We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Asbestos

Magsmfc
Posts: 2 Newbie
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there is asbestos in bedroom walls of a flat built in the 1930's?
My daughter removed a dado rail and there was a few layers of wallpaper that she pulled and it needs removed. We started scraping it off and under the lining paper was blue paint and under that it looks like a slightly brown wall. My daughter is now worried incase she has scraped into asbestos. Thanks.
Does anyone know if there is asbestos in bedroom walls of a flat built in the 1930's?
My daughter removed a dado rail and there was a few layers of wallpaper that she pulled and it needs removed. We started scraping it off and under the lining paper was blue paint and under that it looks like a slightly brown wall. My daughter is now worried incase she has scraped into asbestos. Thanks.
0
Comments
-
I wouldn't have thought so really but is it a brick wall behind? If so, it's more likely to be plaster. If in doubt you can send a sample to a lab for testing1
-
Hard to tell from the description, as far as I know asbestos wasn't used in homes until the 40's. But get an inspector to come round and give an opinion to be sure.
Local asbestos company is all you need.
1 -
Magsmfc said: We started scraping it off and under the lining paper was blue paint and under that it looks like a slightly brown wall.A pinkish brown colour like this -If so, absolutely nothing to worry about. Someone in the past has skimmed the walls, painted over it, and then papered. Certainly no risk of asbestos.Her courage will change the world.
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.0 -
Highly unlikely to be asbestos unless you've got old (pre 1990's) artex on the walls.1
-
Don't be fooled into thinking artex is the only likely asbestos item commonly used in housing. I have found asbestos paper, insulation boards, cement sheeting (not just corrugated), pipes, obviously tiles and glue, lagging amongst a whole raft of other things. However, based on the description in the OP their issue is not causing me concern. Is the brown wall solid or a partition? There is a vague possibility if a partition that it could be AIB, but it would not likely look brown but instead contain brown fibres.
At this stage I believe the most likely explanation is gypsum plaster as indicated by Freebear above.YNWA
Target: Mortgage free by 58.2 -
Phil4432 said:
...as far as I know asbestos wasn't used in homes until the 40's.
But the problem with earlier buildings is not knowing what refurbishment was done during the asbestos era.
(Real) Tudor timber framed buildings could have AIB sheets installed to make the internal walls look nice and flat. Exposed timber beams were once considered horribly old-fashioned and covered over with the new asbestos wonder materials.
10mm of AIB was thought to give excellent insulation to solid Victorian walls and a cure to their damp problems.
There's just no way of telling what you might find based on building age alone.
2
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.3K Spending & Discounts
- 240.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.6K Life & Family
- 253.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards