Help Please Asbestos Removal

jojo2910

Hi,

We've just had our survey back on the house we want to buy. It says there is an old asbestos water tank in the loft and the garage roof is made of asbestos. That's all I know at this stage.

Is there any day to day danger in living with these things? Who could remove them for us?

Thanks,

Jo

keystone

Its asbestos cement. Its not in the slightest bit dangerous unless you drill, it smash, cut it up etc and even then the risks are miniscule. If the tank in the roof is empty push it into a corner and forget that its there. Whilst it sits there there is as much chance of it being dangerous to you as a million ton meteor dropping on your roof.

The garage roof is fine and will be so whilst it remains whole. If you want to replace it just take the sheets down each in one piece and consult your council for disposal. Do not believe the asbestos fanatics and scaremongerers that will have you spending £ 000s upon £ 000s for specialised removal.

Cheers

SailorSam

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/homeandcommunity/planning/doingworkyourself/dg_10022562

davehills

jojo2910 wrote: »

Hi,

We've just had our survey back on the house we want to buy. It says there is an old asbestos water tank in the loft and the garage roof is made of asbestos. That's all I know at this stage.

Is there any day to day danger in living with these things? Who could remove them for us?

Thanks,

Jo

No danger at all, unless they become broken. Even then the risk is low.

There's no need to remove either IMHO. If you do decide to remove them do so in one piece and take to a proper waste disposal site.

There is only any risk from these things if you breathe in asbestos fibres and these will not be released under normal circumstances.

Most buildings up until the 1980s will have asbestos in them and they pose no real hazard, including school, libraries and hospitals.

Edit: you are at far, far more risk of dropping the tank on your foot or the garage roof collapsing on your noggin than you have of asbestos exposure!

jojo2910

Thanks all. That's a relief.

ian103

i would leave the water tank in the roof, just wrap in thick polythene and gaffer tape the plastic, leave then in the roof. no risk in my opinion.

the asbestos garage roof is ok if sound leave in place - it woundn't bother me one jot.

teneighty

From a house purchase point of view I would take a slightly different opinion.

If the garage roof is asbestos cement it is likely to be very old and reaching the end of its life. Replacing it will be more expensive than replacing a traditional roof as the contractor will have to pay to have it disposed of. I would suggest that should be reflected in the purchase price.

Likewise the tank in the loft. Who wants an old asbestos cement tank wrapped up in the loft forever?

Why not at least try to negotiate but in the knowledge that its not a deal breaker if the vendor wont play ball? Potentially it could save you a few £000's off the asking price.

Mankysteve

I would agree with teneighty. If I founds out my own home had asbestos and it was all stable and not falling part then I would do as the other two say, but when buying a new property I would expect a discount and I would use that discount to pay to have removed before moving just to start with a clean slate.

ian103

agreed with the negotiationj bit, but i wouldn't see it as a deal breaker if it was something I really wanted. I think you can overcoat the asbestos roofing with membrane / coating to significantly extend the life, we couldn't on the house we purchased because the previous owner (cowboy) had bodged a repair that had damaged the sheets so we replaced the roof but took the asbestos sheets to the tip ourselves (3 at a time maximum permitted but i would also think the limit of the car aswell, cost nil!

Fed_Up_Tradesman

ian103 wrote: »

agreed with the negotiationj bit, but i wouldn't see it as a deal breaker if it was something I really wanted. I think you can overcoat the asbestos roofing with membrane / coating to significantly extend the life, we couldn't on the house we purchased because the previous owner (cowboy) had bodged a repair that had damaged the sheets so we replaced the roof but took the asbestos sheets to the tip ourselves (3 at a time maximum permitted but i would also think the limit of the car aswell, cost nil!

Not to mention all those potential asbestos particles lurking on the back seat.

I honestly cannot believe the advice given on here about this issue.

Asbestos is a dangerous product. Those that are advising you to even touch it are doing you a disservice.

I've worked on plenty of garages with asbestolux roofs and in each case a survey has to be done to identify the product and the risks invloved in handling it.

If so much as one fibre enters your lungs, you could be in big trouble in around 30 years time.

Of course, none of these internet posters will be running to your aid to say "sorry I may have been wrong" will they.

PottersbigE

Just a few things I would like to say to those who say its of no danger, please stop giving this advise,
4000 people, yes I mean 4 thousand people die each year from asbestos related dieseases

If you look on the HSE website there is plenty of advice on how to handle asbestos products

If its in good condition then leave it where it is and dont move or disturb it.
Im still gob smacked after 20 minutes of reading this thread. WOW just WOW