What To Expect From An Asbestos Survey

What To Expect From An Asbestos Survey


Asbestos inspection and surveys are an easy and simple way to find out whether there is materials containing asbestos in your new home, or even existing home. Asbestos surveys are carried out by a number of companies in the UK, however you should ensure any company adheres to ISO 17020 accreditation and also UKAS accredited. This means you are getting the best in surveys and all asbestos in a home should be identified.

UKAS , or the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to give it, its full title ensures asbestos surveys are carried out in the best possible manner and provides a badge for companies once they are happy this is happening.

Asbestos surveys are broken into two kinds of survey - management and refurbishment/demolition. The former is to protect those living/ working in the area from the dangers of the material and involves managing the threat. The latter is if you are looking to refurbish the area, or demolish the property.

So, what happens during an asbestos survey?

Initially the surveyor will visit a home, or a premises and then walk through it. This is so they can identify the areas where asbestos may be most likely to reside, such as in ceilings, floor tiles, pipe runs and other areas. This allows them to take notes and then create a plan for how they are going to approach the whole procedure. They will also ask questions about your property, whether you know if there is asbestos, or whether there are areas that are hard to access.

The surveyor will then decide on how he is going to do his survey and may leave and then come back at a later time. The surveyor will then walk from room, to room surveying the material in each room for asbestos. You should give them access to seldom used areas, such as risers, the loft, basement area and outside, as well as allow them to lift carpets and tiles.

What the Surveyor Does

Surveyors often then take photos of the room, as well as materials they consider may be dangerous. They may also sketch the room and in this sketch point out areas they think there are suspect materials. The surveyor may then take samples of the materials they deem suspect and bring them away to analyse and assess them for risk.

When the survey is completed, the surveyor sends off these samples and will have to wait for these returned. This often takes a few days. Afterwards a report will then be issued with information of where asbestos has been found in the home. It will also indicate the level of risk involved with the particular form of asbestos, allowing you to decide on what should be done with the area.

As not all asbestos is dangerous, this may mean you can leave the asbestos based material and not have to worry about it. In other cases, it may mean that it needs to be taken care of by a professional asbestos surveyor.

Problems With Not Using An Architect For Extensions | Top Trades People.co.uk

Problems With Not Using An Architect For Extensions | Top Trades People.co.uk


Adding a new extension to your house can create more living space, while also pushing up the home’s value. In such times, it is often the case that people decide to design the new living area themselves, or will contract someone they know who’s good with a pen, but not qualified to do so. Unfortunately, this can often turn into a disastrous decision and mean your new addition has a smorgasbord of faults.
Not using an architect for extensions to your home is something many often overlook.

Planning

One of the issues people often end up facing is that through building their own design, they don’t follow all the rules of planning permission, This can result in costly applications and sometimes if the building goes ahead and a problem is found, the taking down of a building as it doesn’t adhere to the prior given permission.

Design Issues

Architects are trained in the world of design of buildings and so are used to all the problems that can exist, that lay people may overlook. Architects will design your property’s extension and bear in mind any potential issues to do with your home, the extension and also outside factors.

Aesthetics

By using a professional person in this area, you will also end up with a better looking, more aesthetically attractive design than if you were to do it yourself. Architects, like fashion designers, keep up with all the current styles and know a thing or two in the aesthetic area and so can provide you with a beautiful extension, the likes of which you couldn’t have designed yourself.