How Much to Remove Asbestos?
So, when was asbestos used?
In the past, asbestos was one of the most popular types of building material due to its fantastic ability to provide thermal insulation and absorb sounds.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t until later that we learned the dangerous side effects of the material.
Where can asbestos be found?
Now that we understand the dangers, the material is no longer used in building. However, it is still found hidden in many older buildings.
Since it was often mixed with other materials, it can be hard to identify unless you’re a professional.
With this in mind, plus the dangers of it, you must hire a professional to remove asbestos safely.
If you suspect that there may be asbestos present in your home, you should reach out to a professional as soon as possible. They can then carry out a safety inspection and arrange for the material to be removed safely.
How much does asbestos removal cost in total?
The average cost for removing asbestos is usually around £50-£60 per m2. You should also factor in the cost of bringing a professional contractor in to complete a survey of the necessary work. This will usually cost around £200-£300 per day.
For larger asbestos removal jobs, you will need to have quite a high budget as the costs can really add up.
What can affect the cost of asbestos removal?
Several factors could affect the asbestos removal costs, including your location in the UK and the amount of asbestos that needs to be removed.
Asbestos Removal Prices
Although the prices differ greatly depending on the job, the table below highlights what you could expect to pay for asbestos removal at your home:
| TYPE OF JOB | DURATIONn | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|---|
| Professional survey | 1-3 hours | £200-£300 |
| Asbestos removal | 3-5 days | £50-£60 per m2 |
| Applying protective adhesive | 1-2 hours | £8-£15 per m2 |
| Council removal (200kg) | 3-5 days | £60-£300 |
| Asbestos garage roof removal | 3-5 days | £380-£1800 |
| Re-boarding | 3-5 days | £400-£1000 |
What are the Supply Costs of Removing Asbestos?
Since asbestos removal is a very dangerous job, it should never be attempted as a DIY job. With this in mind, there are no supply costs involved with removing asbestos. Any supplies needed to complete the job will be provided by the company that is carrying out the work.
When a surveyor comes to take a look at the work needed, they will usually provide you with a quote for the entire cost of the job, and this will include any supplies needed to carry out the work.
What are the Additional Costs of Removing Asbestos?
When it comes to removing asbestos, several additional costs may arise. Below is a table of the additional costs that you may wish to consider when it comes to this type of work:
| ADDITIONAL COST | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|
| Re-boarding | £400-£1000 |
| Sealing Artex | £150-£250 |
| Artex removal | £250-£500 |
| Re-decorating | ££500-£2000 |
Asbestos removal can be a large job that is often spread over a few days. With this in mind, it would be sensible for you to find alternative accommodation for this time.
This may mean that you’ll need to pay for hotel costs, which could add £200-£600 on average to the overall costs involved with the work.
Depending on where you are located, you may also need to pay for excess mileage. As asbestos removal is a very niche type of job, you may need to hire a company from far away to get it done.
If this is the case, you may need to pay the contractors an additional fee to cover the cost of getting to you.
Tradesmen Costs for Asbestos Removal
In this section, we will go over the costs that you can expect to pay for the labour of having asbestos removed from your home.
The average cost that you can expect to pay for the labour of asbestos removal is around £50-£60 per square metre. If you have a lot of asbestos in your home, you may need to have more than one contractor to complete the job.
If this is the case, you will likely end up paying a little extra for labour.
Before you go through an asbestos removal job, you will need to bring someone in to survey the problem. This process should only take a few hours, and a contractor will usually charge around £200-£300 for this service.
Asbestos removal prices will increase if you live in the London area.
How Long Does It Take to Remove Asbestos?
You may be wondering how long it takes to remove asbestos from your home. The timescales can vary greatly depending on the type of job.
Before you have your asbestos removed, you will need to have it surveyed by a professional. This process should only take a few hours to complete. Then, if asbestos is identified, they will provide you with a quote and estimated timescales for the asbestos removal job.
The time it takes to get asbestos removed from your home will depend on the amount of asbestos being removed and the ease of access to the affected area. However, the average asbestos removal job will usually take around 3-5 days.
Types of Asbestos
There are several different types of asbestos. Below is a list of the types of asbestos and some information about each type:
Chrysotile (white asbestos)
This is the most commonly used type of asbestos. It can usually be found in ceilings, walls, roofs, and floors.
Amosite (brown asbestos)
This type of asbestos was used mostly in pipe insulation and cement sheets. It can also be found in thermal insulation products, insulating board, and ceiling tiles.
Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
This type of asbestos was mostly used to insulate steam engines. However, it was also used in some pipe insulations, cement products, plastics, and spray-on coatings.
The above types of asbestos and the three most common variants are typically found in older homes.
The first step in an asbestos removal job is having a surveyor assess the work that needs to be done. They will then advise you on the best method of removal and what’s involved.
The most common type of asbestos removal is usually to encapsulate the asbestos. Asbestos encapsulation involves applying a protective adhesive to the asbestos.
This is much cheaper than having the material removed. This is the best option if there is a lot of asbestos present in areas of the home.
If there isn’t much asbestos present in your home, then a full removal will most likely be the recommended option.
FAQs
Q: What is asbestos?
A: Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre which was previously heavily used to construct many buildings including commercial buildings and residential properties.
Q: When was asbestos banned?
A: The supply and use of all asbestos products have been banned in the UK since 1999.
Q: Do I need to remove asbestos in Artex?
A: It is fine to leave asbestos in Artex alone as long as it is in good condition and undamaged. If left alone, the asbestos will not cause a risk to your health.
Q: What is an asbestos testing kit?
A: If you are curious as to whether asbestos is present in your home, you can do a quick and cheap test with a DIY asbestos sampling kit. An asbestos testing kit will allow you to sample materials at your property to see if asbestos is present.
Q: How do companies do safe asbestos disposal?
A: Asbestos must be disposed of in a very specific way. It must be packaged in approved packaging with a hazardous label and asbestos code.
It should also be double-bagged with the hazardous and asbestos labels clearly visible. To transport asbestos waste, you must have a carrier’s licence, and it must be disposed of at a licensed disposal site.
Sources
- https://www.rightwayenvironmental.co.uk/asbestos-removal-process-a-step-by-step-guide
- https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/types
- https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/asbestos-related-conditions/what-is-asbestos
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information
- https://www.aic.org.uk/asbestos-in-artex
