Dynorod caused big leak in ceiling, asbestos query-urgent plse

littlewren

I am at my wits end. Dynorod caused a leak through my ceiling 4 days ago, which is about 5ft in width and approx. 2ft depth & I'm currently waiting for it to be sorted. My house was built in 1980-81 and I have asked British Gas (I have service care with them so Dynorod was sent out) if they can arrange an asbestos survey, which they have refused. I'm worried sick that the ceiling might contain asbestos because of its age. Dynorod want to just cut away the damaged part of the ceiling and do a patch repair. I don't want to get a home testing kit & they won't pay for an asbestos survey, I'm completely stuck. The house really smells, it's open plan so even though I have to sit upstairs most of the time the smell is carried upstairs

I'm being given different information from various websites. I posted elsewhere, a man more or less told me I was being stupid and that it wouldn't contain asbestos, a different man told me it could.

I feel like I'm going mad! I don't want to let Dynorod remove & patch repair until I'm confident there's no asbestos and nobody's willing to help me.

Can anyone advise further please?

Thanks in advance.

maninthestreet

Asbestos (white) was used in artex up to the later 1990's, so it's quite likely that a house built in the early 80's would have asbestoc-containing artex. How did dynorod cause the leak??

littlewren

maninthestreet wrote: »

Asbestos (white) was used in artex up to the later 1990's, so it's quite likely that a house built in the early 80's would have asbestoc-containing artex. How did dynorod cause the leak??

Unbelievably, just changing two bath taps. I only called them out for one dripping bath tap, he said he couldn't get the washer? off and would have to change the bath taps, I said that was fine. An hour later, I spotted a wet patch on the carpet, looked up and the ceiling was starting to stain, then it was like the heavens opened, water was streaming down the patio doors, onto the carpet, down the walls. I managed to get them to come back 10 o'clock at night after waiting ages for one of their emergency plumbers to come out, he had to pierce 3 holes in the ceiling and the rusty water filled nearly 3 buckets. My curtains are stained, the carpet's stained with the rusty water, the walls are stained and now I can't get them to agree to test for asbestos. They just want to cut away the piece and do a patch repair

It was a week from hell with Dynorod. Without going into huge detail, they had come out the day before to fit 2 toilet handles & a dripping in flow? in the cistern, it was an obviously newly 'qualified' lad, the area manager ended up having to check what he was doing as he was making mistakes, they were here for 6 hours.

Then the next day was the leak through the ceiling by one of their other plumbers, so obviously rushing the job. I felt like telling him to slow down, he was so quick. The emergency plumber who came out to it said that he hadn't tightened the taps properly, hence the huge leak.

ceredigion

maninthestreet wrote: »

Asbestos (white) was used in artex up to the later 1990's, so it's quite likely that a house built in the early 80's would have asbestoc-containing artex. How did dynorod cause the leak??

I think you should retract that statement, as it is very misleading

bris

Get your own survey done, why would you think BG are liable for an asbestos survey just because of a leak.

littlewren

bris wrote: »

Get your own survey done, why would you think BG are liable for an asbestos survey just because of a leak.

Ermm because they caused the huge leak! Why should I pay to have a survey done before the ceiling's cut away and repaired when it is Dynarod's fault I'm in this situation! Never mind the fact that I'm a pensioner and simply don't have the money anyway. If they hadn't caused my ceiling to be in the dreadful state it's in now, I wouldn't have been concerned whether or not the artex contained asbestos as I know that unless it's disturbed it's not harmful.

Why wouldn't they be liable, when Dynarod (through the BG homecare agreement) have caused absolute mayhem and such stress for me over the past few days?

Are you actually serious??

Davesnave

Dyno Rod don't appear to think that there is a risk to their workforce or to you, so if you want extra reassurance and safety measures, it looks as if you will have to pay for them.

What do you expect to happen if the artex is shown to contain a small amount of asbestos? Is there actually any artex type coating? I don't think you mentioned one.

The chances are that if there is any asbestos at all, it'll be at a low level, encapsulated and not be the really dangerous kind. This can be removed by people taking sensible precautions as set out by the HSE and it doesn't require a high level of protection or skill. The contractor doesn't have to be licenced if they are taking away
"textured decorative coatings provided that this can be done without deterioration of the material, (eg if the backing board is carefully cut around to achieve virtually intact removal)"

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/non-licensed-work.htm

littlewren

Davesnave wrote: »

Dyno Rod don't appear to think that there is a risk to their workforce or to you, so if you want extra reassurance and safety measures, it looks as if you will have to pay for them.

What do you expect to happen if the artex is shown to contain a small amount of asbestos? Is there actually any artex type coating? I don't think you mentioned one.

The chances are that if there is any asbestos at all, it'll be at a low level, encapsulated and not be the really dangerous kind. This can be removed by people taking sensible precautions as set out by the HSE and it doesn't require a high level of protection or skill. The contractor doesn't have to be licenced if they are taking away
"textured decorative coatings provided that this can be done without deterioration of the material, (eg if the backing board is carefully cut around to achieve virtually intact removal)"

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/non-licensed-work.htm

Sorry, I don't know what you mean by artext type coating. All I know is that all the ceilings I have are artexed, is it 'stippled?'

littlewren

Davesnave wrote: »

Dyno Rod don't appear to think that there is a risk to their workforce or to you, so if you want extra reassurance and safety measures, it looks as if you will have to pay for them.

What do you expect to happen if the artex is shown to contain a small amount of asbestos? Is there actually any artex type coating? I don't think you mentioned one.

The chances are that if there is any asbestos at all, it'll be at a low level, encapsulated and not be the really dangerous kind. This can be removed by people taking sensible precautions as set out by the HSE and it doesn't require a high level of protection or skill. The contractor doesn't have to be licenced if they are taking away
"textured decorative coatings provided that this can be done without deterioration of the material, (eg if the backing board is carefully cut around to achieve virtually intact removal)"

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/non-licensed-work.htm

But it's starting to sag, there are three drainage holes now and a crack too, so surely it's no longer encapsulated?

Alex1983

Have BG got there insurance to deal with it or are the dyno guys that did the work patching it back up, if it is tested and does contain asbestos they may offer the going rate to repair the damage and then leave with you to sort as they may not touch the asbestos, the health and safety in BG is taken very seriously.

Alex1983

Have you read your terms and conditions relating to asbestos, I would have a guess it says they will not pay for the removal of it.