Asbestos

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals made up of many small fibres. These fibres are very strong and resistant to heat. Consequently, asbestos was used in a wide range of building materials. Inhaling asbestos fibres is known to cause serious damage to health so its use was banned in 1999.

It is important to remember that asbestos-containing materials are not a cause for concern if it is in good condition and in a place where it is unlikely to be disturbed. It is only when the asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed that asbestos becomes a danger.

If removal or repair of any asbestos-containing material is required, the work will be carried out by an approved licensed asbestos removal contractor.

Where can asbestos be found?

Areas where asbestos may be found include:

• Textured decorative coatings such as Artex.
• Vinyl or thermoplastic floor tiles.
• Eaves and soffits.
• Corrugated cement sheeting, usually found on garage roofs.
• Pipe lagging.
• Loose fill insulation.

We carry out surveys of our properties to identify asbestos and assess its condition.

What care should you take with DIY?

If you know that you have material containing asbestos in your home, or are concerned that you might have, then you must not disturb the material and take extra care when carrying out DIY. Ask us for advice before carrying out any work.

This especially applies if your home has textured, decorative coating that contains asbestos, such as Artex, on the walls or ceiling. It is safe to clean and repaint this coating as long as the surface is in good condition but do not attempt to sand, scrape, wire brush or drill into it.