1930s garage roof. Needs repair or replace

MissJaneMarple

I dont know if this roof has asbestos. Is there a way to find out please? Can a local roofer do this if it is? Do some roofer handle asbestos? I dont want to use someone who puts leaflets through the door. Many thanks.

Albermarle

Probably best to post a photo of it and/or describe how it looks in more detail.

TadleyBaggie

If it looks a compressed fibre, it's highly likely to be asbestos. It would need to be removed and disposed of by a licensed operative. Repair would not be an option.

CliveOfIndia

Does it look like kind of corrugated cement (sorry, that's the best way I can describe it). If so, and it's 1930's, there's a good chance it contains asbestos.

That being the case, you'd need someone who is trained and licenced to deal with asbestos.

But don't go scaring yourself witless over it. It's perfectly safe unless/until you start breaking it up, that's when it becomes a hazard. And that's what a properly trained asbestos removal company will know how to do safely.

Murmansk

I replaced my asbestos cement garage roof by removing it in full size sheets and double wrapping them in plastic, I then took them to the local Council tip where I had to pay by weight and they took them and dropped them down a disused mineshaft apparently.

I replaced them with "box profile" metal sheets.

Bigphil1474

You do not need a licenced asbestos company to remove sheets of corrugated cement panels containing asbestos. It is non-licenced work. Any company can do it but obviously they need to be competent, where appropriate PPE, and dispose of it as asbestos containing material properly.

If you ring a roofer and tell them you want your old cement panel roof replacing and you think it contains asbestos, they can quote accordingly. If the roof is in relatively good condition, then it can be left in place, there's no danger. They won't be able to repair a broken panel but they may be able to cover it for example. Replacement is likely to be the better option IMO.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056913#Comment_82056913

I disagree. There's no way of knowing whether a random roofer will be competent or sufficiently interested in removing asbestos-containing materials without spreading fragments around the garden. The roofing trade is riddled with cowboys doing poor quality work, especially the ones putting leaflets through people's doors.

The first step is to get confirmation of whether the material contains asbestos, and if so what type. That will help determine whether the work is licensable.

If it is confirmed the material contains asbestos then I would still consider using a company which is licenced, regardless of whether it is necessary.

Although there are no guarantees, using a company which is licensed gives a better chance of them removing the asbestos safely. A licensed firm is less likely to use a sledgehammer to smash up the sheets in situ, and dump them in a country lane.

I would do the same as Murmansk and replace the roof with (plastic coated) steel roofing sheets. Again, a roofer wouldn't necessarily be the best choice for this. I'd suggest either a garage refurbishment specialist, or else a competent general builder.

OP, pictures of your garage would help us give you better advice.

Albermarle

I would do the same as Murmansk and replace the roof with (plastic coated) steel roofing sheets

Quite possibly the best and most cost effective solution, but just for the OP's info, there are more sophisticated ( and significantly more expensive ) solutions, such as a EPDM or GRP roof.

Most likely they would need some modification to the roof structure.

It depends to some extent what the garage is used for, or will be used for.

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057095#Comment_82057095

If the roof is pitched - as it is likely to be if there is some form of asbestos/cement sheeting - then there's not much to be gained from using EPDM or GRP. The exception would be if the pitched roof were to be converted to a flat roof, but the circumstances where such a conversion would be a good idea are pretty limited (for example if the existing roof structure has failed and a cheap replacement is wanted).

Bigphil1474

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056945#Comment_82056945

I disagree. Don't use a cowboy roofer and you won't have any of those issues. Using a licenced asbestos company to undertake non-licensable work is likely to cost an awful lot more money for no good reason. Simply asking the roofer how they'll remove the old roof should tell you whether they are cowboys or not.

You don't need to ascertain whether it contains asbestos nor what type it is, to determine if it is licensable work. Neither of those factors make it licensable work, because it isn't licensable work. What you do is assume it contains asbestos and work accordingly. It is almost certainly Chrysotile, but that doesn't make any difference either.

OP, you could use an asbestos company, as they may well send their non-licensable work team if they have, but a decent roofer can do the job perfectly well. We had the outbuilding done at our old house by our normal roofer who we have known years, and he just did as Murmansk says and wrapped the whole sheets in plastic and disposed of them properly.

Hehaw2025

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057320#Comment_82057320

Agreed, using a specialist asbestos removal company to remove non-licensed material seems like overkill and a total (costly) waste of money.

This is a pretty straightforward job for most roofing companies and OP should just spend some time finding a reliable one.