Why you cannot tell by eye
Many asbestos products look like modern materials. Textured ceilings, floor tiles, soffit boards and roof sheets can all appear identical whether or not they contain asbestos. The only reliable method is to have a sample analysed under a microscope in a laboratory.
What the sampling visit involves
A trained person takes a small piece of the material using dust controls, protective equipment and sealed bags. The area is made good where possible, and the sample is labelled and sent to a laboratory. The whole visit for a single sample is often short.
Materials that are commonly sampled
- Textured ceiling coatings such as Artex
- Vinyl floor tiles and the black adhesive under them
- Soffit and fascia boards, porch and bay linings
- Cement sheet roofs on garages, sheds and lean-tos
- Boards around boilers and fireplaces, and old pipe lagging
Why not take the sample yourself
Cutting, scraping or breaking material to get a sample is the sort of disturbance that can release fibres. If you are tempted, it is better to leave the material alone and ask for someone trained to take it.
What you get back
A written laboratory result for each sample, stating whether asbestos was found and which type. You can give it to builders and keep it with your house records.
This guide is general information. It is not a survey and cannot confirm the presence or absence of asbestos in your building.
