Asbestos Removal in Homes

Posted on June 7, 2010 with 3 Comments

Unexpectedly finding asbestos in your home can be a nasty shock. Many people don’t realise they have asbestos in their property and only discover it when they want to carry out repairs or alterations. Often, a homeowner is alerted to the problem of hidden asbestos by a plumber or electrician called in to do some work. Or a surveyor might point it out when you are trying to sell your house.

The first thing to do is to look at the situation calmly. Most asbestos only becomes dangerous when it is damaged in some way. Cutting, chipping or scraping asbestos can release tiny fibres. If these asbestos fibres become airborne, people breathe them in and they can cause serious lung diseases.

If the asbestos in your home is in good condition and you’re not planning to disturb it, it’s often best to leave it alone. But if you want to install a new heating system, rewire your home or carry out any other work that will require someone to come into contact with asbestos, removal might be your safest option.

Whilst smaller amounts can sometimes be removed without professional assistance, providing the right precautions are taken, asbestos lagging, spray or coatings are particularly difficult to remove and must only be removed by a specialist asbestos removal contractor licensed by the Health and Safety Executive.

Many homeowners prefer to leave all types of asbestos removal to the experts, and quite sensibly. A properly licensed asbestos removal contractor will be able to advise you on the asbestos in your home and supply the trained staff and specialist equipment needed to remove and dispose of it in accordance with all current Health and Safety legislation.

So how do they go about it? Every asbestos removal job is different, but the usual procedure is to isolate the work area to avoid contaminating any other part of the home, remove the asbestos in the most efficient way, and leave the area thoroughly cleaned.    

Unfortunately, finding the right contractor is not always straightforward. Some only work on commercial or industrial buildings, others might not cover your area. Asking for quotations from several contractors makes sense but can be time-consuming. If a quotation seems suspiciously low you might also want to check the contractor’s license details with the Health and Safety Executive.

Written by:  Joanne Oxenham & Tania Ringrose

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