New House

[lostsoul83]

Hi everyone,
We have just moved to a new house, after doing the due diligence surveys etc. (structural, plumbing etc). One thing I have not done is, in the house, they have done over the years, internal insulation, and when we enquired about it, the then current occupants didn't know about it. So now I have invited a few builders to check it but I have also invited an asbestos testing company to check there is no asbestos.
I am so anxious about it all now, I know we are taking the right steps but I can't bare to think I haven't done this survey before moving in and I am worried about the kids and I feel lost!

Most people don't get specialist surveys.

The asbestos in a domestic house will probably be fine unless you disturb it. In my parents' 1930s semi there is some in the insides of the doors (covered in wooden panels) and on a garage roof. They lived in the house for more than half a century with it and it caused no issues. We wouldn't even need a special licence to remove the garage roof--just masks and careful bagging, and a discussion with the local recycling unit as to how to bring it to them.

Thank you both for your messages, we don't plan to disturb it for the foreseeable so just having a management survey done to actually check if there is any. It is so helpful to get this off my chest, I have spent this last week not sleeping and cannot wait to have the results of the survey, but seeing no alarm when I say what I am saying makes me feel a whole lot better. Thank you!

As a pp said it’s generally not a problem until you start pulling it about or removing it. We had some on a single story outhouse on the last place we bought, absolutely no problem at all.

Also I think that most decent but standard structural survey should pick up on whether it’s there or not- ours did.

Seriously, OP, save your money and buy something lovely for your new home instead.

@Abra1t So you think not even a management survey needed?

Why do you think there is asbestos? A surveyor would normally advise additional testing if they think there might be any present, and if they didn't why are you suddenly so worried about it? It's very unlikely to be there or be a risk unless disturbed.

I don’t know what that is but haven’t heard of anyone doing it!

@Lonelycrab we did a level 3 survey and they didn't mention anything but they did say that there was this internal insulation and to ask what materials it was made of...

It is an asbestos survey, in particular called: Management survey

A non-intrusive survey that's used for general maintenance and management
Helps ensure that asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are managed safely and don't cause harm
Includes inspecting rooms, corridors, lofts, basements, and other areas
Includes taking samples for testing
Includes producing a report and management plan

Because I read on Google that wall insulation may have asbestos in it.
Also, in one of the lofts there is this and I don't know if it contains asbestos.
Have you guys seen similar?

What did the survey say about the loft?

Roof spaces
Right hand extension eaves area
Inspection of this area revealed traditional rafter construction with sarking felt laid
beneath the tiles covering. As you may be aware, this type of felt is not particularly
‘vapour permeable’ so watch for any signs of condensation. If this occurs, it will take
the form of water droplets on the underside of the felt or roof timbers. Regular
occurrence of condensation will generally require additional ventilation which, often,
is provided by means of new vents in the main roof slopes. There were no obvious
signs of condensation problems, though, at the time of the survey.
Sarkin felt can also rot back from gutter edges at eaves level so, if you find that water
is draining down external walls rather than being collected by gutters, then it may be
necessary to extend the felt at eaves or fit eaves trays. Again, there are no current
signs of problems.
I note that heat loss from the bedroom is restricted by use of hard insulation boards
(Celotex) set within the timber studs.
The eaves area is boarded out. For information, if you intend to board out the
roofspace for storage purposes, consider installing small ‘stilts’. These sit on top of the
ceiling joists and will prevent the insulation quilt being compressed by the boards. If
they are compressed, their insulating qualities are much reduced. (Tap ‘loftlegs’ into
google to see some of the products available).

They don’t seem to mention asbestos? Usually surveyors make a big point of telling you if they suspect it.

I have just contacted him again and sent him a picture. I think this is the best resolution for now. Thank you!

I'm not sure if this offers any reassurance @lostsoul83 , but I've recently bought a 1980's house.
I had a level 1 or 2 survey (can't remember but definitely wasn't level 3) and they mentioned asbestos multiple times in my report due to artex ceilings throughout.

I'm sure if there was a concern it would have been documented.

Looks like a dead cat.

Looks like the usual glass fibre insulation

Are you often this worried about things? Might it be worth contacting your GP or self refering to local NHS mental health services? It isn't normal to be this worried about asbestos when it hasn't even been mentioned as a risk in a survey, only a possible potential issue.