Asbestos Removal Cost: Key Budget Factors in Removing Asbestos From Your Home

Asbestos used to be a common material for building and construction. Unfortunately, the harmful effects of this material were not known, and as a result, tens of thousands of people got and still get diseases from it that can't be cured. Asbestos was used to build a lot of buildings until 1999. It was used for things like roofing, insulation, walls, floors, and gutters, to name a few.

When the material is in good shape, there is nothing to worry about, but if it gets damaged or starts to break down, it can pose serious health risks. Asbestos is directly linked to deadly lung diseases, and each year in the UK, over 3000 people die from diseases caused by asbestos. Duty holders (which might include business owners and managers) of buildings built before 1999 are required by law to find out if asbestos is in the building they are responsible for and, if it is, to have a plan in place for how to handle it safely.

It’s also important to understand that there are different types of asbestos, which can make a difference to the cost of removal. Crocidolite or blue asbestos is hard to find and is usually used in places where the temperature is high. It is the type of asbestos that is thought to be the most dangerous. Brown asbestos, also called amosite, was often used as insulation. Chrysotile, or white asbestos, is the most common type of asbestos. It was used to build buildings, homes, garages, and many other things between 1930 and 1999.

But what about homeowners? What are their duties and responsibilities? Read on to find out more, including details about potential costs and the factors that will impact your budget.

What Do Homeowners Need To Do About Asbestos?

The first thing to remember is that, as we’ve said, if the asbestos in your home is undamaged, you don’t need to do anything about it; it’s not going to harm you or your family. However, you might feel happier if you have it removed, just for peace of mind.

If the asbestos is damaged in any way (and this can frequently happen accidentally during renovations or even drilling through a wall), this is when the real problems can start. It is at this point that you’ll need to find an asbestos removal specialist and ensure the material is removed safely and as soon as possible. The crucial thing to remember is that, even if you are an avid DIY-er, you should never attempt to remove asbestos yourself; this is a potentially deadly material.

The Cost Of Removing Asbestos From Your Home

As a homeowner, it’s essential you are able to budget not just for basic, everyday things, but for emergencies too. If you have asbestos in your home – this will have been brought to light on a home survey, more often than not – then it’s wise to have some idea of the asbestos removal cost, even if there is no need for that service immediately (or ever). Knowing how much it might cost you will help you should the need arise. With that in mind, here are the steps required and a rough estimate of the costs involved.

Arranging A Survey

Before any work can be undertaken, you’ll need to arrange for an asbestos survey to be undertaken. As we mentioned above, you may well have had a home survey, but these are very basic, and no surveyor will be drilling into walls, ceilings, or insulation and then sending their findings off for analysis. Asbestos testing does not fall within their scope of work, and it could be dangerous. Instead, your initial home survey will identify areas where there is a high likelihood of asbestos being present, and the surveyor will determine this from the age of the building and potentially the look of the ceiling or wall (which might include popcorn ceiling asbestos).

Having a full asbestos survey carried out on the back of this basic home survey is a good idea, as you’ll know for sure whether you have asbestos in your property or not. The cost for this kind of survey can range from £150 to £500, although it could be significantly more for larger or more complex properties.

Removal

There are actually two options for homeowners when it comes to asbestos removal, and one of those options is not to remove the asbestos at all. Known as encapsulation, it can sometimes be a better choice if removal would be too dangerous or disruptive.

Asbestos is encapsulated when it is to be left in place and is covered with an encapsulant to keep the fibres from being easily released when the material is broken. As a general rule, this can cost anywhere from £10 to £20 per square metre.

The other option is to entirely remove the asbestos. Costs for removal can vary a lot depending on things like quantity, the complexity of the work, and the steps that need to be taken to limit fibre release during the removal process. A rough estimate for removal would be between £50 and £100 per square metre.

Alternative Accommodation

It might be that you’ll need to find alternative accommodation while the asbestos removal work is being carried out. This will, of course, depend on how long the process is going to take.

The time required to remove asbestos from a structure varies greatly from project to project. How long it takes to complete is contingent on a number of variables, including the quantity being removed, the accessibility of the area, the nature of the required materials, and the configuration of the necessary machinery. The abatement time must also be observed to guarantee the property's safety. Many customers fail to realise the need for air cleaning in a house that has been renovated when asbestos was there. Even though it may be time-consuming, taking these steps will ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and everyone is kept safe.

If you do need to move out, you’ll need to consider that cost, which will be even higher if you have pets. Depending on how bad the asbestos problem is, you might not even have to leave your home. Industrial plastic sheets can be used to seal off rooms while work is being done. Every project is different, so it's hard to say if this plan will work or not. Most people leave their homes while asbestos is being removed, which is always the safest thing to do.

What About Insurance?

It’s important to speak to your insurance company if you need to have asbestos removed from your home, as some policies will cover this work, and that includes the cost of alternative accommodation.

What Factors Can Influence The Cost Of Asbestos Removal?

How much it costs to remove asbestos or seal it up depends on how much there is, what kind of asbestos it is, and where it is in your home. For example, it may be less expensive to remove an intact sheet of asbestos insulating board (AIB) from behind a bathroom wall than it is to remove loose-fill asbestos insulation from a loft.

Whether or not to remove or encase asbestos could depend in part on whether or not the asbestos is "friable." This means that it is likely to break apart, crumble, or chip when pressure is put on it. Asbestos fibres could get into the air in this condition, which is very dangerous.

Choose The Right Asbestos Removal Experts

Asbestos is a dangerous material because it can cause serious health problems like mesothelioma and different types of cancer. With this in mind, the safety of the people living in the building, the people doing the asbestos removal, and the people living nearby is the main concern of all asbestos removal and asbestos disposal. Ask a reliable contractor for an estimate on the cost of asbestos removal and how long it would take them to complete the task. The top asbestos removal companies will provide free on-site quotes after conducting no-obligation inspections of the affected area.

The final price for removing asbestos from your property will depend on the size and type of your building as well as the type of work that needs to be done. We can give you a competitive price for removal or encapsulation work, and you can trust that it will be done by a licensed, qualified, and experienced company.

Our removal experts can help you quickly and effectively, so call them today. We'll think about every part of your project and give you a quote with no strings attached. We've been in the business for a long time and love giving our clients the best and most trustworthy advice and help we can when you need asbestos removal near me.

Asbestos removal can be very dangerous if it isn't done right, so it should only be done by qualified professionals. It is illegal for people who aren't qualified or trained to remove and dispose of asbestos.

Call Gowrie Contracts Ltd today on 01382 237854 for professional and safe asbestos removal.