Asbestos Removal Cost

How much does asbestos removal cost? Well, this depends entirely on how much you need removing. Asbestos is commonly found in:

• Roofing
• Insulation (boards, cavity wall, attic)
• Walls (cement)
• Flooring
• Gutters and Pipes

If the asbestos is in good condition and in a non-risky area, it’s more cost-effective to leave it where it is and make sure it’s not disturbed.

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Cost of Removing Asbestos Step-by-Step

Are there alternatives to asbestos removal? The price of asbestos removal, or however you choose to deal with it, will change depending on what is being removed and also on the quantity.

To determine this, you will need to undertake an Asbestos Survey. Here are the steps to Asbestos Removal.

Identify the Asbestos

First, you need to know where the asbestos is, how much there is, and what risk it poses. The recommended way to find out this information is to use a qualified and experience surveyor. This information is needed for the surveyor to advice you on your next course of action. A basic materials appraisal will cost upwards of £50, and a full survey of the whole area is likely to set you back more than £200.

The surveyor will decide whether you take first or second option below as your next step.

• (Option 1) Asbestos Encapsulation
  If the surveyor decides encapsulation is a safe option for your asbestos, they will apply an adhesive which has protective qualities. You’ll pay £8m² for this.(Option 2) Asbestos Removal
  If option 1 is not suitable, the surveyor will recommend the complete removal of all asbestos. This must be performed by licenced professionals, and costs around £50+ per square metre to remove. Make sure you get competitive asbestos removal quotes from verified companies by completing the form at the top of this page.
• Re-boarding
  Once the asbestos is gone, you may need to have large areas re-boarded, finished, and re-decorated. A quote of around £400+ for this service would be reasonable.

Average Cost of Asbestos Removal

Asbestos removal costs will vary, depending on what needs to be removed.

A water tank in your home, for example, may cost you £200 – removal and disposal inclusive. However, a larger area like a garage could cost £2,500+ for removal and disposal.

The cost of asbestos removal can be high, but it’s a worthwhile investment – your home will be free of toxic materials. If you’re raising a family, it’s too important for health reasons to not do anything.

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Asbestos Removal Cost Help

If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to afford the cost of Asbestos Removal, get in touch with your local authorities to request reduced rates or see if they have any schemes in place to make payment easier.

Even if you’re unsure, it’s worth getting in touch – the following councils provide help with asbestos removal:

• Essex County Council
  This council will remove up to forty kilograms of asbestos cement at no charge.
• Bedford Council
  They charge £206 for eight sheets, £260 for twelve, and £300 for sixteen.
• York Council
  Reduced rate service for gutter, roofing, pipe, and cement asbestos removal. For £95, they will extract two hundred kilograms of asbestos.
• Richmond upon Thames Council
  For £44, they will pull out up to two hundred kilograms.

As you can see, savings can be made if you get in touch with your local council as they’ll be just as eager to get rid of the asbestos as you are.

The professionals working for them will have all the relevant accreditations and qualifications, too, meaning you can have peace of mind that the asbestos removal and disposal is taking place safely.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and was used commercially for over 150 years. Its fibrous structure made it great at insulation and fireproofing and it is still found in most buildings built before the year 2000, including offices, schools, factories, hospitals, and even homes.

Nowadays, asbestos must be monitored carefully if it is found in an building that people live or work in. If you find asbestos in your home and it is not damaged or disturbed in a way that is producing dust, the current advice is to leave it alone. This is the ideal situation as the cost of removing asbestos can be relatively high.

Since it’s only dangerous once it gets into the air, asbestos-based materials must be removed and disposed of once they start producing dust, which can be a result of either wear and tear, or disturbance.

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Risks of Asbestos

Asbestos is highly dangerous. Because the fibres in it are so small, they can cause serious illness and even death when inhaled.

The three primary diseases associated with asbestos exposure are:

• Asbestosis
  This is a chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Asbestos fibres are inhaled and irritate the lungs, causing the tissue to scar. It is untreatable and causes shortness of breath and pain when breathing. Asbestosis can be fatal in its later stages.
• Lung Cancer
  Because asbestos is a carcinogen, many deaths related to it are due to lung cancer. Those who also are exposed to other carcinogens as well as asbestos (cigarette smoke, for example) are around 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who have neither been exposed to asbestos nor smoked.
• Mesothelioma
  This is a rare form of cancer often occurring in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and – in rare cases – the heart. Cases of Mesothelioma are virtually all linked to continued asbestos exposure.

Asbestos exposure is untreatable which is why removing it or reducing exposure as much as possible is so important in order to maintain health and safe living environments.

To remove asbestos, you need to employ a professional to carry out the work. Fill in the form below and we’ll arrange for you to receive three quotes from local and qualified asbestos removal companies.

Types of asbestos

In the UK, there are three commonly used types of asbestos that can be found in buildings and materials all over the country. They became popular due to their insulating properties and their ability to add strength to various common building materials.

• Crocidolite
  This fibre is widely known as ‘blue asbestos’ and was banned voluntarily in the UK in 1970. Crocidolite fibres are very short and spikey, meaning they tend to puncture the lung lining and become very difficult to exhale. Because of this, it is considered the most dangerous type of commercially used asbestos.
  Commonly found in: sprayed-on insulation, thermal insulation (pipe lagging), loose-fill insulation, asbestos-woven textiles (e.g. gaskets), and cement sheeting.
• Amosite
  This type of asbestos is typically known as ‘brown asbestos’ and was voluntarily banned from the UK in 1890. Its fibres are course and strong.
  Commonly found in: rigid asbestos insulation boards (AIBs).
• Chrysotile
  This is the most common form of asbestos, contributing for over 90% of all commercially used asbestos in building materials. In terms of fibre shape, it is far easier to exhale which is why it wasn’t banned completely in the UK until 1999.
  Commonly found in: most asbestos based building materials

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Asbestos Removal UK FAQ 

Why would someone want asbestos removed?

There are several benefits to asbestos removal. Living in an asbestos-free property means you won’t have to worry about accidentally disturbing dormant asbestos and risking your health or the health of those around you.

Additionally, replacing asbestos materials with newer, risk-free materials will mean your home is built to modern standards and meets current building regulations. 

What are the disadvantages of asbestos removal?

Disturbing safe asbestos can lead to unwanted costs – as you will now know, it can cost more than £50 per square metre to remove asbestos from a property.
Make sure if you’re having asbestos removed from your property that you take advantage of any council schemes – whether subsidiary or payment plan – available to you. 

What are the main benefits of asbestos removal?

In addition to making your home safer, having asbestos materials removed and replaced with modern, safer ones can add value to your property and make it more attractive to potential buyers.

It is your legal responsibility to disclose to a buyer if your property contains asbestos. This could mean a buyer could be less likely to purchase the property. If you’re looking to sell your home at some point in the future, it’s worth looking into asbestos removal as a means to add worth to your property and to increase interest in it.

Who can undertake asbestos removal/stripping for me?

Do not attempt to remove asbestos yourself.

Though there are guides online for DIY asbestos removal which explain how best to protect yourself but the handling and disposal of the materials must be carried out by a licensed professional.

There are many local companies (who may work for your local council) who will be able to survey, remove, and dispose of any asbestos you may have in your home. Prices may vary depending on the size of the company, and the extent of the removal to be carried out.

You can compare 3-4 competitive quotes from local asbestos removal companies using the form at the top of this page.

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Should my asbestos removal expert be a member of anything (trade body, government registration scheme, etc?)

Though it can be tempting to hire tradesmen coming in at the cheapest price to carry out the asbestos removal, doing so can expose your home and anyone inside it to a significant risk.

The company you choose should have the following accreditations:

• BOHS P402 Standard
• HSE Licensed
• Hazardous Waste Carriers Licence (this is if they transport the asbestos away from your home)
• They get samples assessed by a laboratory accredited by UKAS

How long does it take to have asbestos removed?

There are a number of factors in the asbestos removal process that may affect the timescale of the operation. These include:

• Vacating the property
  If the property is a hazardous, it may need to be vacated prior to the removal effort. This is the safest option and should be taken into consideration when determining timeframe.
• Quantity and Type of Asbestos to be removed
  Small amounts of asbestos may be removed in under 48 hours, while larger amounts may mean the removal operation will take longer in order to adhere to all safety standards.
• Abatement Periods
  The most important part of the asbestos removal process is the abatement period i.e. the period of time after the removal that the property is left to ensure it’s safe. This will be decided by the asbestos removal experts.

• Air Testing
  Before allowing people back into the property, an asbestos removal team must test the air quality. This is to minimise risk of airborne asbestos fibres. A safe level of air quality is less than 0.02 fibres per cubic centimetre of air. It is recommended to allow an independent testing company to conduct this task, to ensure no hazardous fibres remain in the property.

As you can see, the timeframe of your asbestos removal project will depend on several factors. For a specific estimate, ask your contractor.

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Before I get asbestos removed, what should I ask a potential asbestos removal expert?

Whoever you contract to carry out your asbestos removal, they should be able to ease your concerns surrounding the topic and answer any questions.

You could consider asking them:

• Do you have the appropriate accreditation and registrations to work with asbestos?
• Have you worked on a similar project before? How long did it take?
• How long do you think the abatement period will be?
• What should I do if I discover remaining asbestos after the removal takes place?

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has strict guidelines and rules covering work done with asbestos. If you want, you could ask your contractor to explain parts of the website you find difficult to understand, so they can give you peace of mind.

Why should I get asbestos removal quotes from Tradesmen Prices?

Using the Tradesmen Prices form below will give you 3-4 quotes from reliable, local asbestos removal companies who will be able to carry out asbestos removal in your home.

Because there are lots of companies in the asbestos removal sector, they will compete for your custom. Letting them know you’ve received lower quotes elsewhere may bring the price down and you won’t have to worry about hiring unqualified workers – Tradesmen Prices only work with genuine, credential-checked tradespeople. Please use the form at the top of the page.

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