Removal of damaged asbestos cement sheeting...costing?
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone has had to deal with the inspection, and possible removal of damaged asbestos cement sheeting within their property?
Have just been told to get a few quotes for my lender, as it was been highlighted in the Home Buyers Report as a category 2, and therefore recommend to get costing for removal.
What am also wondering is likely cost obviously, but also time scale...days, weeks? Plus is it normal to just replace only the damaged sheets?
Even just the word Asbestos makes me go
I knew this house was too good to be true!
Have just been told to get a few quotes for my lender, as it was been highlighted in the Home Buyers Report as a category 2, and therefore recommend to get costing for removal.
What am also wondering is likely cost obviously, but also time scale...days, weeks? Plus is it normal to just replace only the damaged sheets?
Even just the word Asbestos makes me go
I knew this house was too good to be true!
Penny-lope said:
Just wondering if anyone has had to deal with the inspection, and possible removal of damaged asbestos cement sheeting within their property?
Have just been told to get a few quotes for my lender, as it was been highlighted in the Home Buyers Report as a category 2, and therefore recommend to get costing for removal.
What am also wondering is likely cost obviously, but also time scale...days, weeks? Plus is it normal to just replace only the damaged sheets?
Even just the word Asbestos makes me go
I knew this house was too good to be true!
Dont know how much, but I had some of that stuff in my loft (old flue) which had broken.Have just been told to get a few quotes for my lender, as it was been highlighted in the Home Buyers Report as a category 2, and therefore recommend to get costing for removal.
What am also wondering is likely cost obviously, but also time scale...days, weeks? Plus is it normal to just replace only the damaged sheets?
Even just the word Asbestos makes me go
I knew this house was too good to be true!
I went to the local tip who gave me loads of plastic bags designed for such stuff.
Wrapped it up safely (wearing mask etc) and took it back there (they have special containers for it).
I would imagine a professional firm will charge a fortune.
It`s called asbestos sheeting but I believe is also called cemestos, the word asbestos was applied to it when asbestos was a new wonder building material, the dangerous asbestos is blue or brown asbestos used for insulating heating pipes etc and usually found in old factories , hospitals etc
roofing "asbestos" only poses a threat when it starts to break up and crumble or if you drill or cut it, it`s the dust that`s the problem, as dangerous as working with chipboard or mdf, wear a suitable mask and if working indoors keep well ventilated, that`s not to say roofing "asbestos" is harmless but it`s nowhere near as dangerous as true asbestos.
You may be able to find a local builder who will remove it and there`ll be a premium to pay for disposal, a specialist asbestos contractor will try to frighten the life out of you and wear breathing apparatus white body suits etc.......a quick drive around any industrial estate with buildings of +15 yrs old and you`ll see many "asbestos" roofs , gutters, downpipes etc, quite a few council buildings are still "asbestos" clad
roofing "asbestos" only poses a threat when it starts to break up and crumble or if you drill or cut it, it`s the dust that`s the problem, as dangerous as working with chipboard or mdf, wear a suitable mask and if working indoors keep well ventilated, that`s not to say roofing "asbestos" is harmless but it`s nowhere near as dangerous as true asbestos.
You may be able to find a local builder who will remove it and there`ll be a premium to pay for disposal, a specialist asbestos contractor will try to frighten the life out of you and wear breathing apparatus white body suits etc.......a quick drive around any industrial estate with buildings of +15 yrs old and you`ll see many "asbestos" roofs , gutters, downpipes etc, quite a few council buildings are still "asbestos" clad
Dogwatch said:
Excellent site 
ETA
Huge thanks Dogwatch,
Looks like I can actually just get a local builder to remove and replace the sheeting, as there is no health risk.
Penny-lope is happier again
Edited by Penny-lope on Wednesday 27th May 17:09
I'm having my old garage removed next week which is concrete prefab with concrete asbestos roof sheets (6m x 3m). I'm paying £500 to have it dismantled and removed/disposed of.
ETA: Our local authority (Herts) won't take asbestos now at any of its sites so couldn't easily do it myself.
ETA: Our local authority (Herts) won't take asbestos now at any of its sites so couldn't easily do it myself.
Edited by jcas on Wednesday 27th May 16:52
used to work in identifying the stuff in a lab, as long as it is kept wet, not really an issue
mind you, done several site surveys for a housing association - found a sheet of raw asbestos glued to the inside of some cupboard where the kids had scraped flowers and similair pictures into the sheet, house holder knew what was there for and my cry of omfg ! did not exactly re-assure her
if it was me and faced with a choice of £2k to have it removed professionally and £100 to a builder to remove, would choose the latter
mind you, done several site surveys for a housing association - found a sheet of raw asbestos glued to the inside of some cupboard where the kids had scraped flowers and similair pictures into the sheet, house holder knew what was there for and my cry of omfg ! did not exactly re-assure her
if it was me and faced with a choice of £2k to have it removed professionally and £100 to a builder to remove, would choose the latter
as others have said - it will be asbestos 'cement'. the asbestos is pretty well bonded into the material and only about 15% of its content.
A mask, disposable overalls and keeping it damped down is enough precaution for handling, just keep it in one piece. I think it depends on the local authority as to whether they will take it off your hands at the local tip.
A mask, disposable overalls and keeping it damped down is enough precaution for handling, just keep it in one piece. I think it depends on the local authority as to whether they will take it off your hands at the local tip.
We had a fair bit of it a as a roof for an old garage - the builders were aware of this but just carried on work as usual. I now have a small pile of the stuff in my garden. They won't fit into the council bags as they are just too big.
We also had the tiles on our roof again nobody seemed to care and the builders must of got rid of them along with the other site rubbsih
We also had the tiles on our roof again nobody seemed to care and the builders must of got rid of them along with the other site rubbsih
Coco H said:
We had a fair bit of it a as a roof for an old garage - the builders were aware of this but just carried on work as usual. I now have a small pile of the stuff in my garden. They won't fit into the council bags as they are just too big.
We also had the tiles on our roof again nobody seemed to care and the builders must of got rid of them along with the other site rubbsih
Our local tip will accept old "asbestos" roofing so long as it's double wrapped in polythene..I bought a big roll of it and some parcel tape, parceled it all up and took it to the tip...We also had the tiles on our roof again nobody seemed to care and the builders must of got rid of them along with the other site rubbsih
Slightly off topic, but how would you approach rebuilding a garage, if it had an asbestos roof that covered yours and neighbours garage (as one continuous roof)? Are you able to just replace your part of the roof (and connect up to the neighbours asbestos roof), or will you have to replace the whole lot?
ln1234 said:
Slightly off topic, but how would you approach rebuilding a garage, if it had an asbestos roof that covered yours and neighbours garage (as one continuous roof)? Are you able to just replace your part of the roof (and connect up to the neighbours asbestos roof), or will you have to replace the whole lot?
Speak to the neighbours I think, then consult a builder and find out out what they can do.Hi NCOTea
Obviously on the face of it you are quite at liberty to maintain/ repair or replace your section of the roof. Am assuming there is an internal dividing wall between you/them or others. Provided the current sheets are not of an asbestos nature as previously discussed, then these could be replaced with profile plastic/grp or tin depending on cost and required finish. You just have to be careful with not damaging the roof or structure either side, otherwise you could be accused of damage etc or creating a bigger problem. If you go for say the green grp sheets ( i know Wickes or similar do one)then these should be easy to handle and manouvre on site and fix down to the existing structure. I am asuming that there are light gauge metal angles or timbers across the short span? If not you might have to cut some timbers in between the current roof joists.
If you have metal joists then ther are 'u' shaped fixing bolts, rubber washers and shields required from any diy store; or similar screws if fixing to timber. Just nake sure the structure can take the weight of someone standing working on it. Not teaching anyone to suck eggs, but make sure the sheets have a good overlay between. At the open profile edge you can fill with profiled foam, or point back in mortar etc. If you cannot lift your neighbours sheets to overlap then just get a tube of roofing mastic to seal down and make sure your fixings give sufficient pressure to maintain the seal.
Hope this helps.
Hoggey
Obviously on the face of it you are quite at liberty to maintain/ repair or replace your section of the roof. Am assuming there is an internal dividing wall between you/them or others. Provided the current sheets are not of an asbestos nature as previously discussed, then these could be replaced with profile plastic/grp or tin depending on cost and required finish. You just have to be careful with not damaging the roof or structure either side, otherwise you could be accused of damage etc or creating a bigger problem. If you go for say the green grp sheets ( i know Wickes or similar do one)then these should be easy to handle and manouvre on site and fix down to the existing structure. I am asuming that there are light gauge metal angles or timbers across the short span? If not you might have to cut some timbers in between the current roof joists.
If you have metal joists then ther are 'u' shaped fixing bolts, rubber washers and shields required from any diy store; or similar screws if fixing to timber. Just nake sure the structure can take the weight of someone standing working on it. Not teaching anyone to suck eggs, but make sure the sheets have a good overlay between. At the open profile edge you can fill with profiled foam, or point back in mortar etc. If you cannot lift your neighbours sheets to overlap then just get a tube of roofing mastic to seal down and make sure your fixings give sufficient pressure to maintain the seal.
Hope this helps.
Hoggey
We supply a roofing coating product that allows you to refurb asbestos sheeting, big 6 sheets etc, its cheaper usually than removal, and easy to apply DIY job - Asbestos on garages varies in its content so never assume its safe, as pointed out in a previous post its the fibres and dust that are the issue so if you are in doubt ask an expert to check it over - most local contractors large or small will have probably done as asbestos awareness course to protect them selves.
As others have said there is some hysteria surrounding asbestos that really isn't deserved. Council type people/specialists will turn up in NASA space suits and put the fear of god in you. We had a builder to replace the roof on our garage and that involved removing the asbestos first. The casual way they went about it confirmed the low-hazard nature of it.
Don't get ripped off!
(NB I'm talking about the grey roofing stuff not the more dangerous types)
Don't get ripped off!
(NB I'm talking about the grey roofing stuff not the more dangerous types)
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