Asbestos insulating boards?

loanranger_4

We're buying a property which according to the surveyor may have asbestos insulating boards in the ceiling. I now need to get a UKAS testing laboratory (https://www.ukas.org) to take a few samples from the property (in surrey) and do some analysis. I've had a quote of £250 + vat for this work.

Has anyone used a UKAS accredited testing lab and would recommend one that is a little cheaper than nearly £300 !

Thanks

Nile

Sorry I can't help you with this but I'm wondering if you must buy this house? Disturbing asbestos is very dangerous.

If I were in your position, I would not go any further with the purchase. I don't mean to offend you or be negative but I have experience of working with asbestos material.

loanranger_4

Nile

Thanks for your response.

We've yet to establish whether there is actually asbestos boards on the ceiling, the surveyor I believe is covering his back and telling us to get a second opinion.

I just want to get a cheap second opinion ! As we may not proceed with the property if it is found to be the case.

Ta

THRIFTY_JO

It would be well worth finding out if the tiles are asbestsos. The law has changed and they now have to be disposed of as Hazardous Waste. There are only a few places in the country that will take this waste and at a premium. So you local Authority( Like mine) may not have facilities for you to dispose of it. I was quote £800 by a contractor to remove material that would fill the back of an Escort van!!!

So ,think very carefully if you want to replace the boards in the future.

Hope this helps.

alanobrien

loanranger wrote:

We're buying a property which according to the surveyor may have asbestos insulating boards in the ceiling. I now need to get a UKAS testing laboratory (https://www.ukas.org) to take a few samples from the property (in surrey) and do some analysis. I've had a quote of £250 + vat for this work.

Has anyone used a UKAS accredited testing lab and would recommend one that is a little cheaper than nearly £300 !

Thanks

Your surveyor is covering his bottom.
There is no way they can tell if it is asbestos or not without analysis.
Even if it is, its likely to be chrysotile (white) which is the least dangerous type.

Assuming they are asbestos it should not be a problem as long as you do not drill or cut into them. Yes it can be dangerous but only if incorrectly handled i.e. it becomes airborne.

Another myth is that it is expensive to dispose of, not so, if its correctly packaged and labelled some council tips will take it off your hands free.

If it were me, i would use this as a lever to drive down the house cost then have them removed and replaced.

and yes i worked with this stuff and other materials still in use today which imho are far more dangerous to use but thats another story.....

Gaz_Hammer

Hi loanranger,
I have just PM'd you with some information that may be of some use.

Gaz

loanranger_4

Thanks all for your feedback.

I just have to pay the £300 to see if it asbestos and if it is then get another quote from an Asbestos Removal firm?

The money saving option then would be to negotiate on the purchase price.

scorpio_biker

Hi,

When we were purchasing our current house the surveyor pointed out asbestos in the loft. We insisted that the seller have it removed before we moved in, which they did. Mind you there wern't any buyers queuing up behind us so we were in a good position

However after we'd moved in my husband discovered boards in the loft that looked like asbestos, so he got in touch with the council who sent a bloke out from environmental health (I think) to take a sample and test it. I don't remember it costing us anything? As it was it came back as white(?) asbestos, the kind my husband could remove himself (he bought a boiler suit and appropriate mask etc), and as stated previously, labeled it and took it to our local council tip.

HTH

loanranger_4

Good idea! So I called up the Environmental Health department at the local council and their advice is to get private contractors in !

However they do have sites for disposal of the waste if we need to get rid of it.

Thanks

Sarahsaver

round here there is a £1000 charge for disposal of asbestos. You cannot just take it to a tip. It is at its least safe when its broken, and over prolonged exposure to broken asbestos, so i wouldnt have thought that having it in the house is in itself a great risk.

dougk_2

I guess if your council doesn't accept the disposal of asbestos you can always take it to somewhere that does - and driving even 150 miles is cheaper than paying £1k to get rid of it.