Asbestos Survey & Removal Costs?

xs11ax

Hi,

I have the builders in doing some much needed maintenance and they reckon they have discovered some asbestos that might need removing.

Before going through an expensive removal process they suggested that we should have the asbestos tested to determine what type it is.

Anyone know of a cheap company in West Yorkshire that can carry out the survey?

And on another note shouldnt this have come up in the survey? Can i claim the costs from the surveyors for failing to advice me of the asbestos?

Cheers

GAH

I wouldn't want a cheap company coming out to do a survey on asbestos, I would want want that have experience and a good name.

What type of survey did you have? and where is the asbestos located?

xs11ax

I haven't had a survey carried out yet. The builder thinks there might be asbestos behind the fireplace. It is a VERY old fireplace which looks like it has never been replaced since the house was built over 100 years ago. The house is a terrace house if that helps.

GAH

What type of survey did you have when you bought the house?

propertyman

If the house is only 10 years old it is highly unlikely that it is asbestos.

It's use was stopped in 1974 and sprayed asbestos 1980 something.

If appropriate contact the manufacture of the fireplace to see if they used or recommended a backing.

If you mean over 100 years ago then it would not have been used then either, but a subsequent installation might have.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/where-is-it-found.htm

There are DIY kits here http://www.test4asbestos.com/?gclid=CNXpo83Li64CFcEntAodVSIE4g

or check local listings and make a few calls for quotes.

Contact your local council for advice.

xs11ax

It was just a basic survey for the mortgage.

xs11ax

propertyman wrote: »

If the house is only 10 years old it is highly unlikely that it is asbestos.

It's use was stopped in 1974 and sprayed asbestos 1980 something.

If appropriate contact the manufacture of the fireplace to see if they used or recommended a backing.

If you mean over 100 years ago then it would not have been used then either, but a subsequent installation might have.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/where-is-it-found.htm

There are DIY kits here http://www.test4asbestos.com/?gclid=CNXpo83Li64CFcEntAodVSIE4g

or check local listings and make a few calls for quotes.

Contact your local council for advice.

yes, sorry i meant 100 years.

Are those testing kits reliable and easy to use. Will they do the job?

GAH

You would have no come back against the surveyor who visited, he didn't carry out a survey, he carried out a mortgage valuation.

propertyman

GAH wrote: »

You would have no come back against the surveyor who visited, he didn't carry out a survey, he carried out a mortgage valuation.

Mmm they might. The MV has for many years been expected to highlight issues and "follow the trail".

If on inspection it could be spotted or suspected, within the limitations of the inspection, it should be noted.

propertyman

xs11ax wrote: »

yes, sorry i meant 100 years.

Are those testing kits reliable and easy to use. Will they do the job?

I am sure the test is valid. The risk with asbestos is that it is a man made mix and therefore has to be sampled in several places to ensure the material is checked thoroughly.

Disturbing asbestos is required to sample it making particles airborne which are harmful.

We were buying a 1920's house abroad, renovated in the late 60's and had air samples for asbestos and mould and you would have been shocked to see how much was in the air.

In days gone by it was soaked and removed, with varying levels of protection, and dumped quietly in the skip. The penalties now are very severe, so rightly or wrongly, even though you might spend money for nothing, the risks to health and criminal fines are so great that it is a foolhardy person who does so.

Hopefully the HSE guide will settle your mind to the approach needed.

Oneday77

I had an issue getting a home report lately. The surveyor said our Artexed ceiling may contain Asbestos and wouldn't remove it from the report until tested. Our issue was the property was less than 14 years old. Artex stopped using Asbestos in products in 1984 and competitors stopped in 1988. The surveyor still thought it might have been done with products 10-14 old.

So despite us being exceedingly annoyed I contacted teh local council. They gave us the name of a firm they use locally and he was great. £70 call out charge and £14 per sample taken all +VAT. Less than 48 hours later we had results to the 4 random samples as the whole house has textured ceilings. Results came back negative and £151.20 spent as opposed to lost viewings, £x,000 to remove etc.
So my advice is call local council, they may even test if not could probably advise who to contact. It may cost £100 but if it does have you'll spend so much more and builders have to get suspicious things checked or they could die simple as.