Homebuyer report - Will it check for any Asbestos?

jawa1

Will a Homebuyer report check for any Asbestos in the house or garage?


Asbestos has been widely used in the building industry over the last 100 years and particularly in the last 50 years up until it was finally banned in the late 1990s. Many homes contain asbestos without the owners even being aware of its presence.
Most people know what an asbestos roof looks like but very few home owners realise that asbestos can also be found in quite a diverse range of relatively common building products. Some of these are as follows:
 Asbestos roofing material.
 Asbestos wall panels.
 Asbestos ceiling panels.
 Asbestos fire blankets.
 Some acoustic ceiling tiles.
 Some sound proofing wall panels.
 Some soffit panels (located under the eaves).
 Some felt roof lining materials.
 Some insulation materials used to lag hot pipes and hot water cylinders.
 Some insulation materials used in ceilings.
 Some hessian covered cork notice boards.
 Some vinyl floor tiles.
 Some artex type wall and ceiling coverings.
 Some bricks used in night storage heaters.
 Some bricks and products used in fireplaces.

From http://www.surveyorsreports.co.uk/asbestos_surveyor_survey.htm

silvercar

there are different types of asbestos, some more dangerous than others. General advice is to leave alone while it is intact and only consider removal if it is causing or part of a problem eg leaking roof.

some of the items you mentioned would be best covered up eg reskimming ceilings, rather than attempt removal of ceiling panels.

I doubt a survey would search out asbestos. You are more likely to get a general clause warning you that there could be asbestos in surfaces and to take precautions as approriate. The only time I would expect a specific waring would be if the survey identifed a fault and identified the asbestos at the same time. eg ceiling panels falling off which could contain asbestos.

To provide definite evidence of asbestos would require sending a sample for analysis.

ds1980

Ours has said just that. "Could" contain asbestos in roof. Is it ok to plaster staright over this ie artex? Obviously we wouldn't want to sand it down.

thanks,

silvercar

ds1980 wrote:

Ours has said just that. "Could" contain asbestos in roof. Is it ok to plaster staright over this ie artex? Obviously we wouldn't want to sand it down.

thanks,

I would think so from a safety point of view. Post on the DIY board to find the best way of getting the plaster to stick to the ceiling.