Is asbestos hiding in your home?

Although asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999, many homes built before this date may still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

Used extensively from the 1930s to the 1980s, asbestos was prized for its durability, fire resistance and insulation properties 

Common locations of asbestos in homes

If your property was built or refurbished before 2000, here are some places where asbestos might be lurking:

Ceilings & walls

Textured coatings like Artex often contain chrysotile asbestos. Asbestos insulating boards (AIB) may be found in partition walls, ceiling tiles and behind fuse boxes 

Flooring

Vinyl floor tiles, especially those backed with asbestos paper or bitumen adhesive, were widely used 

Bathrooms

Bath panels, toilet cisterns and sink pads may contain asbestos cement or AIB.

Lofts & insulation

Loose-fill insulation and pipe lagging are high-risk ACMs often found in older lofts and airing cupboards.

Roofing & exterior

Asbestos cement was commonly used in roof tiles, soffits, fascia, cladding and rainwater goods like gutters and downpipes. 

Kitchens & utility areas

Asbestos may be present in boiler flues, old storage heaters and even window panels.

Is it dangerous?

Asbestos is only hazardous when disturbed or damaged, releasing microscopic fibres that can be inhaled. These fibres are linked to serious health conditions, including mesothelioma and asbestosis 

What should you do?

If you suspect asbestos in your home, do not attempt to remove or disturb it yourself. Contact us – we’re a licensed asbestos surveyor for inspection and testing. In many cases, undamaged asbestos can be safely left in place or encapsulated.

Understanding where asbestos may be

Understanding where asbestos may be hiding is the first step in protecting your health and safely managing your property.

We’ve put together a handy, visual guide Asbestos in the Home Finder that you can use for free to help with this.