from after 2000 shouldn’t, because of the 1999 ban, although older materials can sometimes be reused or left in extensions.
The process
Samples are small, bagged, labelled and recorded, then go off to the lab. It helps if we can park nearby.
- Let us know which materials you are worried about
- You get a quote for the samples
- We visit, take the samples and seal each point
- We send the samples to an accredited laboratory
- The written results come back to you, and we explain them
Preparing for the visit
- Move things out of the way carefully
- Clear the way to the work area
- Mention any parking restrictions
How to get a quote
Every job is quoted in writing. Just send photos through our quote form, or phone 07833 053 749 with the details.
Helpful guides
The scope of asbestos testing
A few things to be aware of:
- A result tells you what the material is, not how to remove it
- A test only covers the materials sampled, so bigger work needs a survey
- Clearance testing is a separate, independent job
Not sure what you need? Send us photos and we’ll tell you honestly.
Common materials
- Floor tiles
- Roof felt
- Garage roof sheets
- Pipe lagging
- Artex and textured ceilings
- Flue pipes
- Bitumen adhesive
- Water tanks
- Soffit boards
- Panels behind heaters
Testing materials in Southwark
Southwark is about 0 miles north-west of London, in Greater London. We cover Southwark as part of Greater London, whatever the size of the job. Southwark is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we work.
Parents and staff at schools such as Charles Dickens Primary School can ask about the school’s asbestos management. For properties on main roads such as the A300 and B240, let us know where we can park.
We carry out tests all over SE1 and SE11 and the streets around it. That could mean a property on Borough Square, Trinity Church Square and Merrick Square or the roads around them, wherever it is in Southwark. Being close to the A300 and B240, Southwark is simple for us to get to. If your property is just outside Southwark, we also cover Tower Hill (1 mile north-east), City of London (1 mile north), Aldgate (1 mile north-east), Bishopsgate (1 mile north-east) and Barbican Estate (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles west).
As a London location, Southwark is inside the ULEZ, and parking and loading need planning: let us know about parking and access when you get in touch.
Other landmarks nearby include County of London (1.1 miles north) and Baynard's Castle (0.8 miles north). The countryside around Southwark includes Ludgate Hill and Bellenden Road Nature Garden.
- Local schools include London School of Musical Theatre (under half a mile south-west) and Ark Globe Academy (within half a mile south-east)
- Local churches include St Mary-at-Hill (0.9 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Gladstone Arms (within half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include The BFI Reuben Library (0.9 miles north-west)
Where asbestos turns up
Builders and plasterers increasingly ask for a test result before starting work on older surfaces, and a lab result is what they’re after.
These are the materials and situations that most often lead to tests:
- Corrugated roof sheets
- Panels behind old heaters
- Textured ceilings before a renovation
- One-off checks in rented property
If you live in an older house in Southwark, it’s worth testing suspect materials before work.
Questions to ask before booking
- That samples are analysed by an accredited laboratory
- The scope of the job, in writing
- The survey type, as defined in HSG264
- Whether they’re insured for asbestos work
Looking after things afterwards
If the result shows a higher-risk material such as insulating board or lagging, the work will typically be licensed, and we’ll explain what happens then.
To avoid problems in future:
- Not sure between a test and a survey? Ask
- Leave the material undisturbed until we have sampled it
- Keep the results for future work or a sale
- Photos of the material help us plan
Things not to do
Photos are helpful, as long as you don’t disturb anything.
Test before you book the builders, so you can plan properly.
What it costs
When we quote, we look at:
- How much sampling is needed
- Access to the area
- Which survey type fits your plans
- The quantity or area
Our quotes are clear about VAT.
Sending photos
A few photos can save a site visit:
- A wide shot showing where the material is
- Damaged areas
- Approximate dimensions
- Visible markings
Photos from a safe distance help: do not touch the material, just send them through our quote form.
What it might be made of
Flues and tanks
Testing them before removal avoids surprises.
Boards and panels
Boards in boiler cupboards, behind heaters or as soffits can be asbestos insulating board. A test tells you which.
Can I do it myself?
Home testing kits exist, but you have to disturb the material to use one. HSE recommends a competent person takes samples.
A professional job comes with paperwork: a record that buyers, insurers and builders may want to see.
- Nothing removed blind: unknown materials are tested first
- Done to the regulations: HSE guidance and CAR 2012
- Paperwork for your records: reports, lab results and consignment notes
- Asbestos waste double-bagged or wrapped and taken to a permitted site