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myAsbestos Removal Cost
At a Glance
- The average asbestos removal cost for a roof in the UK is around £2,500.
- The typical cost of an asbestos survey is £200, but this does depend on the size of the property.
- What the cost of asbestos removal is for different types of jobs (e.g., a roof or shed).
- How much asbestos encapsulation and asbestos removal cost per square metre in 2024.
- What to look for when hiring a contractor or company to remove asbestos from your property.
How much does it cost to get rid of asbestos in the UK?
On average, asbestos removal costs around £2,500.
However, the exact cost of asbestos removal will depend on a few key factors — such as the type of asbestos, how much asbestos needs to be removed, and how easy it is to reach.
This guide covers everything you need to know about domestic asbestos removal in the UK. It includes typical costs for different types of removals, important things you need to know, and what to look for when hiring someone to remove asbestos.
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£2,500
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost To Remove Asbestos?
Before we get to the costs involved, let's take a look at what asbestos actually is and why it should be removed...
Asbestos used to be one of the most popular building materials due to its ability to absorb sound and provide thermal insulation. Unfortunately, the dangerous side effects were not known until much later.
Today, we understand the many dangers of asbestos, which far outweigh any possible usefulness of the material. However, asbestos is still to be found hidden in many buildings around the UK, though it hasn’t been used in construction since around 1980.
Asbestos was often mixed with other materials when used in building so can be hard to identify unless you are an expert, which makes it all the more important to understand just how dangerous this material is, and why you need a qualified professional to safely remove it.
If you even suspect that asbestos may be present in your property, then make sure you find a professional in your local area with the necessary qualifications and experience to assess the safety impact and carry out the safe removal if required.
Ideally, you should always try and get a minimum of three written quotes. This is easy to do with MyJobQuote by filling in one simple form and letting local tradesmen get in touch with you to offer more information including written quotations.
But when it comes to asbestos, make sure everyone you approach has the experience to safely remove and dispose of the material, and also check they have the necessary insurance cover for this type of work.
How can I find out if our artex ceilings contain asbestos?
"You can get an asbestos test done on the artex from the local council. If the ceilings were artexed in the early 1980s, they probably would contain asbestos. If it does contain asbestos, then you would have to call in an asbestos removal company to take it down and dispose of it. But if it doesn't contain asbestos, I would personally take the ceilings down and then reboard and skim them."
Asbestos Removal Price
| Job Description | Duration | Material Cost | Labour Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Asbestos Survey | 4 hours | £0 | £200 |
| Cost of Asbestos Encapsulation Per Square Metre | NA | £2 per m² | £6 per m² |
| Asbestos Removal Cost Per Square Metre | NA | £10 per m² | £40 per m² |
| Asbestos Roof Removal Cost (Typical) | 2 – 3 weeks | £1,000 | £1,500 |
| Asbestos Shed Removal Cost | 4 – 6 hours | £100 | £300 |
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How Much Does Asbestos Testing Cost?
The average cost of an asbestos survey is around £200 in 2024.
Testing would include assessing the presence and quantity of asbestos in an average-sized residential property, as well as the risk it poses.
If you suspect that you have asbestos materials in your home, this is the first step you should take.
When getting quotes from tradespeople, ensure that you confirm that they're qualified to survey and sample for asbestos. An essential qualification that they should have is the BOHS P402 certification from the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS).
What Does Asbestos Shed Removal Cost?
The average cost of asbestos shed removal is around £400 in 2024.
Depending on where the asbestos is found, you might not need to remove and replace the entire shed. For instance, if asbestos is only found in a shed's roof and there are no other issues, then it'll likely be more cost-effective to just replace that.
Most people opt to remove and replace a shed that is found to have asbestos. A new shed costs more in the short-term, but it provides homeowners with peace of mind and the opportunity to upgrade to something a bit more modern.
The Safe Removal of Asbestos From a Property
There have been many cases of people who worked with asbestos decades ago only to be diagnosed with lung cancer much later. Asbestos is one of the major causes of mesothelioma, a particular type of lung cancer, it can also cause asbestosis or scarring of the lungs.
Asbestos causes damage to the lungs when it is breathed in, the body cannot remove all the fibres and over years more and more particles of asbestos become trapped in the lungs causing damage. Some types of asbestos constitute more of a danger to health than other types, but all types of asbestos need to be handled professionally with the utmost care.
If you think your property may have asbestos, do NOT try to remove it on your own. The safest option is to leave it where it is and contact a qualified professional to investigate.
If asbestos is found, there is no need to panic, provided you stay away from it and don’t disturb it, you should be perfectly safe.
Asbestos encapsulation is an alternative method for dealing with asbestos where the material is sprayed with a resin coating that will protect the asbestos from degradation and prevent the dangerous fibres from being released into the air, where they can cause damage.
Asbestos encapsulation services are typically guaranteed for 25 years or more and they are a particularly safe choice when the asbestos is difficult to access. Asbestos encapsulation is also a quicker process and usually much cheaper.
Can You Remove Asbestos Yourself? (DIY)
This DIY section for asbestos removal is going to be pretty short – don’t do it! This is one job that really is best left to the professionals, mistakes made dealing asbestos can have potentially fatal consequences even decades later.
It is hard to identify asbestos if you are not trained to do so, so if you think that you may have seen some, do not to go prodding around at it or disturb it in any way, as it is safe as long as it is not disturbed and the fibres have not been released into the air.
You should contact a professional for advice even if you just think you MAY have any asbestos (if your property was built between 1950 and 1990 you may well have).
If you do have asbestos materials in your home, never ever try to remove them yourself. You will need a qualified contractor who has been licensed by the HSE (Healthy and Safety Executive).
If you really want to save the money and are determined to remove the asbestos against all advice. Then you should take all possible precautions including wearing a face mask and overalls.
Soaking the asbestos can help to prevent the fibres escaping and when finished the asbestos, along with any gloves and overalls used, should be double bagged in thick plastic and disposed of properly at your local waste recycling centre.
Is it safe for me to inspect whether there is asbestos present in a ceiling?
Artex and other textured coatings containing asbestos were still used in construction until asbestos was banned. These products are often found on the walls and ceilings of residential properties.
It's not possible to know if artex contains asbestos just from looking at it. To know for sure, it would need to be sampled and tested."
It's not possible to know if artex contains asbestos just from looking at it. To know for sure, it would need to be sampled and tested."
Asbestos Removal Checklist
Before you get a quote for the cost of asbestos removal, it's crucial to keep these things in mind:
- Asbestos removal costs can vary depending on a key factors. This includes where you live in the UK, the type of asbestos being removed, and how much you need to get rid of.
- Don't try to remove asbestos yourself. Get in touch with qualified and experienced asbestos removal specialists.
- Houses built or modified before 2000 in the UK may contain asbestos. It's estimated that more than 50% of UK homes still contain asbestos.
- Asbestos becomes dangerous when its damaged or disturbed. If the asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious diseases of the lungs that are often fatal.
- Identifying asbestos can be difficult. Asbestos was often mixed with other materials, so it can require professional testing to confirm its presence.
- Find qualified and experienced asbestos removal specialists. They should have a license from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency to remove, transport, and dispose of asbestos.
How much asbestos services cost can vary significantly. It's advisable to get at least three quotes from local asbestos removal specialists.
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FAQs
Is it required by law to have a full asbestos survey?
No, there is no law that says you have to have an asbestos survey done. However, if you think your property might contain asbestos, it makes sense to go ahead and have an asbestos survey done for safety reasons.
If you are responsible for a commercial property, you need to find out whether or not any asbestos is present and what condition it is in. Specialised surveyors are trained to survey for asbestos-containing materials and identify the type of asbestos, its location, and the quantity of it that exists.
If you are responsible for a commercial property, you need to find out whether or not any asbestos is present and what condition it is in. Specialised surveyors are trained to survey for asbestos-containing materials and identify the type of asbestos, its location, and the quantity of it that exists.
What materials can contain asbestos?
Asbestos can be found in the materials used in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors. You can also find it in pipe lagging, insulation boards, cement products, textured coatings, and even brake linings.
What types of asbestos are there?
Asbestos can be broadly categorised into six different types, each of which is a particular colour: chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), crocidolite (blue), tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Only chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite were used commercially in the UK.
What should I do if asbestos has been found in my building?
Asbestos is usually non-threatening to health if undamaged, as it's the fibres becoming airborne which cause health problems. However, the location needs to be recorded, and regular safety checks are required to determine the condition of the material.
Alternatively, asbestos can be encapsulated by coating it in a special sealant to prevent any fibres from escaping. It could also be completely removed by a licensed contractor with a valid asbestos removal license.
Alternatively, asbestos can be encapsulated by coating it in a special sealant to prevent any fibres from escaping. It could also be completely removed by a licensed contractor with a valid asbestos removal license.
Sources
https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/types
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information
https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/
https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asbestos-related-conditions/asbestos-exposure
https://www.haspod.com/blog/asbestos/what-is-an-asbestos-survey
