Is this asbestos in my garage? Garden office woes.

PrinnyPree

Hi everyone,

I have a timber garage in my garden that I'm worried may contain asbestos, I really want to remove the garage and put up a garden office in its place, don't suppose anyone can spot by pics if it's asbestos or not please?

(won't let me post pics :eek: they are images below I've split, don't know how else to get round it )
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o/jhaGOS

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Should I get it tested or just start asking for quotes as if it is asbestos? It's 2.5m x 8m if it ends up being asbestos how much should it cost to demolish and remove? Was hoping I could just get a tip and do it myself with a sledgehammer, but will get the right peeps in to do it proper if its the bad stuff.

Cheers x
PP

InsertWittyName

http://ibb.co/jhaGOS
http://ibb.co/dPSViS
http://ibb.co/kj5GOS

I am not an expert, but that roof certainly looks like the asbestos roof I had on my (similarly constructed) garage.

I paid £485 to have it demolished and removed about 3-years ago, but it was much smaller - you could just get a small car in.

ariba10

It looks to me to be Asbestos Cement.

I removed ours and took it over to the local council tip.

They were quite happy to accept it providing it was double bagged in plastic.

EachPenny

PrinnyPree wrote: »

....don't suppose anyone can spot by pics if it's asbestos or not please?

It's impossible to tell just from pictures, it is only possible to guess from experience. But looking at that roof I'd guess about 90% certain it contains some level of asbestos fibre.

PrinnyPree wrote: »

Should I get it tested or just start asking for quotes as if it is asbestos?

You are looking at a large area of roof, so it will probably pay to get someone in to test. No point paying a contractor to treat it as high-risk if it isn't.

Also, be aware that some contractors will tell you it is completely harmless and set to work on it with sledgehammers. You'll be the one picking up bits of asbestos from all round your garden for the next few years.

PrinnyPree wrote: »

Was hoping I could just get a tip and do it myself with a sledgehammer, but will get the right peeps in to do it proper if its the bad stuff.

All asbestos is "bad stuff". The difference is in the kind of fibre (blue, brown, white), the form (compressed or loose fibres, asbestos cement etc), and the condition. White fibres in asbestos cement in good condition is at the low end of the risk range, but that doesn't mean it is 'safe', only that the level of measures you need to take when working with it are far lower than say working with loose blue fibres.

As the client - and the person who will be living with the consequences of a bad contractor - it is worth reading up on the subject. The best source of information is the HSE website.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

Finally, you also need to get someone to look at the white panels on the inside walls of the garage. The quality of the pictures is too low to tell, but flat asbestos sheet was also used for garage walls and insulation. These flat sheets often have much higher levels of asbestos, and are more prone to damage. Until I'd taken a good look at them I'd treat the walls as potentially a much higher risk than the roof. So for that reason getting a competent contractor or testing company in would be a good plan.

stator

The dimpled back is very common on asbestos cement

PrinnyPree

Thankyou so much for the replies everybody, I will get a specialist contractor to do the removal if it turns out to be asbestos, and sorry I meant all asbestos was the bad stuff I meant I would demolish myself if it was just fiberglass and normal roofing.

I guess I better just get it tested I've been quoted over £125 + VAT just for a specialist to do that though

Bigphil1474

OP, check the cost of testing and removal if not asbestos, versus removal and assume it's asbestos without the testing. I'd find an asbestos removal company and ask them for a quote on the assumption the panels are all asbestos containing. If it's in good condition, it might not be as expensive as you think.


Also, if any contractor turns up with a sledge hammer, tell them to go away. The safest way to remove asbestos panels is intact in one piece i.e. remove the screws, remove the panel. Smashing them up is a bad idea as it releases the fibres into the atmosphere. They may have safe ways of breaking it up though.

stator

If there is a small piece broken off, you can send it for testing yourself for about £25. Just follow the instructions regarding safety

PrinnyPree

Okay this is a quote I have just got this morning on the assumption it is asbestos.



Thanks for your interest in our range of services.
We are licensed with the Environment Agency No. CB/BM/3886JY to remove/transport asbestos and we specialise in the removal of sectional garages.
With your photos, we're quite sure that your building has both bonded asbestos side panels and roofing plus it is lined on the outside. Given this, then our fixed price for removal would be £1,290inc. VAT
We are never knowingly beaten on price; ask about our PRICE MATCH PROMISE.
For a further cost we break-out concrete floors or dispose of garage contents although each we would quote only once our operatives have attended site.
Our present lead time is three to four weeks.
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• We always work in accordance with good building practices and our employees are provided with all the correct personal protective equipment.
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If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to enquire.
Planet Garages, Lidget Compton Building Specialist

Edit: TBF I was expecting the quote to be much worse and start with a 2, now the question is do I pay to have it tested or just assume it's asbestos and not waste any more money confirming what most people suspect. (I'm unsure whether I would be confident cutting a piece out to send to test myself safely)

Thankyou for the advice

firefox1956

Sounds about the right sort of price to me.
Although of course I am not an expert in asbestos removal.

andrewf75

I'd get it tested as mine looked very similar and turned out to not contain asbestos. You can buy a kit online for £40 just break a bit off and send away. £40 won't add significantly to the cost if it is positive but may save you a lot if it comes back clear!