Not many people know this, but it's estimated that around six million tonnes of asbestos is still lurking in buildings around the UK, even though it was banned from use in the construction industry in 1999!
That's a lot of asbestos, and it can be a real problem.
As highly respected and trusted professionals in the industry, Asbestos SOS is aware of this, and we use our blog posts to inform and educate people about this hazardous material. In this post, we take a general look at the cost of removing asbestos, as it's an issue that affects homeowners, landlords, and businesses right across the UK.
Between the 1930s and the late 1990s, something like 4,000 different asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used by the construction industry, making this a very broad subject. Asbestos found its way into roof tiles, floor tiles, plaster, wallpaper, wallpaper paste, insulation - almost everywhere you can think of!
It seems unthinkable now, but even though the risks involved were strongly suspected (and eventually proved conclusively), successive governments failed to act decisively and ban asbestos materials.
This leaves us with a major problem today: the need to remove asbestos when it becomes a health hazard. Asbestos removal specialists, like Asbestos SOS, are dedicated to eliminating the problem and offering expert advice when required.
We'll examine the serious health risks later, but first, let's take a general look at the actual cost of different types of asbestos removal projects and what factors affect the price you pay.
Asbestos garages were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, although most examples only contain asbestos in the roof in the form of asbestos sheets.
This is a relatively 'easy' job to tackle (for the professionals!), as it is outdoors, and there's less risk of airborne asbestos fibres contaminating the inside of the property.
The minimum cost to remove asbestos sheets from a garage roof is roughly £50 per square metre.
For comparison, an entire asbestos garage removal would cost at least £1,400, including VAT.
These garage walls usually contain asbestos cement in slabs, rather than the corrugated asbestos sheets that are mostly used on the roof, making them more problematic to deal with.
Uncover more: Asbestos Garage Roof Removal Cost
Asbestos roof tiles were used for many decades, right up until the ban in 1999. They are fairly easy to spot, as every fifth tile (in theory) has an identification mark. If you can do this safely, it's a good way to get the ball rolling in your asbestos management plan.
Even so, it's still essential to get the tiles checked by an expert who can assess their condition and advise you on what to do next.
Removing asbestos tiles from the roof of a domestic dwelling or industrial/commercial building is a more involved process so the cost will be higher. For example, scaffolding will be necessary, and this adds to the overall price.
Find out more: Asbestos Roof Tile Removal Cost
This is where things can get 'interesting": Asbestos floor tiles were often laid on top of each other, so you may have two or even three layers of tiles to remove, which will (obviously) affect the asbestos removal costs.
To complicate matters further, bitumen adhesive was frequently used to stick the tiles down, and this - unfortunately - also often contained asbestos!
On average, an asbestos removal company will charge between £12 and £20 per square metre to remove asbestos floor tiles, depending on the number of layers present.
This will be higher if they need to tackle asbestos adhesive, as it's a real pain to shift. In countless cases, it can't be removed entirely because the tiles have been inserted beneath fitted kitchens, skirting boards, and even partition (stud) walls. When this happens, the contractor may have to leave some adhesive in place. They will remove as much as possible, but seal the remaining material to make it safe and ready for you to lay down a floor covering of your choice.
Learn more: Asbestos Floor Tile Removal Cost
Even today, more than twenty years after it was banned for health and safety reasons, it's still not widely known that many textured coatings (including Artex, which is one single brand) contained asbestos.
Like the other products, it's generally safe unless damaged or disturbed, but with the modern trend of removing textured ceilings, people are unknowingly putting themselves and their families at risk.
One annoying fact here is that not all brands used asbestos, and others phased it out before the ban in 1999. If you know which brand your textured ceiling is, you may be able to discover whether it contains asbestos or not, without the need for testing.
In most cases, however, you'll need an asbestos survey to be 100% sure that this hazardous material is present. Once this is established, you'll be advised whether it needs to be removed or not.
The average price for asbestos Artex removal is about £18 per square metre but can be as high as £30 per square metre. If this seems suspiciously low (for some people), remember that this will apply to all the rooms containing Artex, and this could quickly add up. For example, asbestos removal work for a 4x4 metre ceiling could cost around £500, and then you need to add up how many other rooms need work.
Oddly enough, the cost of plastering over it (encapsulation) can sometimes be more than or the same as the cost to remove asbestos Artex!
Explore further: Asbestos Artex Removal (Textured Coating) Cost
As with the other items, the cost of removing an asbestos boiler and flue in the UK can vary widely depending on several factors, making it difficult to give a precise figure. However, here's a general overview to highlight the key costs to consider:
Take a look: Asbestos Boiler And Flue Removal Cost
It's a similar story with asbestos ceilings, and we partly covered this in the Artex section above. However, ceiling tiles require a slightly different approach, so here's a general breakdown of the costs involved.
Factors Affecting Cost:
Discover: Asbestos Ceilings And Ceiling Tile Removal Cost
Although few of these are still in use, they do exist, and they need attention. While the health risks related to ingesting asbestos fibres (as opposed to inhaling them) that might be in your water supply are generally lower, it's still wise to replace your old water tank if it contains asbestos.
For one thing, there's a chance that it might be damaged and release asbestos dust, so, it's essential to get it checked out.
As for cost, a domestic water tank removal would come in at around £200, while those set within industrial or commercial buildings tend to range from £500 to £2,500 or more because of the scale of the job.
The size of the tank and its location are important factors to keep in mind, as is the type of asbestos involved.
Check out: Asbestos Water Tank Removal Cost
How much does asbestos removal cost in relation to pipe insulation and lagging? As always, the cost to remove asbestos will vary depending on the amount present and the type of asbestos involved.
Most contractors charge by the metre for pipes, with the average price hovering around £40 (per metre). Even so, many companies set a minimum charge of between £200 and £300 for dealing with asbestos pipe insulation, no matter how small the job may be.
It all depends on the length of the pipe, their location, and the type of asbestos used.
Dig deeper: Asbestos Pipe Insulation And Lagging Removal Cost
It is sometimes possible to avoid the asbestos removal cost by opting for asbestos encapsulation.
In this process, a protective adhesive is applied to the surface of the existing asbestos materials to prevent any fibres from being released.
It's a handy choice for anyone hoping to keep costs down, but it isn't recommended often as the asbestos must be in good condition. It's not an option with friable asbestos, as this is too much of a risk.
Prices for encapsulation vary between about £8 and £25, depending on the size and scale of the project, as well as ease of access.
At Asbestos SOS, we feel it's our job to inform you of the facts without causing fear or anxiety. The tabloid press can, at times, be guilty of fearmongering over asbestos, with alarming, sensationalised headlines that only serve to stir up panic.
To balance things out, here's a more level-headed view:
The majority of asbestos-related health conditions are a result of historic asbestos exposure; that is, the victims were exposed to high levels of asbestos fibres at some time in the past - typically more than twenty years ago. As the symptoms of these illnesses generally take between ten and forty years to manifest, these cases are only being discovered now, mostly in construction industry workers or contractors working in close proximity to asbestos products.
While there are around 5,000 deaths each year in the UK that are attributed to asbestos dust exposure, this figure will fall drastically in the near future due to the ban in 1999 along with all the asbestos regulations introduced since then.
While one-time asbestos exposure can cause conditions like lung cancer and asbestosis, the risk is very low. In addition, managing asbestos (by using professionals, like us!) reduces the health risks even further.
Does this mean that you can remove asbestos yourself or forget about any asbestos-containing materials in your home or business? Well, actually, no! That would be a big mistake.
The key to dealing with asbestos is to minimise the risk, and that means having an asbestos survey and inspection, followed by full asbestos removal, if necessary.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that appears in six types, although three were widely used in construction in the UK: White asbestos, blue asbestos, and brown asbestos.
All three are noted for their insulating, sound-proofing, and waterproofing properties, although the white variety was used in around 80% of asbestos materials.
While white asbestos was considered less dangerous, all three could potentially release harmful fibres that could be inhaled, and this is where the health risks arise.
On the whole, any asbestos material is relatively safe, unless it is damaged or disturbed. Friable asbestos is a big risk, as it is crumbly and poses more chance of releasing asbestos fibres that cause lung cancer and other diseases.
When considering the cost of asbestos removal, it's vital that the dangers are appreciated.
Remember: this is a hazardous job. Only trained professionals should ever handle the removal of asbestos, wherever it might be hiding. These specialists understand the associated risks, using full PPE and strict protocols to ensure everyone's safety.
The actual removal process has a major bearing on the cost of removing asbestos. While it follows a basic pattern to ensure all safety regulations are followed, each of the different scenarios above requires its own methods and specialist equipment.
This guide outlines the key steps involved, along with estimated cost ranges to help you understand what to expect:
While we've covered a lot of ground, there are still a few factors that may affect the cost of removing asbestos, as well as some questions that need answering, so let's resolve that right now.
Asbestos disposal fees are usually included, but not always, so be sure to check with your contractor. As it is classed as harmful material, a hazardous waste carriers licence is required to transport it to a recycling facility. These are run by the local council, who charge a fee for traders and contractors to use them.
This aspect can significantly affect the cost of asbestos removal, as certain types require extra care when handling; brown and blue asbestos are far more dangerous than the white variety, so your contractor may add a bit to the total to cover the extra expense.
In the UK, the terms asbestos survey and asbestos inspection are often used interchangeably, leading to some confusion. While they seem synonymous, there are differences in the scope and purpose of each one:
A survey is a full-fledged investigation of all suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) within a property.
Also, there are two main types:
This usually refers to a visual inspection only: It focuses on visually identifying suspected ACMs without necessarily taking samples or conducting extensive analysis.
On the whole, they are used for:
It's imperative to note that it may not provide conclusive evidence of the presence or type of asbestos and is not a substitute for a full survey. However, inspection is required for managing ACMs or before major works.
Choosing between a survey and an inspection depends on your specific needs. If you suspect asbestos in your property and require a complete picture for management or future works, a full survey is recommended. If you need a quick assessment before making further decisions, an inspection might be enough.
Consulting a qualified asbestos professional is always advisable to understand your specific situation and determine the right course of action. They can advise on the required surveys and inspections based on legal requirements and your needs.
If you're unfortunate enough to have asbestos material somewhere in or around your property, two things are clear: it needs to be addressed, and you need to be prepared for the cost of removing asbestos (or containing it).
Finding an accurate estimate can be a challenge, as there are so many factors involved - as you can see from this blog! However, we've given you a taste of what to expect, and hopefully, this has prepared you for the task ahead and how much you need to budget for.
Helpful companies (like the wonderful team at Asbestos SOS!) offer an 'asbestos removal cost calculator' service whereby you provide all the details, and they come up with an overall cost to get you asbestos-free, forever.
