Asbestos Ceiling & Floor Tile Removal in Surrey, London & the South East
Artex ceilings, textured coatings, and vinyl floor tiles removed safely from homes across Surrey. Contained work with air monitoring.
Artex ceilings are one of the most common asbestos risks in homes across the South East
Many buildings contain artex and other textured coatings on walls and ceilings that may contain asbestos. Textured ceiling coatings applied between the 1960s and the mid 1980s frequently contain chrysotile asbestos, mixed in to give the coating strength and fire resistance. Millions of homes across the UK still have it, and in Surrey it turns up constantly in properties from that era, particularly in bedrooms, hallways, and living rooms.
When people first hear the word asbestos used about a coating that is often found on the ceilings of bedrooms and living areas, it is normal to be worried about the effect it may have on your health. The biggest risk is not the artex itself, it is the deadly fibres that could be locked inside it once they become airborne.
The textured surface is not dangerous if it is intact and undisturbed. The problem starts the moment it is disturbed. If you are planning building work, fixing something to a wall or ceiling that involves drilling, want to sand the material down, or are skimming over it without knowing what is underneath, you need to know if it contains asbestos first. It is not possible to tell whether artex contains asbestos just by looking at it. To know for sure, it has to be sampled and tested. Testing before any of that work is not optional, it is a legal requirement if there is any suspicion of asbestos.
We remove artex ceilings under full containment. The room is sealed with polythene sheeting, negative air pressure is maintained with filtered extraction units, and the coating is wetted and carefully scraped away. The waste is bagged, sealed, and taken to a licensed facility.
Asbestos ceiling and floor tiles
Just because the ceiling tiles or floor tiles in your home are old does not automatically mean they contain asbestos. That said, older ceiling and floor tiles are far more likely to contain asbestos fibres than newer ones.
The classic example is vinyl floor tiles from the 1960s to 1980s, usually 9 inch squares in dark colours like brown, dark red, grey, or black. The tiles themselves contain asbestos, and so does the bitumen adhesive used to stick them down. Both need removing together. You cannot just lay new flooring on top if you plan any future renovation work, because the moment someone lifts or breaks a tile during a kitchen or bathroom refit, fibres are released.
Ceiling and floor tiles that contain asbestos do not always have to be removed, but if your tiles show any sign of damage they must be professionally removed immediately. Damage may include flood damage, heat damage, cracking, breaking, or crumbling. That kind of damage causes the asbestos fibres inside the tile to become airborne, which means they can be inhaled, and that is when they pose the most danger to your health. The fibres settle in your respiratory system and contribute to health problems that include everything from respiratory irritation through to cancer.
If you are unsure whether your tiles contain asbestos, we can take a sample and send it to a UKAS accredited laboratory. Results typically come back within two to three working days.
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The risks of removing tiles yourself
Another big danger that comes with asbestos ceiling and floor tiles is the risk of inhaling fibres during removal and improper disposal. That is why it is crucial to rely on a professional company to remove and dispose of contaminated tiles.
Removing asbestos contaminated tiles increases the chance that already damaged tiles will shed even more fibres into the environment. In turn, that means a higher probability that you will breathe them in and suffer the health consequences.
Removing your own asbestos contaminated tiles also means they are far more likely to be disposed of improperly. Most homeowners are not familiar with the legal disposal requirements for asbestos contaminated material, where a professional company knows exactly how to get rid of it safely.
Our Removal Process
From first call to final certificate, every job follows the same clear four-step process.
Survey
We inspect the property and confirm the material. Sampling available if required.
Quote
Fixed written price covering removal, disposal and any replacement work.
Removal
Material is removed safely, double-wrapped and taken to a licensed disposal facility.
Certificate
You receive a waste consignment note and disposal certificate confirming legal handling.
Our Work in Action
Real projects our team has completed for this service across Surrey, London and the South East.
Before & After
BeforeAfterArtex Ceiling Removal Ready for Following Works
BeforeAfterAsbestos Floor Tile Removal & Replacement
BeforeAfterWhy use a professional removal team
The main reason to use a specialist is contamination control. When Clearaway carry out an asbestos removal we take every precaution to stop fibres spreading further into your home. Problem areas are isolated, commercial grade air filters run throughout the work, and we test the air quality after cleanup so you know there is no lingering risk of breathing in fibres once we have left.
Heavy stipple wall coatings, common in stairwells and hallways, are handled the same way: full containment, wet removal, and licensed disposal. Asbestos was never limited to ceilings.
We can do rooms one at a time if you need to stay in the property during the work. Each room is sealed independently so the rest of the house stays accessible. A typical single room takes one day, and multiple rooms are usually completed within two to three days depending on the size of the property.
You may also need our asbestos sampling and testing service.
Why Choose Clearaway
Specialist Crew
Asbestos work is all we do, every day, across the South East.
Fully Licensed
Licensed asbestos removal contractor (Licence No. 142305706). Full public liability insurance on every job.
Local & Fast
Surrey-based. Most domestic jobs are booked in and finished within a week.
Our Own Team
We never subcontract. The people who quote your job are the people who do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get in Touch
Send a few details about your project and we will come back the same working day with a fixed price. We cover Surrey, London and the South East, including Esher, Cobham, Kingston, Richmond, Epsom, Guildford, Woking and Croydon.