Asbestos

Richie_asg1

I would recommend that for the Artexed ceilings, you employ a good plasterer for the day, and put a fresh skim over it if you're really that fussed.

The soffits used a concrete-asbestos board which is rot resistant and weatherproof. Replace them if necessary with UPVc - there are many companies that would love to charge you for this.

Corrugated roof sheets only become a problem when broken. I would replace these with identical, but non-lethal replacements which are very good. The old sheets are fragile and will not support weight, but are often held on with J hooks. It is a simple matter of damping down, using an angle grinder on all fixings, and removing the entire boards.
Telephone your council once bagged, for removal. Or you could transport them yourself to an approved site.

jangor_2

Thankyou for all these helpful comments. I am now in the property. The first thing that has to be done is replacing all the guttering (sadly they leak like a sieve). The chap who is doing this work quoted me just for the guttering and then mentioned the asbestos. As he has done much work locally, I have decided the best thing is to replace everything and then at least the roof will be sorted and the asbestos gone. The ceilings are a little more problematical. They are not in too bad a condition although the artex looks rather dated. I am unsure if I can simply have them covered with something - unsure exactly what. I would rather not risk removing them at present. I am unsure where the asbestos is on the garage. I assume it is part of the roofing. As the garages are en bloc and the roof doesn't look too bad, as suggested, I think I will leave same. And on to the next problem ...

sandy2_2

Asbestos watchdog site is really informative. I wrote to the artex people as I'd never heard of asbestos in Artex til the surveyor said 'there MIGHT be some' this was the reply I got from their Technical Manager
Here are some facts for you:

1) Artex Ltd are not the only manufacturer of texture finishes used in houses – the word Artex tends to be used generically for any texture
2) Genuine Artex products have been asbestos free since July 31st 1984
3) Prior to this date Artex Compound contained approx. 3.5% white asbestos
4) For confirmation on any risk, please contact the Health & Safety Executive asbestos enquiries on 0845 3450055 –they should be able to reassure you that this is low risk, and confirm that removal is not necessary

stu68

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

TBH, I think the scares over asbestos are greatly exaggerated. This is so that 'victims' can claim £££s and is not closely related to the actual risks.

I removed the corrugated asbestos panels from my garage's flat roof a few years ago. I tied them to my roof rack and wrapped them in a tarpaulin for the 6 mile trip to the local tip (with asbestos facilties). No problem. A year later, a neighbour asked me to help with his and I repeated the trip. No problem.

Maybe this will come back to haunt me in years to come but I doubt it. If I'm wrong, it'll take weeks for them to cremate me. Be careful with the stuff but don't fall for the hype.

Live your life by your own (informed) decisions.

Would you feel so concerned if disposing of MDF (medium density fibreboard)?



GG

Can’t say I agree with much that is said in the post by Gorgeous George, as from personal experience I know how deadly asbestos is, it killed my father at the age of 54 and it is without doubt one of the worst ways you can die, believe me. So as far as thinking that the danger is blown up so “victims” can claim large payouts is rubbish, in the states maybe but not here.

If you think blue of brown Asbestos is in your home, then you have no choice than to leave very well alone or get professions in to remove it, but Artex contains white asbestos which is by far the least dangerous and in small amount will be broken down in the body unlike its blue/brown brothers!

If you have Artex that the surveyor says “may” contain Asbestos then get it plastered over and then, when you need to fit lighting etc, damp the area down and purchase a proper face mask and don’t disturb it more than you have to but White Asbestos is not going to kill you with its dust any more than breathing large amounts of any dust while doing DIY without a mask.

As has been posted before the “Asbestos watchdog “ site is excellent for information on what you should and should not do with Asbestos, and taking down corrugated roofing containing asbestos is very unwise indeed, but unless you see first hand what it can do you may not think so.

But as Gorgeous George does correctly state you should not be breathing a large number of products dust i.e. MDF any way.