Asbestos

Gambit

Hi all,

I've had a basic valuaion done on a property I'm looking to buy and the survey showed that there could be asbestos in the ceiling. I'm looking at investigating it further but wondering whether to get an asbestos survey done just in case. Can anyone recommend a reliable London company that does such a survey?

Thanks in advance

Nosht

Just plaster over ceiling, less expense that way & it seals the risk in.

N.

Owain_Moneysaver

Asbestos may be present in 'Artex' type textured coatings prior to about the mid 1980s. It's only a problem if you want to sand it off. If you want a flat ceiling it's easier to skim over it, anyway. It's not a problem and knowing there's asbestos in the 'artex' won't negotiate much if anything off the price.

olias

There is a lot of hysteria about asbestos IMO. Asbestos is only a problem when the particles become airborn, for example if you were to start bashing holes in the ceiling or ripping it down. How often are you likely to do that!?

I wouldn't worry.

Olias

LisaLou1982

As others have said - its not a problem unless you want to start smashing down the ceiling. And even if you want to do that, get a PF3 mask which is suitable for working with asbestos for long periods and you'll be fine.

Skim over it if you want a smooth ceiling - the surveyor is just covering his back by advising you to get a specialist surveyor in to tell you if something may or may not be there.

Gambit

That's great, thanks for that guys - it's good to have advice backing up the idea not to worry about it.

Here is what the surveyor actually wrote on the report:
"The presence of asbestos is suspected in texured ceiling finishes evident in part within the subject property. It may be found in other parts of the property. In properties of this type such coatings could contain asbestos."

Are they just covering themselves by mentioning it? I know I'm probably worrying about it unnecessarily but being a first time buyer I'm just making sure I'm not ignoring potential problems. Especially when it comes to our health.

olias

Yes, you are worrying unneccessarily!

Olias

jamie304

How much does an asbestos survey cost?

Gambit

jamie304 wrote: »

How much does an asbestos survey cost?

I was told between £200 and £300

alanmilstein

Asbestos is a significant cause of work related death especially with tradespeople such as electricians, carpenters and plumbers.
To suggest that it'll "be OK as long as you don't sand it" is not really the answer.
Ideally you would spend the £200-300 on a proper survey and have the "at risk" materials properly analysed and assessed.
What about the electrician who comes in to put some new lights up for you and cuts some holes in the ceiling, or the plumber who runs some new pipes down the wall to extend your heating and cuts some holes in the ceiling. In both such cases the workmen could be exposed to asbestos fibres.
It's absolutely fine to skim over the artex and that will seal in any asbestos that may be present. However it is really important to make anyone doing work on your house aware of the possibility of the presence of asbestos so that they can take proepr precautions.
Of course, if anyone does create dust then you would want to ensure that it is correctly removed (a standard Dyson won't do the job) so as to make sure that you and your family are not exposed to any fibres.

LisaLou1982

alanmilstein wrote: »

Asbestos is a significant cause of work related death especially with tradespeople such as electricians, carpenters and plumbers.
To suggest that it'll "be OK as long as you don't sand it" is not really the answer.
Ideally you would spend the £200-300 on a proper survey and have the "at risk" materials properly analysed and assessed.
What about the electrician who comes in to put some new lights up for you and cuts some holes in the ceiling, or the plumber who runs some new pipes down the wall to extend your heating and cuts some holes in the ceiling. In both such cases the workmen could be exposed to asbestos fibres.
It's absolutely fine to skim over the artex and that will seal in any asbestos that may be present. However it is really important to make anyone doing work on your house aware of the possibility of the presence of asbestos so that they can take proepr precautions.
Of course, if anyone does create dust then you would want to ensure that it is correctly removed (a standard Dyson won't do the job) so as to make sure that you and your family are not exposed to any fibres.

Completely agree re cleaning up but any person who values their health will have their own PPE. Its the companys responsibility to provide this and the employee is obliged to wear it. I work in an environment where i am exposed to asbestos everyday - FP3 masks which are suitable for working with asbestos are readily available for anyone to buy so not really necessary for someone to pay out for an asbestos survey for an artexed ceiling when its any workmans responsibility to wear the correct PPE