Important Safety Warning
Asbestos exposure causes serious lung diseases and cancer. If you suspect asbestos, do not disturb it. Always get a professional survey before any demolition or refurbishment work on buildings constructed before 2000.
Where Is Asbestos Found?
Asbestos was widely used in UK construction until 1999. If your building was constructed or refurbished before 2000, it may contain asbestos in:
Common Locations
- • Roof sheets and tiles
- • Garage and shed roofs
- • Textured coatings (Artex)
- • Floor tiles and adhesive
- • Insulation boards
- • Pipe lagging
Less Obvious Locations
- • Behind tiles and cladding
- • Inside partition walls
- • Around boilers and pipework
- • In cement products
- • Soffits and fascias
- • Fire doors and panels
You cannot identify asbestos by looking at it. Laboratory analysis is required to confirm whether a material contains asbestos.
Types of Asbestos Survey
Management Survey
Standard survey for buildings in use. Identifies asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that could be disturbed during normal occupation or maintenance.
Refurbishment & Demolition Survey (R&D)
Required before any demolition or major refurbishment. This is a fully intrusive survey that locates all ACMs, including those in hidden areas like wall cavities, behind tiles, and under floors.
The building or area must be vacated before this survey.
Legal Requirements
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
These regulations require duty holders to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises and mandate R&D surveys before demolition or refurbishment.
HSE Notification
Certain asbestos removal work must be notified to the HSE at least 14 days before work starts.
Licensed Removal
High-risk asbestos work (sprayed coatings, insulation board, loose fill) must be carried out by HSE-licensed contractors.
Asbestos Removal Costs
| Type of Work | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Garage roof removal (cement sheets) | £400 - £800 |
| Shed/outbuilding roof | £300 - £600 |
| Textured coating removal (per room) | £300 - £500 |
| Floor tile removal (per m²) | £25 - £50 |
| Pipe insulation (per metre) | £50 - £100 |
| Licensed removal (high risk) | £1,500 - £5,000+ |
Costs vary based on accessibility, quantity, and type of asbestos. Licensed removal is significantly more expensive due to safety requirements.
What If Asbestos Is Found?
Stop Work Immediately
If asbestos is discovered unexpectedly, stop all work in the area.
Restrict Access
Keep people away from the area and don't disturb the material further.
Get Professional Advice
Contact an asbestos surveyor to confirm the material and advise on next steps.
Arrange Safe Removal
Use a licensed contractor if required, or a competent contractor for lower-risk materials.
How We Handle Asbestos
We always recommend R&D surveys before demolition on pre-2000 buildings
We work with accredited asbestos surveyors and removal contractors
All asbestos is removed before we begin demolition work
We can coordinate surveys and removal as part of your project
Full documentation and waste transfer notes provided
Planning a Demolition Project?
We can advise on asbestos survey requirements and coordinate safe removal before demolition.