Asbestos garage roof - is storage ok?

earthquakebird

Hi,

I am in the process of purchasing a house with a small garage in the back yard. It is >100 year old property so the survey has suspected an asbestos roof. The garage is currently full of the vendor's 'stuff' which mostly looks like junk to me.

I also had a damp and timber specialist in to assess the property recently, who suggested replacing the garage door frame and windows due to damp-related rot.

I would like to do these replacements as I want to use the garage for storage - does this mean that it's likely that I will also need the *possible* asbestos roof removed?

I guess it is reasonable for me to ask the vendor to remove his stuff from the garage before exchange? Does the vendor need to remove the asbestos for this, and therefore would he need to pay for the asbestos removal rather than me? If no, what is a good resource for me to find licensed asbestos removal companies?

Thanks

RedFraggle

I wouldn't worry about it.
No way would i clear my stuff out prior to exchange. You should sort it out once you own the property.

agrinnall

Yes, ask for everything to be removed, otherwise you'll end up either paying for a skip or making lots of trips to the tip.



As long as the roof is sound and watertight it shouldn't be a problem. If you do need to replace it it may help you to know that I paid about £1800 to have the asbestos roof on the double garage at my house removed and disposed of and a new steel roof put in it's place - it took 3 guys a day to do.

Nick_C

Bonded asbestos is not a problem unless you start drilling into it or disturbing it on some way. It's the fibres that are dangerous.

Some houses have asbestos within artex ceilings.

Getting it removed and disposed of properly would cost a fortune.

A whole generation grew up surrounded by asbestos with no Ill effects.

earthquakebird

Thanks everyone - so even if I undertake work to replace the windows and door frame it should be ok?? Obviously it may be 'disturbed' while this work is done but not sure about drilling etc.

The estimated costs for removal seem to vary widely!

RedFraggle

agrinnall wrote: »

Yes, ask for everything to be removed, otherwise you'll end up either paying for a skip or making lots of trips to the trip .

Not at or before exchange though which was the question. On completion, yes 100%.

AdrianC

earthquakebird wrote: »

I guess it is reasonable for me to ask the vendor to remove his stuff from the garage before exchange?

No, it is not.

Does the vendor need to remove the asbestos for this

No.

and therefore would he need to pay for the asbestos removal rather than me?

No.

If no, what is a good resource for me to find licensed asbestos removal companies?

I'd be starting with Yellow Pages.



If it is "asbestos", it'll be asbestos-cement sheet. This is the safest form of asbestos possible, and the biggest risk during removal is falling off the roof. Just don't break it up or use power tools on it. All it needs is plastic bagging, and many local tips will take it. Then replace the roof with steel corrugated sheet or whatever.

agrinnall

ajak81 wrote: »

What did you think of that price and what were other quotes for the same job? For a double garage that sounds quite a good deal!

I had a couple of other quotes, one slightly more and one a bit less, but the latter didn't include disposal (in Birmingham the council will take it away free as long as it's in movable double wrapped bundles, but it seemed better to pay a few quid more).

RedFraggle wrote: »

Not at or before exchange though which was the question. On completion, yes 100%.

Yes, I missed the exchange bit. I might still ask for it though in order to be able to get a good look at the interior before committing to buy, although I doubt if I'd make it a condition of exchange.

AdrianC

ajak81 wrote: »

I can't believe it but the dear old Yellow Pages is no longer here with us!

Yes, it is - https://www.yell.com/

AdrianC

ajak81 wrote: »

I'll not be buying shares in Yell.com

They seem to be doing OK - Hibu Group Ltd, the owners, are basically the spun-off bit of BT that always printed the yellow pages. They employ 12,500 people globally, and made £200m profit last year on £725m revenue, pretty similar to the year before.

theoretica

'Disturbing' an asbestos roof includes drilling holes in it, cutting it, or vigorously scrubbing it. You might have a problem if a tree fell on it. Slight shaking from using power tools on a window frame below it won't be a problem unless the door or window frame is fastened directly to the roof.