Asbestos

grantyboy1

I stay in the glasgow area... i've been informed that the tiles on my roof are infact asbestos not slate. :eek:

i heard a rumour that you can get council grants to pay a portion of the removal costs ... is this true?

can anyone give me some advice on this problem?

cheers

kittiwoz

The tiles on my parents roof are asbestos cement too. I've never heard anything about council grants for removal. I know it is very expensive to have asbestos removed because of the carcinogenic effect of the dust when inhaled. Generally asbestos is best left alone. If it's sealed into the tiles it's not creating dust and shouldn't be a problem. However it would be hard to sell a house with asbestos cement tiles. My parents plan on having their roof thatched before they sell (they are approaching retirement age and will probably want to move somewhere smaller). However they can't afford to have the asbestos removed proffesionally so my dad plans on doing it himself. He will hire and erect the scaffolding (you need to get that inspected and certified safe now even if you will be the only one working on it and it is on your property). He plans on removing the tiles and painting them with PVA to seal them and then carrying them down to the skip. Normally you would just chuck the tiles into the skip but that would break them up and release dust.

Steve_xx

There are no grants available in Glasgow for the removal of asbestos. If you are a private homeowner you should seek the advice of a private asbestos contractor.

There are prescribed methods for removing and dumping of asbestos waste. Painting the rooftiles with PVA sealer is not one of them and neither is dumping it in a skip; both of these proposed methods are illegal and inconsiderate. This waste has to be specially segregated and disposed of and the local authority or a private asbestos contractor will advise you of the correct method of disposal.

amanda40

Can second that - We had asbestos panels inside and out on all outside walls of our flat - we applied for a grant but were told no! - Could get it for a new front door, double glazing, re roughcasting, new roof and removal of lead pipes but not for asbestos removal - pee'd us off slightley as it was an ex local authority flat, the development corporation forgot to tell anyone about the construction until they had wound up!!

Neil_Taylor

Before taking any steps on tile removal, chec out this site:

http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk/

This man is a hero who is trying to stop asbestos removal rip offs, and can explain the differences in asbestos types.

Asbestos cement tiles have nowhere near the same dangers as other asbestos products, but still need specialist removal.

kittiwoz

I didn't mean that he planned on just dumping the tiles. He was going to have them properly disposed of once he'd stripped them of the roof. I dare say he will look into it more carefully if he actually decides to sell the house. It's just a provisional idea.

Steve_xx

He needs to take extreme care when he removes these tiles. If they contain any of the dangerous fibres and he happens to breath any in, then he may well suffer as a result.

pinkpauline34

I am in West Lothian. I discovered I had asbestos in the artex in my ceiling last year. I only discovered this when my shower leaked and left a water bulge in my living room ceiling.

My insurers instructed a company called Rhodar to take a sample of the artex away for inspection which came back positive for asbestos. The whole of my room had to be emptied and the room totally sealed off while the asbestos was removed. Rhodar were fantastic but I have no idea how much they charged as I was fully covered under my insurance. You might find some info on their website.

Good luck.

http://www.rhodar.co.uk/

mehefin

If the tiles are not broken , or breaking up, and dont need replacing do nothing. They are inert as the asbestos fibres are bonded into the cement. Asbestos fibres are usually only released into the atmosphere when the bonding agent is broken or eroded, which is why they hermetically seal areas where asbestos removal is taking place.
if the tiles are cracked or whatever do as one of the previous posters suggests. But be warned - certified asbestos removal contractors do not come cheap. It might be worth getting a s professional asbestos survey done. They will advise you waht needs to be done ( if at all) and what sort of asbestos you have got - you will be amazed how many different types there are , and where they are in everyday items too!