What to Do If You Find Asbestos in Your Home

Row of residential homes, addressing the steps to take if asbestos is found in a home.

Asbestos is a material which was often used when building homes between the 1950s and 1990s. Therefore, if your house has been built during this time period there is a chance that asbestos is present.

The problem with asbestos is that the material was deemed a health risk when damaged or disturbed. Consequently, the use of asbestos is now regulated by law and the material is banned from use in building work. We have put together this blog to help you understand asbestos and know exactly what to do if you find it in your home.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of thin fibres. Before people understood the associated dangers, it was used in homes as a strong, low cost and effective building material. However, it was discovered that the fibres in asbestos are extremely toxic and dangerous when they become airborne and are inhaled. As the fibres are so strong, your body cannot break them down. As a result, they begin to cause damage to the lung tissue. Fibres will only become airborne when the material becomes damaged.

In many cases, the asbestos present is undisturbed, so won’t pose an immediate health risk. But to ensure health and safety, we always recommend that you get a professional to check out the areas of risk and remove the material if required.

Where Could Asbestos Be in My Home?

Asbestos was a very effective building material and used throughout many homes. For example, the substance was added into plaster and cement to add strength. Common places you might find asbestos in your home include:

  • Vinyl flooring
  • Insulation boards within walls
  • Roofing felt and tiles
  • Coatings and textured paints on walls and ceilings
  • Cement water tanks
  • Cement gutters and rain pipes
  • Bathroom elements such as bath panels, toilets and sinks

If you suspect asbestos, it is critical to keep the item in place. Then, trained professionals can help you survey and remove the material. If you try to remove it yourself, you risk breathing in some of the tiny and dangerous fibres.

Steps to take if you find asbestos in your home:

  1. Don’t panic! Leave the area alone. If you have accidentally damaged the asbestos, don’t try and clear up the mess. By doing this, you could make the situation worse.
  2. Contact professionals who can give you a detailed survey. This will determine whether or not asbestos is present in your home. Additionally, the report will advise on the areas the material can be found within your home. The team will then provide you with recommendations on how the asbestos needs to be dealt with in order to keep your home safe.
  3. Use the recommendations given to guide you moving forward. If the asbestos containing material is dangerous and a risk to your health, you will need to organise professionals to remove the asbestos. However, if the material containing asbestos poses little to no health risk, the advice may be removal is not required.

These are very important steps to take if you find asbestos in your home. You will minimise the risk to your own health by employing trained professionals to deal with your situation.

Should You Have an Asbestos Survey When Buying a Property?

While buying a new property is exciting, there are some significant aspects to check out. This helps you know exactly what you are purchasing! One of the important questions to ask is whether or not the property is likely to contain asbestos. 

This blog will help you identify if you should have an asbestos survey when buying a property.

Is an Asbestos Survey a Legal Requirement When Buying a Property?

Carrying out an asbestos survey is not a legal requirement when buying a property for homes built after 2000. However, there are many reasons why it is a good idea. Most importantly, carrying out a survey will help you confirm that the property you are purchasing is safe from the health risks of asbestos. If asbestos is present, the survey will issue you with recommendations for dealing with the material safely. 

When is a Property Likely to Have Asbestos? 

If your property was built before the year 2000, there is a chance the material is present. 

Asbestos was widely used by builders due to its strong, low cost, insulating, water and chemical resistant properties. However, the fibres the material is composed of are extremely toxic and dangerous when airborne and inhaled. The fibres do remain safe if left alone and the material is not damaged or disturbed.

Unfortunately, Asbestos was used in properties and building work up until as recently as 1999. Since then, there has been a ban on use of the mineral within the UK. This has led to research suggesting that around half of all homes in the UK are at risk of asbestos. And this figure is even steeper for other types of buildings, with a government report finding that a massive 75% of schools in the UK are at risk of having asbestos containing materials within the properties! 

There may not be an immediate risk if the asbestos is left alone. However, there is still the possibility of a significant health risk within a property containing asbestos as the fibres can become disturbed. For example, water damage to a ceiling containing asbestos could disturb and disperse the dangerous fibres. Additionally, many insurance policies will not cover the damage if the material is found. They will however sometimes cover the cost of asbestos removal as part of your claim. 

Where Would Asbestos Be in a Property? 

If you suspect there may be asbestos within a property, there are some places you are most likely to find it. Two of the most common places are within decorative ceiling coatings and vinyl floor tiles. Other common areas include insulation, internal garage roofs, storage tanks, rainwater pipes and gutters. 

If there is a chance asbestos is present in the building you are interested in buying, an asbestos survey is always recommended. This is the same regardless of whether the property is a residential home or a commercial property. 

If you are looking for a qualified and experienced team to carry out an asbestos survey for a property you are buying, contact us as South East Asbestos Surveys Ltd for a free quote.