With Mesothelioma Awareness Day approaching on 26 September, Timberwise Managing Director George Edwards is urging homeowners to consider the potential presence of asbestos before carrying out work on properties built or refurbished before 2000.
Homeowners planning renovations, repairs or improvements to older properties are being urged to consider the potential presence of asbestos before starting work.
Property expert George Edwards warned that the 1999 ban on asbestos did not remove materials already installed in buildings.
Mesothelioma UK says the UK has the highest incidence of mesothelioma in the world, a legacy of the country’s extensive historic use of asbestos. While blue and brown asbestos were banned in 1985 and white asbestos followed in 1999, asbestos-containing materials already in buildings were not automatically removed.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) both warn that asbestos may still be present in buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000.
And Mr Edwards, Managing Director of Timberwise, says he regularly encounters misconceptions among homeowners about the age of properties and the asbestos ban.
“It only stopped new use. Whatever had already gone in stayed exactly where it was,” says Edwards.
“Potential asbestos-containing materials can be found in a wide range of everyday building products, including textured decorative coatings such as Artex, cement roofing products, insulating boards around boilers or fuse boxes, pipe lagging and older vinyl floor tiles.”
Mr Edwards says homeowners should not assume that a material is asbestos-free simply because it looks familiar or because a property has already been renovated.
“You might spot a material commonly associated with asbestos, and the age of the building’s a warning sign in itself, but neither actually tells you what’s in it,” he says.
HSE guidance states that suspected asbestos-containing materials should be properly identified and, where necessary, sampled and analysed by a competent professional rather than assessed by appearance alone.
While asbestos-containing materials can remain in place without necessarily presenting an immediate risk, disturbing them can release hazardous fibres into the air.
“Asbestos undamaged behind a panel is a very different situation to somebody cutting through it with a power tool,” says Mr Edwards.
Drilling, sanding, sawing or stripping suspected asbestos-containing materials can release fibres that may have remained contained for decades.
According to the HSE, symptoms of asbestos-related disease can take between 15 and 60 years to appear. All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic, and exposure can cause diseases including mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as asbestosis and other serious lung conditions. Around 5,000 people a year in Great Britain still die from asbestos-related diseases, largely as a result of exposure that occurred decades ago.
Mr Edwards is encouraging homeowners to consider asbestos as part of their pre-renovation planning, particularly when working on older properties.
“The sensible time to think about this is before the work starts, not halfway through taking a ceiling down,” he says.
“Think about the age of the house, whether it’s been refurbished before, and which parts you’re planning to disturb. If there’s uncertainty about a material, get it resolved before you cut into it. And if something suspicious turns up once work is underway, stop.”
Where asbestos is suspected, homeowners should have the material assessed and, where appropriate, sampled by a competent asbestos professional before disturbing it.
If asbestos is confirmed, the UKHSA advises against attempting removal without appropriate advice. Homeowners should contact their local authority or an asbestos specialist for guidance on whether professional or licensed removal is required and how the material should be disposed of safely.
If suspected asbestos dust or fibres have already been released, homeowners should avoid brushing or shaking contaminated clothing or materials, as this can put fibres back into the air. Visible dust should be dealt with carefully, and appropriate advice should be sought from the local authority or a qualified asbestos professional.
Mr Edwards stresses that the presence of potential asbestos should not put homeowners off from acquiring older properties, but says it should form part of the considerations when buying, renovating or maintaining them.
A significant proportion of the UK’s housing stock predates 2000, meaning asbestos is an issue that many homeowners could encounter during the lifetime of their property.
“None of this needs to make homeowners wary of an older home,” says Edwards. “Most of us will live in, buy or renovate an older property eventually. It just needs a question asked before the drill goes in.”
“That small check is a lot easier than finding out afterwards.”
