Asbestos porch tiles

anyusernamenottaken

Hi All,

Bought a victorian property a while ago with a porch that we think is 30-50 years old. Its in a pretty good state of repair but there are some missing roof tiles and some missing flashing.

I'd like to do some maintenance on the porch roof but the tiles look very much like asbestos tiles...(rough looking cement slates with a fair bit of moss growing over them).

Does anyone have any idea:

1) If I could use a FFP3 rated respirator and do the work myself which would involve removing, cleaning and replacing the tiles.

OR

2) If it would be a better idea to get the whole lot removed and replaced with new slates or felt.

3) What the cost of removal might be? Theres probably 50 tiles in total covering about two meters square.

Many thanks,

Paul

Leif

You could send off a sample for testing. The company I dealt with send you a kit including PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) . I would do some research (Google) to find out what kind of asbestos it could be if any. That will tell you the possible hazard level. Low level stuff can be removed easily enough, for floor tiles you spray the area with water to minimise dust, and wear a dust filter etc. (Probably no real danger, as government guidelines tend to assume the worst, and apply really to people doing this often, not just a one off job.)

As I say, get them tested, if it comes back negative, your life will be so much easier. If not, at least you will be able to make an educated decision.

Niv

You probably dont need to get them tested. If the cement slates have white flecks they are asbestos cement tiles. If there is no white present at all, then they are not asbestos tiles.

Are they smooth on one side and rough on the other?

From your options above, I think you missed one:
4, remove them yourself using a FFP3 mask and take them down to the local HWRC double bagged.

I would not try and clean the slates as cleaning moss off would probably entail scraping which will cause damage/dust and you are also likely to break a few while cleaning them.

Asbestos cement is a low hazard product, so you dont need to get too over-excited by it, but imo if I was renovating that roof i would do option 4.

Niv

anyusernamenottaken

great, thanks guys.

will have a think on it over the weekend about what i'm going to do.

cheers,

paul

greyteam1959

I agree with NIv & his Number 4.......
Lots of people get their knickers in a right twist about asbestos CEMENT products.
Dont drill, saw or break it up, if you MUST break it up wet it well.

keystone

mervyn11 wrote: »

I agree with NIv & his Number 4.......
Lots of people get their knickers in a right twist about asbestos CEMENT products.
Dont drill, saw or break it up, if you MUST break it up wet it well.

Spot on and there has recently been a "professional" on here giving some extremely poor and scaremongering "advice".

Cheers

Niv

keystone wrote: »

Spot on and there has recently been a "professional" on here giving some extremely poor and scaremongering "advice".

Cheers

Oh yea, I remember him from earlier on in the week, he was getting his knickers in a twist wasnt he !