Asbestos can have harmful effects on you and your family, some of which are lethal – so it’s best to have your home checked out by a professional before the material becomes airborne. Find out more about the asbestos survey cost and benefits here.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate material that was once widely used in the building sector in the UK- you could well have it hiding somewhere inside your property, especially if who built your home before 2000. If you are unsure about the amount of asbestos in your home, it’s best, however, to put your mind at rest and hire a specialist contractor to carry out an asbestos survey.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations Act 2006, an asbestos survey is a legal requirement for all newly acquired non-domestic commercial buildings; so whether you’re buying a new property or want your existing home checked for you and your family’s safety, a professional surveyor will be able to locate and identify the type of asbestos under properly controlled regulations and judge the extent to which the building is compromised.
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How To Identify Asbestos In Your Home
If you want to locate the asbestos yourself to save time, fraying or peeling or an accumulation of dust on walls is usually a clear sign; do not, however, disturb the area. Asbestos is hazardous and can be found in several obscure places in the home, including:
- Thermal and acoustic insulation
- Walls, partition walls, and ceiling linings or tiles
- Attics and cement roofing
- Drain pipes and guttering
- Floor tiles and bath panels
- Ventilation ducts
- Insulation boards
- Electrical fuse boards and switchgear
- Toilet cisterns and water tanks
Why do I need an asbestos survey?
The purpose of an asbestos survey, according to HSG264, is:
- To help manage asbestos in your home
- To provide detailed information about the location, amount, and condition of asbestos in your premises.
- To evaluate the level of the asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and whether it is necessary to treat the ACMs.
- To create an asbestos register (a record of the location containing asbestos) and an asbestos plan.
- To help identify all the ACMs that need to be removed before any refurbishment or demolition work occurs.
- To make sure that no resident will be harmed by the continued existence of materials containing asbestos.
- To ensure that nobody will get harmed by any asbestos-containing materials accidentally.
According to the Control of Asbestos Regulations, the Dutyholder is responsible for identifying the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials and creating a written asbestos management plan to ensure that any health risks from asbestos exposure are manageable.
Asbestos Survey Cost Summary
Price Range = £170 – £270 Average Cost = £250
If you suspect that your house contains asbestos, your best choice is to get an asbestos survey performed on your own property as soon as possible. If you’re accountable for the direction of a property that may include, asbestos such a survey is also legitimately compulsory.
Asbestos Management Survey
Price Range = £170 -350 Average Cost = £270
An asbestos management survey includes a regular property inspection performed by an experienced asbestos surveyor. Though they will just be using their vision and minimal tools or equipment, these professionals are nonetheless expertly trained to spot the tell-tale signals of asbestos in all corners of your house – basement and lofts contained.
Those responsible for keeping non-domestic properties are classed as Responsibility Holders and are legally obliged to maintain asbestos materials; they must hire a competent surveyor to carry out an asbestos management survey and take any mandatory measures to eliminate or maintain asbestos based on the study findings.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Study
Average Cost = £250
Whether you suspect your property may contain asbestos and intend to perform refurbishment work, this study should be carried out. The surveyor will examine whether there is any asbestos materials present that must be safely removed with a professional during the refurbishment work.
Prices for asbestos refurbishment and demolition study will vary depending on where you reside, how big the home is, and what contractor you ultimately choose – be prepared to pay around £250 for a suitable asbestos survey.
Asbestos Sampling Cost
The surveyor locates the source of asbestos and then takes a small sample in a specially designed double sealed bag container to be analyzed and 
tested in a laboratory. Once the type and strength of the asbestos found in the property are determined (or if its presence is in fact refuted), you can choose whether or not to have the material removed or merely encapsulated (a less expensive method whereby the material is encapsulated into a protective adhesive). The contractor will advise the preferable course of action depending on the potential impact of the asbestos found.
The cost of taking samples is normally included in the survey cost, artisansurveyors.co.uk charge the following (on the surface of the normal survey price):
Asbestos Sampling Prices
| Number of Samples | Cost per sample |
|---|---|
| 1 | £20 + VAT |
| 2 – 5 | £15 + VAT |
| 6 – 10 | £12 + VAT |
| 11 – 25 | £10 + VAT |
| 25 + | £8.50 + VAT |
Remember, these asbestos sampling costs are simply estimates; the price of the asbestos survey varies based on your own demands. For a more accurate estimate based on the measurement of your own property and the number of samples you need to be tested, you need to get estimates from a minimum of three local asbestos surveyors.
Hiring An Asbestos Survey Contractor
When you are in the process of hiring an asbestos survey contractor, remember to check references and quotes to make sure you get the best deal for your money. The most qualified asbestos surveyors should also have a license obtained from the HSE (Health and Safety Executive – the National independent watchdog regulator for asbestos inspection and removal, among other construction-based health and safety risk assessments).
Due to the strict laws and controls imposed on dealings with the substance, an asbestos survey can be quite expensive; However, the simple location and assessment plans can cost as little as £200-300, the full-access inspections and sampling can be as expensive as £10,000 – although this will all depend on the size and age of your home. Once you have carefully considered all your options and hired your preferred surveyor, your home can be free of asbestos and all the associated health hazards that come with it!
Useful Resources
Full asbestos inspection report (download)
Asbestos definitions – https://www.ehs.washington.edu/ohsasbestos/asbterms.shtm
Asbestos: The survey guide – http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg264.pdf
Do I need an asbestos survey – http://www.iom-world.org/services/asbestos-services/asbestos-survey/