How To Remove Asbestos Roof

Is Working With Asbestos Roofing And Siding Hazardous

Asphalt or cement roofing and siding that contain asbestos, when intact and in good condition, are generally considered nonfriable and are not hazardous. “Nonfriable” means they cannot be broken up by hand pressure. Paper-like vapor barriers can present more of a hazard, since they are considered friable. “Friable” means they are easily damaged by hand pressure.

However, heat, water, weathering or aging can weaken “nonfriable” siding and roofing to the point where they are considered friable. Also, the siding and roofing can be made friable when its being removed. Friable materials can release asbestos fibers into the air. Avoid breaking, sanding, cutting, drilling and sawing the materials. These types of activities can release asbestos fibers into the air. Once airborne, asbestos fibers can be inhaled into the lungs, where they have the potential to cause severe lung diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Can You Remove Asbestos Yourself

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous material that used to be woven into fabrics or mixed in cement for electrical or building insulation. Although its use was banned in 1999 in the UK, asbestos can still be found in buildings where it was used predominantly from the 1950s to the 1980s.

If your home was built before 2000, there is a possibility that asbestos was used in the process. You may discover it in your home, your garage, or elsewhere, especially while carrying out DIY or renovations. As it is incredibly dangerous and life threatening if disturbed, you must know what to do if you come across it.

How To Handle And Dispose Of Asbestos

The first and most important thing to know about handling and disposing of asbestos is that you should not do it yourself. Asbestos is a deadly carcinogen that should only be handled by licensed asbestos abatement professionals.

While you can find information online about do-it-yourself asbestos abatement, it is highly recommended that you do not attempt to disturb asbestos-containing materials in any way.

If you find friable asbestos products in your home, you may carefully wet them to prevent them from releasing fibers until you can get a licensed professional to assess your home.

These professionals are highly trained and certified to follow all federal and state laws governing asbestos abatement and disposal. If you dont hire a professional, you are likely to break one of the many laws that regulate asbestos, and you run the risk of facing a serious fine or penalty.

handling and disposing of asbestos regulations include:

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The Key Points Of Asbestos Roof Tile Removal Cost

• A pre 2000 building may have asbestos roof tiles
• On average asbestos roof tile removal without scaffolding is £350 m2
• On average asbestos roof tile removal with scaffolding is £350 m2
• You may not need an asbestos survey, speak with an expert first
• Use an HSE licensed asbestos company to ensure competency
• Its safer, cheaper and easier for an asbestos professional to remove your asbestos

Asbestos Survey Not Yet Performed

Do you have plans to rebuild but you do not know if asbestos is present? Or, you do not know how to safely use areas where asbestos has been identified? Then contact a certified asbestos abatement company to perform an asbestos survey . Step 3 tells you who should ensure the situation is safe.

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Preparation Is Key When It Comes To Asbestos Roof Removal

If you do choose to carry out the asbestos removal from a garage or shed yourself, then the following advice should be followed, but always seek advice if at any time youre unsure:-

Once you are sure that the panels or roofing sheets on the garage or shed are made of asbestos cement, you will need to plan in advance how you are going to dispose of it before you even start to think about its removal.

Most large towns will have household waste recycling sites, where you can take the asbestos waste and put into designated skips which are for the disposal of asbestos cement.

Visit your local councils website to find details of your nearest site.

Make sure you have the right tools at hand for the task of removal of the asbestos panels from the garage. These should include some ladders, an adjustable spanner, large screwdriver, claw hammer and a hacksaw.

You will need to keep the asbestos cement wet, so have something to hand like a hosepipe or handheld water spray gun.

Ensure that you have plenty of plastic sheeting to wrap the panels and/or roof sheets in as you remove them.

You will also need heavy duty plastic bags to put any smaller pieces or debris into. These can all be purchased from any good DIY store.

You will need to wear clothing that can be thrown away afterwards following the removal of asbestos from your garage, preferably a paper overall, or alternatively any old clothing that you dont mind throwing away.

What Safety Precautions Do I Need To Take

If you are carrying out maintenance on asbestos cement surfaces that does not release any asbestos fibres into the air , you only need to take the usual precautions for these activities .

However, if you plan to disturb materials in your home that might contain asbestos , it is important to take the proper precautions for handling asbestos to avoid risking your health or the health of your family and others in the area.

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Rd Step Actual Asbestos Roof Removal

The asbestos roof sheet will be removed once the experts have completed confining the area. The experts will do everything possible to remove the roof, even if it means removing your entire roof. With that, Its most likely that the removal procedure will take longer than usual. This procedure will be performed at a steady rate to guarantee that no asbestos sheets are broken. As soon as the roof sheets are broken, asbestos may be emitted into the air. This will be done gradually, but that will be the experts only option if they do not want to cause pollution in the area.

How To Remove And Dispose Of Asbestos From Your Home

Find out how to remove asbestos safely. Includes licensed asbestos removalists and landfills.

Asbestos can be dangerous to human health if you dont remove and dispose of it in the right way.

The safest way to remove asbestos is to use a licensed asbestos removalist.

A licensed asbestos removalist must:

• have a waste transport permit for the vehicle
• take the asbestos to a licensed landfill.

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How To Deal With Asbestos

If you think that a material may contain asbestos, or if you are arrangingto have building work done on your home, you should get expert advice from aspecialist asbestos monitoring/surveying company. This will help you identifywhether asbestos is present and assess the potential risk for fibres to bereleased and become airborne. You should never handle, disturb or removeasbestos-containing materials yourself.

Asbestos-containing material does not always have to be removed and disposedof as waste. On occasion, it can be safer to maintain it rather than disturbingthe ACM by removing it. This decision should be based on a risk assessmentevaluation, carried out by a specialist.

If ACM is to be repaired and maintained, this must be done safely. Anyremaining material should be clearly labelled for asbestos and its locationshould be clearly marked on the plans of the building for future reference.

Removing asbestos-containing material is a complex procedure and must onlybe done by a specialist contractor. Asbestos waste is hazardous and improperremoval increases the risk of fibre inhalation. There are detailed rules abouthow the waste should be wrapped, labelled and disposed of.

You can find furtherinformation on asbestos on the website of the Environmental ProtectionAgency and also in these practicalguidelines from the Health and Safety Authority .

How To Dispose Of Asbestos

Asbestos is only dangerous when the fibres are released into the atmosphere, so if the asbestos cement is in good condition, it will pose no health dangers. But if it is in poor condition or damaged, it will degrade and release dangerous fibres into the air.

Prepare the work area by ensuring there is safe access and restrict the number of people present. Ensure you are wearing appropriate PPE such as disposable overalls fitted with a hood, boots without laces and respiratory protective equipment.

Cover nearby surfaces with 500-gauge polythene sheeting to protect them from contamination. When removing, avoid breaking the asbestos cement if possible. If fasteners are holding it in place, dampen and remove them. Use cutters to release any gutters, drainpipes or ridge caps etc., while avoiding contact with the asbestos cement.

Large pieces should be lowered to the ground, not dropped or put through a rubbish chute. All asbestos sheets or fasteners should be placed in an asbestos waste bag. Large pieces should be double wrapped in 1000-gauge polythene sheeting and sealed with duct tape. Attach asbestos warning stickers to the bags.

Clean any equipment used to remove the asbestos and check for any debris in the fastener or bolt holes. Any debris, used rags, used PPE, or other waste should be put in an asbestos waste bag and taped closed.

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Can I Install Siding Over It

Some people attempt to solve the problem of deteriorating asbestos siding by installing vinyl siding over top of it. This practice is not recommended for a number of reasons. First, the siding installation process itself nailing into the existing boards or tiles is enough to disturb the existing material and create a dangerous condition. Second, installing vinyl siding over any existing materials, particularly those in poor condition, can lead to additional problems in your home and can hide the development of those problems until they become extremely large and costly to repair.

Benefits Of Recycling Asbestos Materials

• Permanent Solution: The recycling process destroys asbestos fibers and converts them into a nonhazardous substance.
• Reusable Products: The end products can be used in a variety of applications.
• Reduces Waste: The process reduces the volume of asbestos-containing materials significantly, which saves precious space in landfills.
• Prevents Asbestos from Going to Landfills: The recycling process prevents the dumping of asbestos products into landfills, which protects landfill workers from exposure.
• Offsets Costs of Abatement: Recycling asbestos can offset the cost of abatement by producing material that can be safely used rather than paying a high price for dumping hazardous waste.
• Removes Asbestos from the Waste Stream: Transforming asbestos into nonhazardous substances is the morally responsible action to prevent future asbestos-related diseases.

Currently, the cost of recycling asbestos is about three times that of traditional disposal in special landfills designated to receive asbestos waste. Some of the cost may be recouped by selling the nonhazardous end products.

In the U.S., asbestos recycling is not available to the general public. The Department of Defense has recycled asbestos-containing materials at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. Private companies around the world are working on developing and refining asbestos recycling technologies with the goal of making it more affordable in the near future.

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They’re Not A Likely Concern For Resale

The East Coast is filled with houses sided in asbestos-cement shingles. If you do somehow end up with those shingles remaining on your house, it’s unlikely that they will affect your sale. These shingles are a fact of life in that area and for houses built or remodeled in the early- and mid-20th century.

Can I Paint Asbestos

In general, it is not recommended that you should paint asbestos. Painting any surface requires a clean and dry surface using any kind of abrasive against an asbestos product can release fibres into the air. Additionally, if the asbestos is in poor condition to the point that it requires painting, this may be an indicator that it is at the end of its lifespan.

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Disposing Of Asbestos Waste Following Removal

If you have access to a trailer to dispose of the asbestos waste or the back of a commercial van, then this is preferential to putting it in your car boot as you can clean it out afterwards using water.

Check with your local council where you can take the asbestos waste to dispose of it safely, as not all recycling sites will accept it, so make sure you check beforehand.

If you would like anymore information on the subject of safe removal of asbestos from a shed or garage, then please refer to the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos

Likewise, if you are looking for a reputable and trained contractor to remove your asbestos garage, then please get in touch. We work with a couple of different contractors who we are happy to recommend to you. Call us on 0161 763 3727.

Duty holders and employers have a legal responsibility to manage asbestos in their building so as not to put employees at risk. Contact our Armco office for asbestos management and refurbishment/ demolition surveys on 0161 763 3727 or by visiting

Alternatively, for all your asbestos training needs call 0161 761 4424 or visit for more information or to book a training course.

Repairing Asbestos Roof Tiles

If your asbestos roof tiles become damaged, this can pose a serious risk to your health. As such, repairing asbestos roof tiles can be dangerous but leaving them damaged can also be risky. Youll need to stay safe by using appropriate safety equipment, such as a mask and gloves, and the main focus should be on sealing any hazardous fibres before they can enter your lungs.

Due to the huge risks of repairing asbestos roof tiles, wed strongly suggest you hire a tradesperson with the necessary training to do the job safely.

Find an asbestos removal expert

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Will My Roof Be Replaced With A New One After Its Removal

The removal company is able to remove your old roof and fit a new roof made from a variety of constituents. The operatives comprise of several tradesmen including joiners and roofers who can put a new roof on using felt and baton, roof tiles, cement sheet or aluminium. Likewise, you can get your entire shed or garage replaced with a new flat pack option for you. The best bet is to talk to one of the team on site so that they can measure up and discuss a variety of options with you.

Asbestos Roof And Moss

The asbestos roof is made from asbestos cement. It is primarily a mixture of cement and asbestos. It is very well known for its heat resistance feature.

Nowadays, it is mostly called fiberglass or cement asbestos.

Asbestos tiles are commonly found on older buildings like garages, commercial buildings, and homes.

Today, because of their known toxicity, modern homes seem to consciously ignore building their roof with this material.

It is a common assumption by people that any product containing asbestos is not harmful to a larger extent. Well, it is simply not true.

As time goes by, moss can grow on an asbestos roof, and it is mostly on the old house. So, it is very common to be found. It cant simply remain unattended for long once you find it out.

The problem with moss on your roof is that it will grow into and break up your shingles. As a result of this, you could end up with leaks in your home and potentially water damage to both interior and exterior walls.

So, the only way to get rid of this risk is to remove moss from your roof before it has a chance to spread and become a real problem!

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Is Asbestos Cement In A Garage Roof Dangerous

In general, asbestos cement is only dangerous when it is damaged, disturbed or in poor condition. Asbestos is a risk to health when its fibres can be breathed into the lungs. When it is enclosed in concrete, it is not usually dangerous.

However, if you were to undertake any kind of work with power tools or wire brushes this has the potential to damage the cement and release asbestos as a fine powder. If you have any concerns that cement in your garage roof may contain asbestos, you should have this checked by professionals.

Finding Asbestos Abatement Contractors

There are strict laws, federally and at the state level, for how asbestos must be removed and disposed of because of the dangers of exposure. Each state has its own department or local board that oversees the licensing and certification of asbestos professionals to ensure all regulations are abided by. Though it differs by state, the certification process is often overseen by an air quality board or the states environmental health department.

Generally, to become a certified asbestos abatement professional or even an asbestos inspector the person must go through an EPA-approved training course and pass the certification exam. Certain states will also have their own requirements, whether its additional training or their own state-level exam. Asbestos professionals must also take annual refresher courses to ensure theyre still following all the proper regulations.

Since these state agencies oversee the certification process, theyre the best resource for finding any asbestos professionals who have gone through the proper training procedures. Most of these agencies will provide a list of the professionals in your area who meet the appropriate federal and state-level certification requirements. As a further check on any asbestos removal companies, you can also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have ever received any safety violations.

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