The number of homeowners getting asbestos removed has jumped over the past year, according to Checkatrade.
The online directory said demand for asbestos removal services surged by 21 per cent in 2024, compared to 2023.
Checkatrade’s data is based on nearly nine million jobs carried out over the past two years by its approved tradespeople.
It showed that through its website alone, more than 22,000 asbestos-related jobs were carried out in the UK last year, up from 18,000 the year before.
Asbestos is a naturally-occuring fibre which was commonly used in the building trade between the 1930s and 1980s. If disturbed and inhaled, it can cause severe damage to the lungs.
The presence of asbestos in products or materials, such as flooring, wall coverings and guttering, is not considered risky unless they are disturbed or damaged. If they are then they can be very dangerous.
Deadly: Around 5,000 people die every year from asbestos-related diseases, making it the greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK
Despite the buying, selling, importing, or exporting of any materials containing asbestos being banned in the UK in 1999, it remains the greatest cause of work-related deaths.
While often seen as an issue consigned to the past, the figures show that its presence continues to be a serious issue in UK homes and buildings.
It is also increasingly likely to be picked up in the surveys carried out by home buyers, according to one expert.
Jamie Gatley of J G Asbestos Services said: ‘My company has certainly seen a noticeable uplift in enquiries and call-outs.
‘I believe this is mainly due to homebuyer surveys becoming increasingly asbestos-aware, which in turn recommend potential homeowners to carry out independent checks, which ultimately leads to work being carried out.’
The cost of the average asbestos removal job ranges from £950 to £3,750, according to Checkatrade.
In some instances where a house is being completely gutted for renovation, the bill to remove asbestos and dispose of it properly can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Why is asbestos so dangerous?
Materials that contain asbestos pose very little risk when left alone, but if they are disturbed or damaged they can be very dangerous.
Fibres are released into the air which if inhaled can lead to serious health conditions including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
These can take years or even decades to develop, but once diagnosed can be fatal.
It was widely used in building materials from around 1930 through to the mid-1980s, but according to the Health and Safety Executive, it could be found in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
The British Lung Foundation estimates that some 14 million UK homes were built when asbestos was being used in the construction industry.
Asbestos still kills around 5,000 workers each year in the UK according to the HSE, with 20 tradesmen dying each week as a result of past exposure.
Risks: When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious diseases
Where is asbestos found in the home?
Before the health implications of asbestos were known, products containing it were used for all manner of things – as a fire retardant, to lag pipes, in wall and roof insulation, or sprayed on to ceilings and walls as a decorative coating.
It can be very difficult to identify without expert knowledge, as it is often mixed with other materials and its appearance can be deceptive.
But despite these terrifying statistics, the risk to health from short-term exposure to asbestos is very low in most cases.
Developing an asbestos-related condition is much more likely to happen if a person has breathed in a considerable amount of asbestos fibres over a long period of time. This is why those in the building trade, who may have spent hours working in areas where asbestos was being disturbed are often most at risk.
But even if the risks are low to the average homeowner, disturbing asbestos when renovating could lead to prolonged exposure if the dust fibres are not effectively removed after the works and remain airborne within a property.
It is wise to be on the safe side and arrange a professional asbestos survey, not only to minimise the health concerns but also for peace of mind.
For a standard two or three-bedroom property, a survey will typically cost between £200 and £350, according to Checkatrade, but could be up to £1,000 for larger homes.
Jamie Gatley says: ‘Any house built or renovated between the 1950s and 90s has a good chance of having an element of asbestos.
‘Given most homes will have had some work carried out over such a large time-period, it gives an indication of how prevalent it still is.
‘It has been used quite widely, but can most commonly be seen in textured coatings on ceilings and walls, floor coverings, external pipework, soffits, garages and so on.
‘When renovating flooring, be especially aware when changing any vinyl-type tiles or linoleum.
‘For anyone in an older home that could be affected, I would always recommend carrying out an asbestos check or survey with a reliable and well-reviewed company.
‘When doing so, look for the correct asbestos surveying qualifications and check that samples are being analysed at a UKAS-accredited laboratory.’
Watch out: Textured, decorative ceiling coatings can contain small amounts of asbestos
Can you trust tradespeople to identify it?
While many tradespeople will be aware of the dangers of asbestos, there will be some who won’t be.
There may also be some who are willing to cut corners to keep a job price down and simply remove products containing asbestos themselves and get rid of them with other waste. This can often involve putting more junior members of building teams at risk.
‘There may be a minority of contractors that don’t take it as seriously as they should,’ says Garley. ‘But the dangers are well-known so I do not believe there is a significant issue in the industry when it comes to tradespeople disregarding the dangers
‘Some less experienced contractors may simply not be considering asbestos – especially now we have a new generation of tradespeople in their early 20s who may not be as aware of it, as they were too young to have seen it in the news at the time it was banned.
‘However, in my experience, the majority of domestic traders are knowledgeable and carry out the correct procedures when it comes to asbestos.
‘Things consumers can do to protect themselves are to ask specifically about whether tradespeople are looking for asbestos, if their house has the potential to have it. If they know they have asbestos, they should also hire asbestos specialists.’
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