Planning to strip a wall, replace a ceiling or renovate an older property? You might be wondering whether the plaster or plasterboard you’re working with could contain asbestos.
Knowing what to look out for isn’t always straightforward, particularly when different materials can look very similar. In this guide, we’ll explain where asbestos might be found in walls and ceilings, how to recognise potentially asbestos-containing materials and when professional testing is needed.
Modern plasterboard doesn’t normally contain asbestos. It’s generally made from gypsum, with a paper lining on either side, and is widely used to construct and finish internal walls and ceilings.
However, some historic plasterboard manufacturers did use asbestos in their products, so it’s important not to assume that all older boards are asbestos-free.
There’s also a distinction between ordinary plasterboard and asbestos insulating board (AIB). Although the two can look very similar, AIB is a separate asbestos-containing material that was used in certain walls, partitions and ceilings.
If you’re working with an unidentified board in an older property, professional assessment may be needed to establish what it’s made from before disturbing it. For further information, British Gypsum explains the historic use of asbestos in plasterboard.
Traditional plaster used to finish walls and ceilings doesn’t generally contain asbestos. However, some older specialist plaster products and decorative finishes were manufactured with asbestos for properties such as fire resistance and durability.
It’s important to distinguish between the plaster itself and any coatings or other materials applied to it. A wall may have ordinary plaster beneath an asbestos-containing finish, so the different layers need to be considered separately.
In older properties, asbestos may be present in several different materials used to construct or finish walls and ceilings. Some are visible, while others may be concealed behind existing surfaces.
Asbestos insulating board was commonly used for fire protection and insulation in buildings, including internal partitions, ceiling panels and other areas requiring fire resistance.
AIB can look very similar to ordinary plasterboard, particularly when it has been painted or covered with plaster. However, it’s a different material containing asbestos fibres and requires specific precautions when being worked on or removed.
For more information about where it’s used and how it should be managed, read our guide to asbestos insulating board.
Textured coatings were popular decorative finishes in older properties, particularly on ceilings. They were often applied in patterns such as swirls, peaks or stippled textures.
Some older Artex-type coatings contained asbestos, although not all textured finishes do.
It’s also possible for an asbestos-containing coating to have been applied over ordinary plaster or plasterboard. This means the surface finish may contain asbestos even if the material underneath doesn’t.
Not all asbestos-containing materials are immediately visible. In some older buildings, they may be hidden behind plasterboard, within partitions or above suspended ceilings.
Examples include asbestos insulating board used as firebreaks and certain asbestos-containing insulation materials within wall or ceiling spaces.
These materials may only become apparent during refurbishment or when existing walls and ceilings are opened up, which is why checking for asbestos before intrusive building work is particularly important.
You can’t reliably identify asbestos in plaster or plasterboard just by looking at it. Although the age of a property and the materials used may provide some clues, appearance alone isn’t enough to confirm whether asbestos is present.
Yes. Buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000 are more likely to contain asbestos-containing materials, as asbestos wasn’t fully banned in the UK until 1999.
However, this doesn’t mean every wall, ceiling or sheet of plasterboard in an older property contains asbestos.
There’s no reliable set of visual characteristics that can tell you whether a board contains asbestos.
Some asbestos-containing boards, particularly asbestos insulating board, can look very similar to ordinary plasterboard. Differences in colour, thickness or surface texture may raise suspicion, but none of these features confirms the presence of asbestos.
Identification becomes even more difficult when boards have been painted, plastered over or otherwise covered.
Important: Never scratch, drill, cut or break an unfamiliar board or coating to try to identify asbestos. Disturbing an asbestos-containing material could release harmful fibres into the air.
If you’re concerned about asbestos in your walls or ceilings, start by checking whether any existing property records or previous asbestos survey reports identify the materials used.
Where reliable information isn’t available, a professional asbestos assessment can help determine which materials require further investigation.
If testing is needed, a suitably trained professional can collect a representative sample of the suspected material for analysis by a UKAS-accredited laboratory. This is the only reliable way to confirm whether that particular material contains asbestos.
It’s also important to consider how the wall or ceiling is constructed. For example, a plasterboard lining may be asbestos-free while a separate coating or concealed board contains asbestos. Testing one material doesn’t automatically rule out asbestos elsewhere in the structure.
Malrod provides professional asbestos surveys to help identify suspected asbestos-containing materials. For more information about how samples are analysed, read our guide to the asbestos testing process.
Whether you’re installing electrical fittings, removing a partition or replacing a ceiling, it’s important to establish whether any materials you could disturb contain asbestos before starting work.
If your property was built or refurbished before 2000, check any existing asbestos information and seek professional advice if you’re unsure about the materials involved.
Where refurbishment work involves disturbing the building’s structure or concealed materials, an appropriately scoped refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey is generally needed to identify asbestos-containing materials before work begins.
Unlike a standard management survey, an R&D survey involves more intrusive inspections to identify asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed by the planned work. The scope should reflect the areas being affected, rather than automatically covering the entire property.
Malrod provides professional asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys for domestic and commercial properties.
If you discover suspicious material while drilling, removing plasterboard or carrying out other building work, it’s important to avoid further disturbance until the material has been identified and the situation assessed.
If you think the material may have been disturbed:
Accidentally disturbing an unidentified material doesn’t automatically mean you’ve been exposed to asbestos. However, it’s important not to continue working until you know what you’re dealing with.
No. Discovering asbestos in a wall or ceiling doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be removed immediately.
The appropriate course of action depends on the type of material, its condition, where it’s located and whether it’s likely to be disturbed.
Some asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition can be safely managed in place, provided suitable precautions are taken to prevent damage or disturbance.
However, if refurbishment or demolition work could affect the material, it may need to be removed or otherwise dealt with by a competent contractor before work can proceed.
If you’re concerned that the plaster, plasterboard or other materials in your property could contain asbestos, Malrod can help you establish what you’re dealing with.
Our professional asbestos surveying services can help identify suspected asbestos-containing materials and determine the appropriate next steps, whether you’re managing an existing property or planning refurbishment work.
To discuss your requirements, call 01942 811591 or complete our contact form and a member of our team will be in touch.
Yes. Some asbestos-containing materials may be concealed behind plaster, plasterboard or a skim coat, particularly in older buildings that have undergone renovations.
A newly plastered surface doesn’t necessarily mean the materials beneath it are asbestos-free. If you’re planning work that involves removing or drilling through these layers, it’s important to establish what’s underneath beforehand.
It may be possible to cover certain asbestos-containing textured coatings rather than remove them, depending on their condition and the work involved.
However, plastering directly over a coating can involve preparation or other activities that disturb the existing surface. The ceiling and its underlying materials should therefore be assessed before any work begins.
A competent professional can advise whether leaving the coating in place and covering it is appropriate or whether another approach is needed.
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