What Does Asbestos Look Like

Asbestos was widely used in construction projects across the UK for decades. This is until it was made illegal prior to the turn of the millennium. It was discovered that the substance is harmful when breathed in and therefore could no longer be used. In fact, asbestos can be fatal if enough of it enters the lungs.

While the illnesses caused by asbestos may not strike immediately, they can lead to lasting damage that gets progressively worse over time. Lung cancer and various associated ailments can develop. This is why asbestos particles need to be avoided at all cost.

Older buildings eventually need some form of renovation or improvement. When this essential maintenance work begins, it usually leads to walls and ceilings being opened up and broken into. This is where the problems start.

Asbestos was used in so many projects, large and small, that it could be anywhere. At least in buildings that were constructed before it was banned. Many of these buildings may not have been improved or renovated since they were constructed, meaning the asbestos is likely still there.

Just because asbestos was made illegal doesn’t mean the risks it posed ceased to exist or that the substance itself disappeared. All this did was prevent any more of it from being used.

Asbestos that had already been used then became a problem, one that would need to be dealt with one day in the future. Even today, a vast amount of it remains undisturbed. In a way this is a good thing, as undisturbed asbestos poses little to no danger to those nearby.

It’s safely secured within the building's masonry and is unlikely to ever be a problem. Although if renovation work is ever required (and it will be eventually), the asbestos needs to be located.

To locate the asbestos, we first need to know what it looks like.