Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used extensively in construction materials in the UK between the 1950s and 1980s. It was prized for its durability, heat resistance and insulation properties, and was commonly used in ceiling tiles, floor tiles, roofing, insulation and pipe lagging. However, it was later discovered that breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos fibres can be released into the air when materials containing asbestos are disturbed or damaged, for example during renovation or demolition work.

It's therefore essential to have your property tested for asbestos before any work takes place, to ensure that you're not at risk of inhaling harmful asbestos fibres. Asbestos testing involves taking samples of materials in your property and sending them to a specialist laboratory for analysis. This will determine whether asbestos is present and, if so, what type of asbestos and what condition it's in.