Asbestos Removal in Kingston upon Thames

Kingston Upon Thames disposed of approximately 96,000 tonnes of hazardous waste last year. We do not usually think of hazardous waste being within the household, we may even see it as something that we do not need to worry about, however, one of the most common types of hazardous waste is asbestos. Asbestos is a material made of microscopic fibres and had been used extensively in construction until it was banned in 1999. Commercial and residential properties constructed before 2000 are the most likely places to find asbestos, as construction workers used it for insulation, flooring, roofing and in several other locations like pipes and boilers.

Kingston Upon Thames is a historic town with many buildings constructed long before the asbestos ban, so checking for asbestos is the best way to limit the chances of it impacting yours, or anyone else’s health.
Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibres can cause serious long-term illnesses and diseases. However, as asbestos was used mainly in insulation, many people do not know that there is asbestos in their house. Like many borough councils, Kingston does not have its own asbestos removal service; however, as a potential danger to public health, the council must ensure that its residents have the means to have asbestos removed from their homes. For this reason, Kingston Council encourages its residents to utilise the City of London asbestos collection service. Asbestos removal should always be left to professionals and unlike some of the Greater London reuse and recycling centres, Villiers Road Household Recycling and Reuse Centre will not dispose of any asbestos.

Here at Wayst, we help residents and business owners in Kingston with asbestos removals and disposals by connecting them with our network of highly professional asbestos removal companies who can be trusted to do a job well done across the wide range of the standards we manage them on. We suggest always using a professional service when it comes to removing hazardous material like asbestos from your home or business due to the duty of care laws and regulations. Wayst also ensures that our partners dispose of asbestos safely and responsibility.

Need help with asbestos removal in Kingston Upon Thames? We are here to help.

Estimates suggest that the extensive use of asbestos in construction means that around 50% of homes have some form of asbestos inside. If you wish to renovate a property that you suspect contains asbestos, it is vital to do a thorough asbestos check first. Asbestos is most commonly found in insulation, roofing, boilers and pipes, although it can also be found in sheds or garages, so always check there too if you want to have one removed.

If you suspect asbestos is present in insulation material, it may be challenging to confirm visually. Kingston council advise on their website that you should have materials tested before attempting to remove or dispose of them, this will help keep you and others safe from the hazardous material. A test can be carried out through a licensed asbestos surveyor who will pass test samples on to a specialised testing facility. All of our asbestos removal partners offer these asbestos surveys to homes and businesses in Kingston, ensuring that business owners meet their statutory obligations. All asbestos testing labs in the UK must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.

If you need to have asbestos removed from a residential or commercial property in Kingston, the method of removal will depend on the condition of the asbestos. If the hazardous material is in good condition then it may be possible to seal it by spraying it with an adhesive it, preventing the fibrous dust from escaping, covering the asbestos is less likely to cause disturbances when compared to removing the material. An unlicensed company is legally allowed to remove asbestos cement or similar asbestos products, as long as the condition is not deemed dangerous. It is worth remembering that as time passes, the condition of the asbestos will deteriorate.

Here at Wayst, we strongly advise leaving any work with asbestos to our professionally trained asbestos removal partners. Not only are they licensed by the Environment Agency, but they are also trained extensively in the correct procedures of asbestos removal. Removal teams come equipped with industry-standard PPE, like respirators and other tools for the job. Our asbestos teams deploy purpose-built vacuum tools to ensure that none of the asbestos dust is left behind, along with a strict cleaning practise of mopping and wiping down areas that have come into contact with the asbestos. Our asbestos removal partners then transport the asbestos to specialist waste transfer sites around the Kingston area to be safely disposed of.

Unfortunately, an average of 13 people a day lose their lives to asbestos-related illnesses in the UK. Most of those affected by these illnesses are tradespeople who work on houses containing asbestos, so it is essential to check that your property is asbestos-free before having work carried out on it. That being said, the danger of asbestos is not usually an immediate one, as most of the related illnesses stem from long-term exposure to damaged asbestos. However, the symptoms of asbestos related illnesses tend to only show decades after initial exposure.

Broken or damaged asbestos is the most dangerous state of this material; the tiny fibres escape into the air and can cause damage and scarring to the throat and lungs. Exposure to these fibres can result in illnesses similar to those caused by smoking, as well as painful respiratory issues that lead to difficulty breathing over time.

When looking to have asbestos removed, it’s important to conduct a survey first. An asbestos surveyor will cost you around £100+VAT depending on the size of the area that they are surveying.

To have your asbestos collected, the City of London service is provided for free for the first 15 sqm of asbestos. However, they will not provide the tools required to wrap and prepare the asbestos for collection. They also do not collect from commercial buildings or schools. Any City of London collection after the first 15 sqm will require a quotation available from their website.

Additionally, private asbestos removal and collection services operate around the Kingston area, with most serving residents and businesses alike. These companies offer free price quotations upon enquiry as prices for asbestos removal in Kingston tend to vary depending on the size of the job. For example, removing a garage roof starts at just under £400+VAT. Conversely, removal of asbestos artex (a decorative surface coating) from the ceiling of two rooms can cost up to £2000+VAT.