Where should you look for asbestos in a domestic property?

When it comes to your roof you may find asbestos in several locations. You will also find that the asbestos is likely to be within many different materials. Roof coverings can be asbestos felt, asbestos cement sheeting or even asbestos cement tiles. Within the construction of the roof, you may find asbestos cements and board materials used for things such as under cloaking, soffits & fascia’s. The next place you are most likely to find asbestos is the guttering, down pipes, soil pipes and any flue pipes.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos on or near your roof:

• Roof sheeting
• Roof tiles
• Felt roof covering
• Downpipes & guttering
• Flues & stench pipes
• Undercloak (edging)
• Fascia’s & soffits

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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Within the roof or loft void you can find asbestos in the most unlikely of places. It can be hidden below insulation or beneath other building products. The main things to look out for are water and heating elements. Additionally, you may find loose asbestos loft insulation between the roof joists. Keep an eye out for water tanks, pipework, insulation, and any type of panelling.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos in your roof and loft void:

• Water tanks
• Loose fill insulation
• Pipe insulation or lagging
• Boarding to all areas
• Paneling to all areas

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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In your bathroom and toilet rooms you may find asbestos in any area. Asbestos toilet seats and cisterns. Asbestos wall, ceiling, and floor coverings. In addition, keep a look out for panels and pipe riser covers which can be asbestos cement or board.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos in your bathrooms and toilets:

• Bath panels
• Splashback panels
• Toilet cisterns and seats
• Walls and ceilings textured coating (Artex)
• Vinyl floor tiles or covering
• Pipe riser panels or boxing

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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When it comes to your airing, heating, or boiler cupboards here’s a few places you can expect to find asbestos. There may be asbestos boarding or cement panels to the doors and surrounding heaters / boilers. Wherever there is heating look out for insulated pipes and asbestos gasket materials to heating equipment. It’s very common to find asbestos cement flue pipes within these areas.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos in your bathrooms and toilets:

• Wall and ceiling lining
• Door lining
• Boiler and heater surrounds
• Panels below boilers and heaters
• Gaskets to boiler and pipework
• Flue pipes
• Pipe insulation or lagging

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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With external places like this, you must be on the lookout for asbestos board and cement lining. This is generally for fire protection. When it comes to electrics you may find asbestos fuse guards and other electrical asbestos insulation products.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos in your external cupboards:

• Wall and ceiling lining
• Door lining
• Panel behind fuse board
• Guards in fuse board

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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Windows and doors are well worth a look if you’re wanting to find asbestos in your home. Look out for asbestos board or cement panels above and below windows, on the backs of doors and even inside doors. Cement windowsills are another asbestos product which can get overlooked.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos around windows and doors:

• Cement or board window panels
• Cement or board door panels
• Board door linings
• Cement windowsills

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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In your main rooms and living areas there really is so many places that you can find asbestos a complete list is just too long. Remember to look out for asbestos textured coatings to all walls and ceilings. Double check all walls and ceilings to see if they are asbestos board or cement. You may have asbestos boxing which in turn covers asbestos insulation to heating pipes. Then there are the floors. You may find asbestos vinyl floor coverings to any area of flooring within your home. One of the most common asbestos products in homes is the asbestos bitumen pad below sinks and drainers.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos within main rooms and living areas:

• Cement or board walls & ceilings
• Textured coating (Artex)
• Vinyl flooring, tiles and vinyl
• Bitumen sink pads
• Pipe riser panels or boxing
• Pipe insulation or lagging

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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When you go to the external of your property and you’re looking to find asbestos there are a few surprising places to look. There are the obvious ones such as sheds, garages and outbuildings with asbestos cement roof and wall sheeting or asbestos roofing felt. However, did you know that asbestos damp roof courses and asbestos mastic sealant to brick joints are also very common. The other thing to look out for is that textured paint finish you may have could well contain asbestos.

To recap, here are the main places that you will find asbestos to the external of your property:

• Bitumen damp proof course
• Mastic expansion joints
• Textured paint or finish
• Roofing and walls to garage, shed or outbuildings

You can see what these asbestos products look like in more detail by visiting our “what does asbestos look like?” page.

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