Having an asbestos garage roof provides a safe, watertight roof for your garage, which can be very helpful. However, when it starts to crumble and deteriorate, it can become a major issue. An asbestos garage roof replacement is a process that cannot be taken lightly. There are fully trained teams and professionals that need to be called upon when this happens. Let’s find out why having a professional in your area can help with the removal of asbestos from your garage roof.
According to the Health and Safety Executives, Asbestos is the single biggest killer in the UK, killing more than 4,000 people per year. When exposed to asbestos fibers, your lungs are damaged and many years after exposure you can be struck down by serious illness. For this reason, strict guidelines exist regarding asbestos garages and roofing.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to six naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have the ability to resist heat, fire and electricity Learn more about asbestos by going to this link . Asbestos fibers are microscopic but are extremely durable and resistant to heat and most chemical breakdowns and reactions. For these reasons, asbestos was widely used in building and industrial settings as well as in consumer products for years. Now that we have more knowledge regarding the harm asbestos can do, it is no longer used. However, it still remains in many old buildings, schools and homes around the world. It is vital that when you purchase a property constructed before 1990’s, you have the property properly inspected for the presence of asbestos.
The most dangerous and well-known effect of asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer that forms on the inside of the lungs or heart. Mesothelioma begins as tiny nodules on the lungs, abdomen or heart but the cancer does not cause any symptoms until the tumor has grown and spread-this is usually happens at the third or fourth stage of cancer and eventually leads to death. This is a sad, painful disease that today we have the knowledge to prevent. Unfortunately, many people were exposed to asbestos during their career years ago and are now starting to see the effects in the form of cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestos was commonly used in the following (but not limited to) according to Wikipedia:
• Roofing and siding materials
• Roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement
• Insulation of a home built between 1930-1950
• Attic and wall insulation as vermiculite ore
• Textured paint and wall patching
• Artificial ashes and embers used in gas fireplaces
• Old stove-top pads
• Walls and floors around wood burning stoves can have asbestos fiber, millwork or concrete pads
• Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring
• Vinyl floor adhesives
• Asbestos blanket or tape on hot water and steam pipes in older homes
• Oil and coal furnaces door gasket insulation
Why is asbestos dangerous?
The tiny airborne asbestos particles can easily be inhaled and because of their shape, they can easily stick to the inside of the lungs or respiratory system. Millions of people have been exposed to asbestos due to its use in industrial, commercial and domestic buildings. The three biggest health problems caused by asbestos exposure are:
Mesothelioma-an aggressive form of cancer that forms in the membranes. The only known cause of this cancer is exposure to asbestos.
Lung cancer-commonly associated with smoking and radon exposure, exposure to asbestos can also cause this disease.
Asbestosis- a degenerative respiratory condition resulting from the formation of scar tissue on the lining of the lungs; this is often the precursor to mesothelioma.
Asbestos was first found to be dangerous in the early 1900’s. In 1924, a UK citizen was first to be diagnosed with asbestosis. In 1931, the term mesothelioma first began being used in the medical world. Despite these warning indications, the effects of asbestos were essentially swept under the rug and the product was still being used. It was not until 1989 that the use of asbestos began being phased out of building materials and it was not officially banned until 2003 in the US and 1999 in the UK. During the span of its use, asbestos was used in over a million residences and buildings and over 100,000 people have died or become ill due to exposure to it.
Asbestos Garage Roof Replacement
Asbestos garage roof replacement is a very specific process. Asbestos garages were quite popular across the UK. Asbestos garages consist of asbestos cement roofing sheets, including internal and external cement systems. Before asbestos was identified as harmful to one’s health, it was widely used because of its affordability, its lightweight nature and its ability to withstand the elements. Any property that was built up in the 1990’s may have asbestos. If you are in a home or building that contains asbestos or an asbestos garage, it is highly recommended that you contact a health and safety professionally licensed asbestos abatement company to rid and dispose of the materials properly to limit any exposure. By contacting professionals, any risk to humans will be eliminated as well as risks to the environment.
If your home or garage roof contains asbestos, it is technically safe as long as the garage or shed has a roof and the walls are in satisfactory condition. However, any damage whatsoever to the roof or walls that contain asbestos and the highly damaging fibers will be exposed. Also, if the asbestos roof is not encapsulated with paint, it will begin to degrade and release the fibers into the air, especially if the paint gets scraped or contacted roughly. While we believe that all asbestos should be removed no matter what, it is highly important that if your asbestos containing garage is in any state of disrepair, it be considered for removal and replacement.
Can I Remove Asbestos From My Home Myself?
While homeowners are legally entitled to remove asbestos from their property themselves, we DO NOT recommend it. According to the Occupational Health & Safety Regulations 2007 Part 4.3 Division 7 Subdivision 2, an unlicensed person may remove non-friable asbestos material if the area does not exceed 10m2 and the total time over the removal process is performed does not exceed one hour in any given 7-day period. If you decide to begin removing asbestos yourself, we strongly encourage close adherence to safety practices. Asbestos fibers are extremely dangerous not only to yourself but to your family and neighbors. If the product is loosely bound in any way, we strongly encourage you to contact a professional and not to touch the job yourself. If the material is firmly bound and you are comfortable removing it, we recommend wearing personal protective equipment, including a respirator mask. You will need to double wrap the material in a strong, thick plastic that is clearly marked “Asbestos”. You will need to dispose of the material along with your clothing and respirator at an appropriate waste treatment center.
Asbestos Garage Roof Replacement Process
First, we always recommend that asbestos garage roof replacement be removed by a trained professional as the removal process can create exposure and subsequently, a health risk. A professional will place plastic drop clothes all around the roof to collect the asbestos. They will wear highly protective clothing and respirators during the process and make sure that anyone at the site is also equipped with the same safety measures. For any roof, the crew will install safety rail around the property for safety. The professionals will then spay the roofing material with a glue substance to help encapsulate the particles that go airborne when the material is broken down. By encapsulating the area, they are decreasing the risk of airborne fibers during the removal process. They will work slowly and deliberately to break down the materials to limit the amount of dust and particles being released. The team will seal off all of the rooms or areas at risk with plastic and tape. Garage roof asbestos warning signs will be placed all over the garage to deter anyone who is not a trained professional from entering. The crew will place giant HEPA filters on the outside of the garage that will suck the air out of the exposed area, creating negative air pressure that will help the exposed air from escaping. The crew will start the removal process by removing any screws that may be keeping the materials in place and then removing the pieces, section by section. The old materials will be safely removed from the premises and then the crew will begin the process of replacing the materials with new, safe materials. Depending on the size of the job and the size of the crew, the asbestos garage replacement process can take anywhere from a day to a week to complete.
After the asbestos garage roof removal and replacement is complete, an air test must be performed before anyone without protective clothing may be permitted to enter the structure. The air sample will then be analyzed to ensure the area is safe for entry. This step is crucial to the safety of the crew and the property owner.
Cost of Removing Asbestos
The cost of removing asbestos will depend largely on where you live and the size of the job. We recommend contacting a licensed contractor to get a quote. The cost of removing asbestos ranges from $50-$100 per square meter. For larger areas, such as asbestos garage removal, the total cost can be upwards of $3,000.00.
There are several different costs associated with asbestos removal as well as several different options.
The first step is to identify the asbestos. You will need to hire a professional assessor to accurately assess presence, risks and quantity of the hazardous material. For basic appraisal of materials, you can expect to spend between $75-$100. It is recommended that an extensive survey is done to the structure to be able to properly assess the situation and move forward with the safest option.
The first option for asbestos control is encapsulation. This is an option for structures without any damage. The encapsulation process involves applying a protection adhesive material to all asbestos material to prevent the release of harmful fibers. The cost of encapsulation is about $10 per square foot.
The next option, and the one we recommend, is asbestos removal, which is performed by a licensed professional. Removal is much pricier than encapsulation, averaging about $60 per square foot, however, it is the only truly safe way to rid the property of asbestos danger. With the asbestos removed, you will no longer have to worry about the risks of potential exposure and it will also increase the value of your home. Many people find that the home values decrease significantly with the presence of asbestos, even if it has been encapsulated. There are many variables that will affect the cost of the removal process including the scale of the project, location and the resources required. You can also expect to increase your budget if the areas are harder to access. After the asbestos has been removed, you will also need to factor in the price for replacement of the materials which will vary widely based on your situation.
The cost of removing asbestos garage will also vary on the size of the garage. Obviously, a double garage will cost more than a single. You will also need to factor in whether it is just the garage roof that will need replacing or the walls too and whether or not the insulation needs to be removed and replaced as well.
Importance of Hiring an Asbestos Removal Specialist
The high cost of asbestos removal may tempt you to skip steps or try to execute the process yourself. It is important to remember that asbestos removal to extremely dangerous and should only be handled by a trained professional. The Control of Asbestos Regulations state that you should only hire a fully credentialed professional. You will want to ensure that your assessor and remover is accredited in the following:
• BOHS P402 Standard
• HSE Licensed (if removing asbestos)
• Hazardous Waste Carriers License (for asbestos transport)
• Use of an accredited lab for sample assessment
It is vitally important for your health and the health of those around you that you take proper precautions when it comes to asbestos and its removal. If you have an asbestos garage or garage roof that is in need of replacement, contact a certified professional to get the issue resolved in the safest manner possible. Health issues resulting from exposure to asbestos or serious and often deadly. Please do not jeopardize your health and the health of those around you-contact a professional today.
