Asbestos in the ceilings

[SomeLikeItChilliHot]

Homebuyers report suggested we paid separately for an asbestos survey which we did. We're buying a 5 bed detached 1960s house. The results have found that the artex on plasterboard ceilings contain chrysotile (white) asbestos fibres. The cost of removal would be £2350 plus Vat.

My DH wants to just plaster over it, but the company have advised that even changing a light fitting would mean getting a specialist in, plus when we sell the house in however many years, its a job that the new owners would expect done.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Can anyone offer advice? Is it ok to just plaster over the top?

You can put plaster board over and then plaster the ceilings

Whether this is OK don't know but has been done loads and people would never know including surveyors as it hides away the problem

I think removal is worse though as it disturbs the asbestos which however carefully removeddoes go into the rest of the house

I hadn't thought about the fibres floating around the house afterwards

We plastered over ours. When we need to drill into it, I use a disposable plastic cup filled with shaving foam. Drill through this and it catches all the fibres. Then double bag and take to the tip - our local council will take small amounts of household asbestos.

We removed ours. Didn't like the thought of all that asbestos in the house. We also renegotiated the price with the sellers. All ended well.

Here is the HSE advice on asbestos, I think the FAQs for 'Members of the Public' are worth reading through in full.

www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm

That was a useful link, thank you. The ceilings have cracks in them (normal aging type cracks, nothing serious) but because they are damaged, the concern is about the asbestos.

Scary was it a big job? How did they do it?

DH still wants to just plaster over it to seal it, the HSE website says as well it's best to leave it.

But we still may negotiate on price as in a few years we may have to remove it if doing work.