Anybody has experience of asbestos’s removal costs? [Merged]

Phil4432

If a survey flags a potential asbestos issue, then yes you need an asbestos survey to accurately determine the issue, and suggest a solution.

It may be low content asbestos, and the cost of removal will be far less.  If its high content, and in this case it may well be, then you'll have to have a more specialist contractor deal with it.

Only take the advice of the asbestos company, ignore 'couldn't care less,' traders.

I've had AIB high content asbestos removed, its expensive and a hassle.  But good when its gone.  Also had a low content asbestos shed roof removed, about to get a garage roof removed.  Far less trouble and expense, not that much to worry about.

No need to abandon the sale because of this, very common for asbestos to be flagged in a survey.

Jonboy_1984

Is it in a position where it could be boxed in rather than taking it out?

Bigphil1474

The asbestos content makes very little difference to the cost of removal, it's the location and type of material that ultimately determines the cost. An old asbestos garage roof can be removed by non-licensed companies as it's outdoors and relatively low risk. Asbestos indoors, such as Pipe cladding, has to be removed using an air tight enclosure with 3 stage air lock, employees all suited and booted with a decontamination unit etc. and has to be done by a licensed asbestos company. 

OP, as above, if it's in good condition and can be boxed in, then that's one option. Make sure you put a big sticker on whatever you box it in with saying Asbestos inside or similar.

The danger with asbestos is from the fibres getting in your lungs - which means the asbestos containing material needs to be friable enough that fibres can get in the air. I've seen old toilet seats being described as asbestos containing materials with no chance of any fibre ending up in the air and you wouldn't bother with an air tight enclosure to take an old toilet seat off. You could go with an asbestos survey, but you don't actually need one - you can just assume that it contains asbestos and carry on accordingly. A survey would confirm either way, but does it leave you in a better position?

Section62

Bigphil1474 said:

I've seen old toilet seats being described as asbestos containing materials with no chance of any fibre ending up in the air and you wouldn't bother with an air tight enclosure to take an old toilet seat off.

Old toilet seats were fairly brittle and could be broken by standing or sitting on them the wrong way.  Once broken there would be a risk of release of asbestos fibres, so it makes sense to warn people that asbestos is present (or suspected).