How common is asbestos in older homes across Liverpool and the Merseyside area?

• Asbestos was widely used in UK construction until it was finally banned in 1999.
• Many Liverpool and Merseyside homes built between the 1950s and late 1990s still contain asbestos.
• Typical locations include artex-type textured coatings, soffits, roofing sheets, floor tiles, pipe lagging and insulation boards.
• Asbestos in good condition is often safest left undisturbed and managed correctly.
• A Fibre Safe asbestos survey can identify asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and advise on safe management or removal.

Liverpool and the wider Merseyside region saw heavy use of asbestos during the 20th century, both in shipbuilding and in general construction. As a result, it is very common to find asbestos-containing materials in houses, flats and bungalows that were built or refurbished before 2000.

In domestic properties, asbestos may be present in:

• Textured "artex" ceilings and wall coatings.
• Asbestos cement garage roofs, soil pipes and sheds.
• Ceiling tiles, partition boards and soffits.
• Older floor tiles and the bitumen adhesive beneath.
• Lagging on pipes or around boilers (high-risk materials).

Because many asbestos products look similar to modern, asbestos-free materials, you cannot rely on appearance alone. The general rule is to assume asbestos could be present in any pre-2000 home until a competent surveyor has confirmed otherwise.

Fibre Safe carry out asbestos surveys and testing across Liverpool, the Wirral and Merseyside, helping homeowners, landlords and buyers understand exactly what is present and how it should be managed.