Does this look like asbestos?

greyteam1959

Get your mole grips / vise grips & clamp them tight on the nail heads then unscrew them.
They have a type of coarse screw thread on them.
They will either unscrew or snap off.

Swasterix

greyteam1959 said:

Get your mole grips / vise grips & clamp them tight on the nail heads then unscrew them.
They have a type of coarse screw thread on them.
They will either unscrew or snap off.

Ok, I’ll give this a try first. Cheers!

Phil4432

Don't bother take it down yourself, its not worth the risk to yourself to you and your family.  Yes, its low content asbestos but why take the risk?

What happens if it starts breaking off?  Do you have a HZ vacuum?  Have you had training in how to handle it?
Get a company to sort it out.

Swasterix

Phil4432 said:

Don't bother take it down yourself, its not worth the risk to yourself to you and your family.  Yes, its low content asbestos but why take the risk?

What happens if it starts breaking off?  Do you have a HZ vacuum?  Have you had training in how to handle it?
Get a company to sort it out.

Hi Phil. I realise this message comes from a place of concern, but it’s really not necessary. 

I have read the HSE guidance documents, and others, and fully understand the risks that are involved. This work does not need to be carried out by a licenced operator, and is seen as relatively low risk.  

I am not trained to handle asbestos specifically. I have worked in the petrochemical industry for a long time, and am well used to dealing with hazardous materials, the correct use of PPE, risk assessments, safe working practices, etc. etc. I would not do it if I wasn’t certain I could do so safely. I have access to all of the required equipment/PPE/etc. 

I do appreciate your concern all the same, thank you. 

GDB2222

Swasterix said:

Phil4432 said:

Don't bother take it down yourself, its not worth the risk to yourself to you and your family.  Yes, its low content asbestos but why take the risk?

What happens if it starts breaking off?  Do you have a HZ vacuum?  Have you had training in how to handle it?
Get a company to sort it out.

Hi Phil. I realise this message comes from a place of concern, but it’s really not necessary. 

I have read the HSE guidance documents, and others, and fully understand the risks that are involved. This work does not need to be carried out by a licenced operator, and is seen as relatively low risk.  

I am not trained to handle asbestos specifically. I have worked in the petrochemical industry for a long time, and am well used to dealing with hazardous materials, the correct use of PPE, risk assessments, safe working practices, etc. etc. I would not do it if I wasn’t certain I could do so safely. I have access to all of the required equipment/PPE/etc. 

I do appreciate your concern all the same, thank you. 

I still think you should get Dad to do it.

Swasterix

GDB2222 said:

Swasterix said:

Phil4432 said:

Don't bother take it down yourself, its not worth the risk to yourself to you and your family.  Yes, its low content asbestos but why take the risk?

What happens if it starts breaking off?  Do you have a HZ vacuum?  Have you had training in how to handle it?
Get a company to sort it out.

Hi Phil. I realise this message comes from a place of concern, but it’s really not necessary. 

I have read the HSE guidance documents, and others, and fully understand the risks that are involved. This work does not need to be carried out by a licenced operator, and is seen as relatively low risk.  

I am not trained to handle asbestos specifically. I have worked in the petrochemical industry for a long time, and am well used to dealing with hazardous materials, the correct use of PPE, risk assessments, safe working practices, etc. etc. I would not do it if I wasn’t certain I could do so safely. I have access to all of the required equipment/PPE/etc. 

I do appreciate your concern all the same, thank you. 

I still think you should get Dad to do it.

😂 Sadly Dad is too worried about catching COVID from me to get asbestosis for me! 

MalMonroe

Well, I'm in your Dad's age group and I would be wanting to get professionals in to get rid of this stuff. It might not be quite so bad if it wasn't flaking like billyo (your third photo down). I know that you think people may be fussing about this but all joking aside, asbestos is dangerous. Really.

Of course it's your funeral (could be literally) - a friend of mine just lost her brother at the age of 62 to mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos in his younger years. He was very ill for two years before he died. I think it would be well worth at least getting this stuff assessed. It may turn out not to be asbestos but it looks like it may be. We on here don't really know and it's easy to give cavalier responses when the after-effects will not affect us. 

Are you sure you read the same H&S sheet as me? 'cos that says to avoid breaking it up. 
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/em9.pdf

Of course, it's entirely up to you but my go-to method for dealing with nasty household things is always - get the professionals in! And d**n the expense.

Swasterix

Evening forum. Just wanted to update the thread to a close in case anyone is interested (probably not). Or in the unlikely event that somebody inherits a pergola with a concrete roof in the future (never going to happen). 

Tackled the job on Monday, fully PPE’d up. Wetted the sheets liberally and carefully cut the rubber washers away from the nails. I attempted to use mole grips to turn the nails, but they were fairly well stuck so resorted to very carefully using a hacksaw blade to cut the nail heads off. Lifted the sheets off the pergola and entombed in polythene sheeting/duct tape. All removed without the slightest breakage. 

Rang round numerous skip hire companies to find that only one deals with asbestos, and they would charge me ~£500 for the privilege... after much googling, found an asbestos removal company who are coming to collect next week for the princely sum of £80. On collection they will provide me with the relevant waste transfer document and dispose accordingly. Result!

Thanks very much for all input, as always is appreciated! Have a good evening. 

Ganga

Swasterix said:

Evening forum. Just wanted to update the thread to a close in case anyone is interested (probably not). Or in the unlikely event that somebody inherits a pergola with a concrete roof in the future (never going to happen). 

Tackled the job on Monday, fully PPE’d up. Wetted the sheets liberally and carefully cut the rubber washers away from the nails. I attempted to use mole grips to turn the nails, but they were fairly well stuck so resorted to very carefully using a hacksaw blade to cut the nail heads off. Lifted the sheets off the pergola and entombed in polythene sheeting/duct tape. All removed without the slightest breakage. 

Rang round numerous skip hire companies to find that only one deals with asbestos, and they would charge me ~£500 for the privilege... after much googling, found an asbestos removal company who are coming to collect next week for the princely sum of £80. On collection they will provide me with the relevant waste transfer document and dispose accordingly. Result!

Thanks very much for all input, as always is appreciated! Have a good evening. 

Well done on returning and finishing the story ,glad you got it done safely and cheaply.

NeverTooLate

Swasterix said:

Evening forum. Just wanted to update the thread to a close in case anyone is interested (probably not). Or in the unlikely event that somebody inherits a pergola with a concrete roof in the future (never going to happen). 

Tackled the job on Monday, fully PPE’d up. Wetted the sheets liberally and carefully cut the rubber washers away from the nails. I attempted to use mole grips to turn the nails, but they were fairly well stuck so resorted to very carefully using a hacksaw blade to cut the nail heads off. Lifted the sheets off the pergola and entombed in polythene sheeting/duct tape. All removed without the slightest breakage. 

Rang round numerous skip hire companies to find that only one deals with asbestos, and they would charge me ~£500 for the privilege... after much googling, found an asbestos removal company who are coming to collect next week for the princely sum of £80. On collection they will provide me with the relevant waste transfer document and dispose accordingly. Result!

Thanks very much for all input, as always is appreciated! Have a good evening. 

Gosh that's cheap - whereabouts in the country are you? I've been quoted £800 to get rid of some garage roofs sheets and an old cold water tank.