How Do You Know If You Have Asbestos

Asbestos is a building material that was commonly used for things like roofing, paint and flooring, among other things, up to as recently as 1999. It was then banned because of the related health risks from exposure to the product. However, while it is no longer used, there are plenty of homes where asbestos remains. If you’re concerned about its presence in your home you might not even know about it so how do you know if you have asbestos?

The key giveaway that there may be asbestos in your home is if the property is older, particularly if it was built before 1980. But if you do find something that you think is asbestos, you can’t be sure unless it is tested in a lab. 

When inspecting your property for asbestos, you may notice that it was used in a whole host of areas and comes in a range of colours. Quite often it will be green, blue, brown or white and one of the key features are fluffy fibres. These are incredibly dangerous if they are breathed in and repeated exposure can lead to a form of cancer called mesothelioma which primarily affects the heart and lungs.

You will normally be able to see these fibres when the asbestos becomes damaged and they may be present in various household products. Back in the day, asbestos was used for a whole host of things including flooring, window putty, ceilings, insulation, paint and much more so it’s not uncommon to find it all over the house. 

The good news is that provided the asbestos isn’t damaged, it won’t pose an immediate risk. It’s only when it is damaged that it becomes harmful which is why it’s incredibly important to hire a professional for its removal.

How Can I Test My Home For Asbestos?

Just looking at material isn’t always enough to correctly identify it and this is a common problem where asbestos is concerned. It’s never a good idea to try and remove anything that you suspect to be asbestos before you have had it tested but sight alone can make it tricky.

That said, if you want to be sure then you can take a sample of the material and send it to an expert who will test it for you. However, this isn’t recommended especially since there are plenty of services that will come to your home and do everything for you. The people that do this are professionally trained in dealing with the material and will be able to safely test it without a risk to anyone.

There isn’t currently any legislation in place in the UK that states domestic homeowners must test for asbestos or have it removed if they find it. However, if you are a landlord, the rules are quite different and you are legally required to follow the Control of Asbestos regulations Act. 

How Do I Know If My Ceiling Tiles Are Asbestos?

Asbestos is potentially a very dangerous material so it’s only natural that you will want it out of your home. Over exposure to it, especially over the course of time can have devastating results. We have already talked about the fact that this material can cause a particular type of cancer but there are other related health risks. 

If you have been exposed to asbestos then you may notice some short term symptoms which might include shortness of breath, swollen fingertips, wheezing, coughing and feeling fatigued. Could your ceiling tiles be to blame? 

To identify ceiling tiles that contain asbestos, you’ll first need to think about the age of the property. If it was built after 1999 then it will not have asbestos ceiling tiles since these were illegal after this date. Generally speaking, however, builders stopped using asbestos well before this so anything built before 1980 stands a chance of having asbestos. 

But dates aren’t always reliable so one thing that you can do to check whether the ceiling tiles contain asbestos is to check who manufactured them. Usually, there will be a stamp or mark that states the name of the manufacturer. You can find some of the most common ones here. 

How Much Does It Cost To Remove Popcorn Ceiling With Asbestos?

In modern times, it has almost become a trend to perform home renovations ourselves and for the most part this is great. Not only does it save money on labour costs but the sense of achievement you get from restoring a property is beyond compare. However, there are some jobs that must be left to professionals and asbestos removal is one of them. 

It’s not cheap though so if you’re buying an older property then it might be worth factoring in the cost of asbestos removal to your budget. 

While the cost of removing a popcorn ceiling with asbestos will vary from location to location, you can typically expect to pay around £1500. This is quite a lot of money so some people simply decide to plaster over the texture and repaint. Provided that the asbestos is not damaged, it won’t pose any risks. 

Of course, it’s always better to remove it where possible to completely remove any risk to your health. 

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Conclusion

For many years, asbestos was used in building projects for a multitude of things. It could be contained in everything from the paint on the walls to the insulation in your loft and even in your floor or ceiling tiles. 

While it is scary since everyone knows that asbestos poses a risk to your health, it’s often safe as long as it remains undamaged. But it’s always good to get rid of it and if you’re going to do this, we would strongly recommend hiring a professional. While it is costly, it’s also the safest way to get the job done.