What the roof may be
Large grey corrugated sheets on a garage built before 2000 are often asbestos cement. Newer fibre cement sheets look similar but do not contain asbestos, so appearance alone is not enough to tell them apart.
How a roof is sampled
Roof samples are taken with great care: the area is wetted, the sample is taken from an edge or hidden spot, and the damage is made good where possible. A laboratory then confirms whether asbestos is present. Do not climb on old sheets, because they can break underfoot.
After the result
If asbestos is confirmed and the roof is sound, many owners leave it alone and monitor it. If it is cracked, mossy or at the end of its life, removal and replacement can be priced by an independent contractor.
Who does the work, and what the law expects
Kilnbrook Asbestos Surveys is an introduction service. We pass your details to an independent contractor, who provides the quote, takes the samples or carries out the survey, and holds the insurance and any competence they need. Samples are analysed by a laboratory and the result is issued in writing. Taking samples or surveying a building is work with real exposure risk, so it should be done by trained people with dust controls, and the sample should be bagged, sealed and labelled correctly.
What to send us
- Two or three clear photos of the material and where it is
- The room, roof or area, and roughly how much of it
- The age of the building if you know it
- What work is planned, and when, if any
- Whether the building is occupied or in use
Prices on this site are guides only. Only the contractor's written quote counts.
How it works.
- 1
Send details and photos
Say what the material is, where it is and the age of the building. Clear photos help.
- 2
Contractor replies
An independent local contractor reviews your enquiry and confirms in writing what they can sample and what it would involve.
- 3
Sample taken
A small sample is taken with controls to limit dust, sealed and labelled.
- 4
Laboratory result
The sample is analysed and you receive a written result you can show to builders.
What affects the price.
- Size and type of roof
- Access for a ladder or platform
- Condition and age of the sheets
- Number of buildings (garage, shed, lean-to)
- Whether removal is also wanted afterwards
Good to know.
Can you tell from photos?
A contractor can say whether it looks like cement sheet, but only a sample confirms it.
Is moss on the roof a problem?
Moss itself is not the problem, but it can hide cracks and weathering. It is a good reason to check.
Do I have to remove it?
Not necessarily. Sound asbestos cement can often be managed in place. The contractor will advise.
Can I get testing and removal in one visit?
Testing usually comes first, but the contractor can quote removal separately once the result is known.
Do you do the testing yourselves?
No. We are an introduction service. We pass your details and photos to an independent local contractor, who provides the quote, takes the samples and arranges the laboratory analysis.
What should I send?
Two or three clear photos, what the material is and where it is, the age of the building if you know it, and a postcode. A phone photo is fine.
Can I take a sample myself?
It is not recommended. Cutting, scraping or drilling can release fibres. Leave the material alone and have a trained person take the sample.
Where we cover.
Stoke-on-Trent, its neighbourhoods and the towns and villages around it.
Tell us what needs testing.
A local contractor reviews your details and photos, then replies with a written quote for sampling or a survey. Free to ask, no obligation.
Prefer to talk?
01782 000 000