Asbestos in roof

housebuyer7

Hello, our survey has come back and says that the roof may contain asbestos. Is there a way to find out definitively on-site without asking for a roof tile sample from the vendor to be sent off for testing?

user1977

No, that's how you definitively test for asbestos. And you wouldn't ask the vendor for the sample, you send your surveyor there to take the sample.

housebuyer7

I am just concerned the vendor may not like me sending the surveyor there to actually remove a roof tile.

Woolsery

No one will remove a roof tile. The sample required will be very small and might be taken from somewhere that won't show or matter. Removing a tile clearly would matter!

Ramouth

When we were purchasing our house we found a stack of skates in the garden left over from when the extension roof had been joined in.  The vendor allowed us to take one which we then had tested.  

The result was positive for asbestos but as the slates are in good condition, and it was one of the less dangerous forms of asbestos, we decided to continue.  We will need to make sure any contractors working on the roof are aware of it but otherwise it doesn’t really seem to be an issue.

jonnydeppiwish!

housebuyer7 said:

Hello, our survey has come back and says that the roof may contain asbestos. Is there a way to find out definitively on-site without asking for a roof tile sample from the vendor to be sent off for testing?

What roof? House, garage, outbuildings?

Artex?

Are you likely to be disturbing it?

Going on how you’ve worded it, I’m assuming it’s the artex - as long as you’re not removing the ceilings, just get a good plasterer in to skim them.

Most surveys on houses from the 80s and older with have a comment similar you yours in them so, unless it’s everywhere and not contained, it’ll be a relatively easy ‘non-issue’ for you to work around.

Section62

jonnydeppiwish! said:

housebuyer7 said:

Hello, our survey has come back and says that the roof may contain asbestos. Is there a way to find out definitively on-site without asking for a roof tile sample from the vendor to be sent off for testing?

What roof? House, garage, outbuildings?

Artex?

Are you likely to be disturbing it?

Going on how you’ve worded it, I’m assuming it’s the artex - as long as you’re not removing the ceilings, just get a good plasterer in to skim them.

Most surveys on houses from the 80s and older with have a comment similar you yours in them so, unless it’s everywhere and not contained, it’ll be a relatively easy ‘non-issue’ for you to work around.

I would read "roof tile sample" as probably meaning artificial 'slates' which were very popular in the 1960's and 1970's.

If that is what the surveyor is talking about then there is also a possibility they are approaching end-of-life.

user1977

jonnydeppiwish! said:

housebuyer7 said:

Hello, our survey has come back and says that the roof may contain asbestos. Is there a way to find out definitively on-site without asking for a roof tile sample from the vendor to be sent off for testing?

What roof? House, garage, outbuildings?

Artex?

Are you likely to be disturbing it?

Going on how you’ve worded it, I’m assuming it’s the artex - as long as you’re not removing the ceilings, just get a good plasterer in to skim them.

If they were talking about artexed celings, where do the "tiles" come into it?

housebuyer7

Sorry for lack of info. This is a Victorian house, however during the late 80s the vendor had the roof redone with new tiles that look like slate. We are planning to do a loft conversion with a dormer so yes we would be disturbing them.

Woolsery

I think we're talking roof tiles here, but that begs the question: what state are they in? An unsound roof tile containing asbestos will be more costly to dispose of and that's the only difference between it an an unsound clay tile.

If the roof is sound, surely  the OP can't expect any special discount for the future time, perhaps many years away, when it  needs replacement.

EDIT Oh great, cross posted!

Section62

housebuyer7 said:

Sorry for lack of info. This is a Victorian house, however during the late 80s the vendor had the roof redone with new tiles that look like slate. We are planning to do a loft conversion with a dormer so yes we would be disturbing them.

They do sound like artificial slates (not 'tiles').

https://www.cedral.world/en-gb/roofing/fibre-cement-slates/thrutone-smooth/

By the late 80's there's a possibility the manufacturer had switched to non-asbestos production.  But no certainty.

The only way you'll know is by getting some samples tested.  If the vendor doesn't agree to this then you are stuck.