Considering getting an asbestos survey? Find out how much you can expect to pay for a professional asbestos survey below.
Average Cost
We surveyed 42 different companies across the UK.
| Description | Average | Low – High |
|---|---|---|
| Management survey of 2-3 bedroom property | £260 | £165 – £385 |
| Management survey of shop with flat above | £330 | £225 – £440 |
| Management survey of commercial property | £385 | £220 – £660 |
| Demolition or refurbishment survey of properties listed above | +£165 | +£110 – £275 |
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos itself is a naturally occurring silicate material. It was popular in the construction industry before it was banned in 1999. It needs to be either removed, sealed or managed consistently.
Asbestos is a hazardous material. This is because airborne asbestos fibres are easily inhaled. They can cause various types of cancer including pleurisy, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Many people have serious risks of respiratory health complications when exposed to asbestos long-term. There is no safe level of exposure.
An asbestos survey will determine whether there is asbestos and the type in the building. The survey will also advise on how best to manage the asbestos.
Are you responsible for maintaining a non-domestic premise that could contain asbestos? Then you legally required to get an asbestos survey.
Types of Surveys
Asbestos survey costs vary depending on the type of survey needed. There two main types:
- Asbestos management surveys
- Asbestos Refurbishment and demolition surveys.
Asbestos Management Surveys
A surveyor will find and sample any asbestos that he can find without damage to the property. This is the typical survey used in purchasing a new property. They identify where people are exposed to asbestos day-to-day.
A contractor should test all surface finishes within the building. These can include items like ceilings, walls, floors, boxings, tanks, insulation etc.
A contractor should be inspecting all areas of the building from the loft down to the basement. Outbuildings and garages should also be included.
The surveys are non-intrusive and do not cause any damage.
Asbestos Refurbishment or Demolition Surveys
This type of survey is needed when the building (or part of it) needs to be upgraded, refurbished or demolished. It should be carried out before any refurbishment or demolition work commences.
Refurbishment and demolition surveys try to locate all the asbestos in the building (or relevant part of it) as far as is reasonably practicable.
They should only be carried out in specific parts of the building where refurbishment or demolition is planned.
A refurbishment and demolition survey to targeted areas of a building can be carried out in conjunction with a management survey (non-intrusive if you are only carrying out light works).
A surveyor will go into a lot more depth with these types of surveys. For example, they’ll lift floor boards and make holes in walls for refurbishment or demolition surveys.
The area must be vacated during the inspection, and then certified ‘fit for reoccupation’ after the survey.
Refurbishment and demolition surveys are fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection when necessary.
Expect to pay about £100-£250 more for a refurbishment or demolition survey compared to a management survey.
Factors Affecting Cost
There are a number of external factors that could add to the suggested prices, detailed below.
Size of Property
The number of rooms, the floor size area and number the floors can affect cost estimates.
Smaller properties with extra rooms may actually cost more. This is because the survey time required to detail all the items in each room could be greater than a larger warehouse with fewer rooms.
If a contractor needs to be price up extra bedrooms in a residential property that weren’t included in their quote, they may charge up to £25 per extra room.
A contractor can price more accurately if you can supply floor plans or give an approximate area size estimate.
Age of Property
Older premises usually need more sampling than newer buildings.
Asbestos use peaked during 1960’s and 1970’s, so buildings built in those years usually contain more asbestos. Asbestos was only fully banned in the UK construction industry in 1999.
The amount and type of asbestos products can also affect the cost. If rooms predominantly contain floor tiles and ‘Artex’ coating, more samples will be required.
Type of Property
Certain properties like blocks flats may be more difficult to access. Out of hours working will increase costs.
Geographical Location
Although prices aren’t drastically different throughout the country, there can be differences between regions.
The table below gives different percentage adjustments based on location. They are based on the BCIS and Spon indices.
| Region | % Adjustment |
|---|---|
| South East (Southampton, Oxford, Kent, Outer London) | 0 |
| Inner London | +4% |
| South West (Bristol, Exeter) | -4% |
| West Midlands (Birmingham) | -10% |
| East Midlands (Northampton, Nottingham, Leicester) | -10% |
| East Anglia (Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich) | -5% |
| North West (Liverpool, Manchester) | -12% |
| Yorkshire and Humberside (Leeds, Sheffield) | -11% |
| North East (Newcastle, Sunderland) | -10% |
| Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow) | -6% |
| Wales (Cardiff, Swansea) | -9% |
| Northern Ireland (Belfast) | -12% |
Asbestos Sampling Costs
Some companies will charge you a fixed price for the survey and then add on each asbestos sample. Beware as this can substantially increase the costs.
Our recommendation is to make sure the costs include a sample analysis. Many companies we surveyed included sampling costs as part of their quote.
If samples are not included within the price, you can check the prices you can expect to pay per sample in the table below.
Generally, the first will be the most expensive and get progressively cheaper. Some contractors can charge up to £50 for the first sample.
| Number of Samples | Cost per Sample |
|---|---|
| 1 | £25 + VAT |
| 2-5 | £18 + VAT |
| 6-10 | £15 + VAT |
| 11-25 | £12 + VAT |
| 25+ | £10 + VAT |
Remember, these prices are just estimates; costs will vary depending on your requirements. To get accurate quotes based on your property and number of samples required, fill in the form below and you’ll get 3 free, no obligation cost estimates from local asbestos surveyors.
Get Prices on Abestos Surveys Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for an asbestos survey.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed written quote specifically for you.
We work with all the best asbestos surveyors ready to price your job. Get free, no-obligation quotes in your local area and compare prices using the form below.
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