For homeowners, landlords and businesses across Clerkenwell (EC1), we handle every stage of asbestos work — survey, removal, testing and clearance — including in Farringdon, Exmouth Market, St John's Square and Hatton Garden. We regularly work on properties near Exmouth Market.
Asbestos in Clerkenwell buildings
Asbestos turns up regularly in Clerkenwell properties — most often as artex and textured coatings, asbestos insulating board (AIB), cement roof and wall sheets, pipe lagging, floor tiles and guttering. The Victorian warehouses and industrial buildings now converted to offices and flats common around Clerkenwell are especially worth checking. A historic district known for its design, media and creative businesses. Our surveyors know the EC1 building types and test to UKAS-accredited standards before any work begins.
You need asbestos ceilings in London removed under strict Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. A licensed contractor should manage survey, UKAS-accredited sampling, full enclosure, negative-pressure extraction and controlled removal of AIB panels, Artex and suspended ceilings, followed by formal 4-stage clearance and consignment-noted disposal. Typical textured coating ceilings start from about £950 + VAT, with most domestic projects completed in days. Below, you’ll see how compliant, end‑to‑end asbestos ceiling strip‑out actually works.
Takeaways
- HSE-licensed London contractor safely removes asbestos ceilings, including AIB panels, Artex/textured coatings and suspended ceiling tiles, in homes and commercial properties.
- Free on-site survey and UKAS-accredited sampling confirm asbestos type, followed by a fixed-price written quote within 24 hours.
- Work follows CAR 2012 and HSG247, using full enclosures, negative-pressure units, controlled wet-stripping and specialist cleaning.
- Independent air monitoring and 4-stage clearance are provided on notifiable projects, with formal clearance certificates and full compliance documentation.
- All asbestos waste is double-bagged, labelled and transported to licensed facilities, with consignment notes supplied; most domestic ceilings are completed in a day.
What This Service Covers
Our asbestos ceiling removal service covers the safe identification, removal and disposal of asbestos-containing ceilings in homes and commercial properties across London. We deal with ceilings where asbestos is present in textured coatings (such as Artex) or asbestos insulating board (AIB), whether in single rooms or throughout a building.
The service typically includes an initial inspection and, where required, UKAS-accredited sampling to confirm asbestos type. We then prepare the work area, erect appropriate enclosures, use controlled removal methods, and carry out thorough cleaning with specialist equipment. Air monitoring and a formal 4-stage clearance process are completed on notifiable projects, followed by issue of a clearance certificate where applicable.
All waste is double-bagged, labelled and transported to a licensed facility, with consignment notes supplied for your records.
Typical materials / scenarios:
- Asbestos insulating board (AIB) ceiling panels
- Textured coating ceilings containing asbestos
- Suspended ceilings with AIB tiles or panels
Why You Need a Licensed Specialist
If your ceiling contains asbestos, the law expects you to deal with it properly. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), duty-holders must identify, manage and, when needed, remove asbestos using competent people. For higher‑risk work, that means an HSE‑licensed contractor.
Unlicensed operators may cut corners, leaving asbestos fibres hidden in voids, light fittings or loft spaces. Disturbing these later can put your family, tenants or staff at serious risk and can leave you personally liable. Illegal tipping of asbestos waste is also common with cheap, unlicensed firms, and the fines can be substantial.
A licensed specialist follows strict HSE procedures, uses UKAS‑accredited testing, and provides formal documentation, including a 4‑stage clearance certificate on notifiable work, proving the area is safe to reoccupy.
Our Process — Survey, Quote, Removal, Clearance
Our process starts with a free on-site survey, where one of our London asbestos specialists inspects your ceilings, takes samples for UKAS-accredited lab testing, and explains your options and any legal requirements. Following the survey, we provide a clear, fixed written quote within 24 hours, so you know exactly what is included before any work begins. The removal stage is then carried out under full enclosure in line with CAR 2012 and HSG247, using negative pressure units where required, controlled wet-stripping methods, and sealed waste routes to keep your home and neighbours safe. Finally, an independent 4-stage clearance is completed, including an air test and visual inspection, with a formal clearance certificate confirming the ceiling area is safe for reoccupation.
How Much Does It Cost in London?
Most London asbestos ceiling removals we handle fall between smaller cement‑bonded ceilings and full textured‑coating/plasterboard strip‑outs. As a guide, removing a textured coating ceiling with plasterboard typically starts from £950 + VAT, based on our published rates. This is an all‑inclusive price for that scope – not a day rate – so there’s no risk of costs creeping up once work begins.
Because ceilings vary in size, height, access and condition, we’ll confirm the exact cost after a free site survey and issue a fixed‑price quote in writing within 24 hours, covering labour, waste disposal, testing and certification.
How Long Does the Job Take?
From your first call to final clearance, most asbestos ceiling jobs in London are completed within a few days. We usually arrange your asbestos survey within the same week, often within a couple of days, and provide a fixed-price written quote within 24 hours.
Once you approve the quote, we book removal at a convenient time, again typically within the same week. The on-site removal itself is normally finished within a day for a standard domestic ceiling, followed by independent 4-stage clearance testing where required, and issue of your clearance certificate.
What's Included as Standard
- Detailed on-site survey of your ceiling and written risk assessment
- UKAS-accredited laboratory sampling and analysis (where required)
- Full enclosure, negative-pressure units and decontamination procedures where needed
- Licensed asbestos removal carried out by HSE-trained operatives
- Safe packaging, transport and consigned hazardous-waste disposal at an approved facility
- Independent 4-stage clearance procedure and final air test on notifiable licensed works
- Formal clearance certificate confirming the area is safe for reoccupation
- Thorough compliance pack including waste consignment notes, lab results, risk assessments and method statements
- Advice on any remaining asbestos on site and recommendations for future management or removal
Get a Free Quote
Call 020 4652 3586 or complete the form today to arrange your free on-site asbestos ceiling survey. You’ll get a fixed-price quote in writing within 24 hours and our pass-first-time clearance guarantee – if the site fails independent air testing, we’ll re-do the work completely free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Stay in My Home While Asbestos Ceilings Are Being Removed?
You usually shouldn’t stay in your home during licensed asbestos ceiling removal. Under CAR 2012, the work area must be fully enclosed, placed under negative pressure and treated as a controlled zone. Contractors will normally advise temporary relocation until a UKAS-accredited 4‑stage clearance is passed and reoccupation is certified. You should follow their risk assessment, maintain health monitoring with your GP if concerned, and keep vulnerable occupants away.
How Do I Prepare Each Room Before Asbestos Ceiling Removal Starts?
You prepare each room by moving furniture out, moving soft furnishings away, moving personal items to sealed boxes. You then seal vents, seal built‑in cupboards, seal gaps around doors with tape and plastic. Remove wall hangings and curtains, lift easily removable carpets, and isolate electrics if advised. Don’t sweep, sand or scrape; don’t disturb the ceiling. Follow contractor pre-start instructions and CAR 2012 / HSG264 guidance precisely.
Will You Work Directly With My Insurance Company or Managing Agent?
Yes, we’ll liaise directly with your insurance company or managing agent, provided you authorise us in writing. You’ll get clear contract clarification, including scope, costs and duties under CAR 2012. We’ll supply method statements, risk assessments and UKAS lab results to support your claim. We also coordinate access, programme, and 4‑stage clearance documentation, ensuring all liaison practices remain fully compliant with HSE guidance and your policy conditions.
What Happens if Asbestos Is Found in Additional Areas During the Job?
If extra asbestos appears (because buildings never hide surprises, right?), you don’t just “carry on.” We’d pause work, assess risk under CAR 2012, implement immediate containment options, and arrange additional sampling via a UKAS-accredited lab. You’d get an updated method statement, revised cost and programme, and we’d notify the HSE if required. Nothing proceeds in the new areas until you’ve approved the plan and controls in writing.
Can You Coordinate Ceiling Re-Boarding, Plastering, and Redecoration After Asbestos Removal?
Yes, you can have everything coordinated for you. We provide full project management, including trade coordination for ceiling re-boarding, plastering, and redecoration once a UKAS 4-stage clearance is achieved. You’ll get a defined scope, method statements, and sequencing that maintains CAR 2012 compliance, controls dust, and protects new finishes from contamination. All follow-on trades are briefed on residual risk, access restrictions, and documentation requirements.
Areas we cover around Clerkenwell
We provide asbestos removal, surveys and testing throughout Clerkenwell and the surrounding EC1 postcodes, including:
- Farringdon — Farringdon, EC1
- Exmouth Market — Exmouth Market, EC1
- St John's Square — St John's Square, EC1
- Hatton Garden — Hatton Garden, EC1
- Clerkenwell Green — Clerkenwell Green, EC1
Clerkenwell asbestos: local questions
Are you local to Clerkenwell?
Yes — we work throughout Clerkenwell and the wider EC1 district, including Farringdon, Exmouth Market, St John's Square and Hatton Garden. There's no extra travel charge within the area, and we can usually fit a survey in quickly.
How soon can you get to Clerkenwell?
As a Clerkenwell-based team we can normally carry out a free on-site survey in EC1 within the same week, then confirm a fixed written price within 24 hours. For urgent or disturbed asbestos, call 020 4652 3586.