Asbestos garage ceiling removal

MisterNick

Good evening,

Can anybody help please with advice or experience of removing asbestos ceiling. 

Twenty years ago we were advised that we had asbestos in the garage ceiling. The Asbestos Advisory Board advised to keep it if possible and gave ways of working around it to do the work we needed.
We are now doing some work in the garage and ideally would like it gone. We may be able to have it covered with a sort of false ceiling (plasterboard and plastered) which is ok if need be.
I have googled, but responses seem to relate to asbestos cement roofs which this is not what we have.
I'd like to see the process, what is entailed in removing it and the approx costs. 
What I'd like to know is whether anybody has experience of this. if anybody could point to Youtube vids, and / or could advise on their experience and also expected cost (quite a range here)
10 boards 6x4, although I previously came up with 30 sq m's
Norfolk / Suffolk border
Will appreciate any help

Section62

MisterNick said:

Good evening,

Can anybody help please with advice or experience of removing asbestos ceiling. 

Twenty years ago we were advised that we had asbestos in the garage ceiling. The Asbestos Advisory Board advised to keep it if possible and gave ways of working around it to do the work we needed.
We are now doing some work in the garage and ideally would like it gone. We may be able to have it covered with a sort of false ceiling (plasterboard and plastered) which is ok if need be.
I have googled, but responses seem to relate to asbestos cement roofs which this is not what we have.
I'd like to see the process, what is entailed in removing it and the approx costs. 
What I'd like to know is whether anybody has experience of this. if anybody could point to Youtube vids, and / or could advise on their experience and also expected cost (quite a range here)
10 boards 6x4, although I previously came up with 30 sq m's
Norfolk / Suffolk border
Will appreciate any help

Remove it.  It is likely to be AIB with a comparatively high asbestos content.  Hiding it under plasterboard just leaves a very nasty surprise for someone in the future.

Check with your local (District and County) councils whether they have a list of asbestos removal contractors - they will be ones the council is reasonably confident will do a good job, rather than smashing the asbestos to pieces leaving your garage contaminated, and then dumping the asbestos in a field.

The cost will depend on exactly what kind of asbestos containing material you have - so if you haven't already, the starting point is to get some samples tested.  Personally I'd get the samples taken by a professional rather than adopting the DIY approach.

Edit:  If the garage is below a room or otherwise part of the house and is still used for garage-type stuff thenyou'll need to put some alternative fireproofing up.

GDB2222

Either do as @Section62 says, and have it professionally removed, or paint it over thoroughly but leave it visible for what it is, so people don't drill into it inadvertently.

danrv

AIB removal post here. Maybe useful.
https://community.screwfix.com/threads/asbestos-or-not.238277/

You could paint it as suggested. Always a chance you could ding it moving step ladders or whatever plus it makes drilling or screwing anything into it difficult. 
I was quoted £3k a few months ago for removing an electric warm air heater but was able to DIY eventually after research into the heater contents. Just gives an idea of asbestos removal costs. 

Bigphil1474

OP, it's worth checking again whether it does contain asbestos. Asbestos surveyors tend to use the 'probably does contain asbestos' approach if they don't know for sure. I've seen reports saying all sorts of stuff contains asbestos on that basis e.g. toilet seats, safes etc.. If it hasn't been tested previously, then you could get it tested and you'd know for sure. 
If the asbestos material is in sound condition and can be easily removed in whole panels, then it's a pretty easy job and you may not need a licensed company. If it has to be hacked off, cut , old rusty screws ground off etc. then not so much, and you may need a licensed removal company, which is vastly more expensive. 
If it was me, I would do the false ceiling thing, as it is perfectly safe if the asbestos containing materials are in reasonable condition, just get some stickers to stick on the new ceiling saying something like 'Warning - asbestos containing materials above this ceiling'.

MisterNick

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. 
Interesting ideas. My preference will be to remove the panels, but they are in good condition. They are nailed in so not sure how easy it will be to remove.
There is a loft over the garage which I was thinking of insulating.
I also may have them re tested to confirm that they are asbestos. I think the last one was done by sending away a sample, but I can't find the report now.
Will have a chat with the builder again.

danrv

MisterNick said:

They are nailed in so not sure how easy it will be to remove.

Not easy without disturbing the material. I didn’t even attempt to take off a suspected asbestos board from the heater cupboard door due to it being nailed on.