How can I tell if my house contains asbestos?

The popularity of asbestos as a construction material grew increasingly for decades even after scientists discovered its potential for harm.

The only way to know for certain if your house contains asbestos, is to have an Asbestos Survey carried out by an experienced and qualified Asbestos surveyor. If you are looking for survey information and pricing click here.

As a construction material asbestos was favoured for its many qualities such as:

• High strength

• resistance to chemicals

• unrivalled heat resistance

• effective soundproofing

• insulator of electricity

• low cost

• ease of use and adaptability.

Because of its popularity, mass amounts of Asbestos was used in the construction of houses. If your house was built before the year 2000, there’s a good chance it has some asbestos content.

Due to the mass amount of information available on the internet, of which some is vastly inaccurate, many homeowners or potential buyers find themselves confused and misinformed about what may be present within their properties.

Which materials typically contain asbestos in a house?

We’ve compiled a checklist of these materials which are commonly found in UK homes. Given that there are currently over 3000 different types of known asbestos containing materials this list isn’t exhaustive.

• Asbestos roof tiles & sheets

• Asbestos bonded roofing felt

• Asbestos loose fill insulation

• Asbestos water tanks

• Asbestos flue pipes

• Asbestos decorative coatings such as artex

• Asbestos floor tiles and adhesives

• Asbestos vinyl and linoleum floorings

• Asbestos cement ceilings, walls and panels

• Asbestos insulation board ceilings, walls and panels

• Asbestos packers found around beams and joists

• Asbestos sink pads

• Asbestos door linings & door headers/ footers

• Asbestos bath panels

• Asbestos toilet cisterns and seats

• Asbestos damp proof courses

• Asbestos electrical switches, sockets, cables

• Asbestos boilers, heaters and incinerators

• Asbestos soffits, fascia’s & pipes

• Asbestos garages roofs and ceilings

• Asbestos garden borders and plant pots

• Asbestos mastics, adhesives and expansion joints.

Do I need to check for asbestos before a renovation?

A home built before 2000 might contain asbestos. That is why we always recommend that a experienced and qualified Asbestos Surveyor carry’s out an Asbestos Survey if you’re unsure whether your house contains asbestos and would like to book a survey click here.

You don’t need to have an Asbestos Survey on privately owned domestic home unless an external contractor is carrying out renovation work on it. In this instance it is the legal duty of the Principle Contractor, which in some circumstances may be the homeowner, to have an appropriate Asbestos Refurbishment Survey carried out prior to the work.

Should I check for asbestos before buying or selling a house?

You have no legal requirement for an Asbestos Survey prior to the sale or purchase of a property although Pre-Purchase or Mortgage Asbestos Surveys are often requested as an indication to lenders that the property does not contain large quantities of asbestos which may substantially reduce market value.

We would always advise on an Asbestos Management Survey prior to purchasing any type of property as a safety net to the purchaser for both health and financial reasons. It is worth mentioning at this point that it is not illegal to sell a property that contains asbestos.

We provide free no obligation quotations for your asbestos survey.

So, for more information on asbestos within houses visit hse.gov or contact our friendly team for advice and guidance.