Asbestos disposal

[Lazurus]

Looking to replace the cladding on the bungalow with composite cladding, awaiting results of test to see if the old cement type contain asbestos. Has any one had experience of disposing of asbestos, Norfolk council does not allow it at tips or offer disposal so looking for alternative's to a big hole in the farmers field?

 

[Spectric]

That could be a job for a specialist, I would wait to see the test results but if it is asbestos then it is illegal for you to remove, it is not just a case of removing and baging it up. Depending on what it is and how hard it may be to remove they may even tent the work area to contain any potential spread. Asbestos is just a nightmare, not only roofs and cladding but old electrical distribution panels, gaskets and lagging.

For guidance: The risks and consequences of illegal removal of asbestos | National Asbestos Helpline

 

[artie]

Lots of "specialists" around the country who will, for a fee, deal with it.

I found a local one on google in a few minutes.

 

[DBC]

I had a painful experience on one of my first jobs when I set up work here in the UK. I was constantly making the same mistake at this point. This can be summed up as presuming that materials/procedures/legislations/customers were the same as my country of origin without actually checking on things and accessing local knowledge. I was also putting in too low a price as I was trying to get work and build a reputation.

Anyway, I made a kitchen for someone and also enlarged the opening over the sink and made a new casement window to suit. The bigger window meant you could see their old eyesore of a falling down shed from the kitchen now. They asked if I could get rid of it as I had said I had a skip outside the joinery. I stupidly said yes without looking inside. The inside walls were lined with asbestos sheets. I took them out in one piece wrapped them in polythene and took them back to the workshop. After phoning up various specialist firms who deal with asbestos disposal I was still shocked even by the cheapest quote. I can’t remember the price now but it was in the low £100s of pounds. I shudder to think what it is now. Anyway those polythene wrapped sheets are still out the back of my workshop 15 years later as a testament to the idiocy of not doing your homework.

So my advice is get your quote for asbestos removal and disposal first. You may find that you are not allowed to remove it yourself. Also, your cheapest option may be to look into leaving the asbestos under your new reclad if this is feasible. It will certainly be cheaper and safer.

 

[DBC]

While I was writing my reply Artie above posted about free asbestos removal. as I understand it, where I live in Essex you can get up to 40kg removed for free from your own household. If you are a business like me I don’t think this applies. Please feel free to correct me of I’m wrong and I will get rid of those polythene packages behind my workshop. They probably weigh about 150kg.

 

[TRITON]

Norfolk council offices 2am

 

[flying haggis]

My neighbour got rid of the asbestos from an old stables by digging a big hole as Lazarus suggests................

 

[mikej460]

We had suspected asbestos cement roof sheets on our outbuilding. I researched what to do and concluded that they present a low risk if the guidelines are adhered to. I togged myself up in disposable overalls, mask, goggles and gloves and bought asbestos bags for the bits that had collapsed over the years before we bought the house. I managed to take the bags to the nearest Council disposal centre that charged me £38 and a rollicking for bringing too much. The whole sheets were taken away from a local licensed company for £200. For advice I recommend HSE - Asbestos: Asbestos essentials and your local council website.

 

[Lazurus]

For some reason Norfolk council are one of the few who dont offer collection and disposal, cannot even take to the local tip, if it comes back positive looks like its going to be quite spendy to resolve. All cos she wants green cladding!!!!!!

 

[Spectric]

Why not just paint it green!

 

[Yojevol]

This is a job I've been putting off for years - demolition of an old garage with corrugated asbestos/concrete roof panels. The relevant document attached indicates that the process of removing and packaging is not too onerous but the disposal will mean hiring a licensed contractor to take it away.
Brian

 

[MikeK]

Looking to replace the cladding on the bungalow with composite cladding, awaiting results of test to see if the old cement type contain asbestos. Has any one had experience of disposing of asbestos, Norfolk council does not allow it at tips or offer disposal so looking for alternative's to a big hole in the farmers field?

This is one aspect of building renovation that I would never attempt on my own. Aside from the personal health risks, the penalties for improperly treating or disposing of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in Germany are brutal. I would think the penalties in the UK would be equally brutal. Burying confirmed ACM in a farmer's field could "solve" an immediate problem, but it creates a hazard for anyone in the future who disturbs the land. Asbestos does not naturally decompose, so the problem will remain for eons.

Over the past 25 years, all of the renovation projects I managed in Germany on facilities built or renovated prior to 1993 required asbestos surveys. Depending on the location, friable condition, and amount of the asbestos, the mitigation ranged from encapsulation to complete removal. The cost of mitigation could be expensive, but not as expensive for not complying with the law.

 

[Lazurus]

That was a very tongue in cheek remark Mike, I would of course not just bury the problem, hence my request for advice, besides our local farmer is a tank of a man and a good shot as well

 

[Inspector]

I don't know about your side of the pond but there was a time here when asbestos was used in drywall and plaster compounds. In many places testing of the building before major work or demolition is mandatory and specialized crews brought in to do the remediation work. Lead paint is a similar problem. Asbestos was used everywhere in all kinds of products that was great at the time but turns out to be a PIA now.

Pete

 

[Ozi]

You're doing the right thing getting it tested. I had the "asbestos" roof on an old garage removed by a licensed contractor. They turned up damped it all down put on all the kit set up barriers, tested a few bits. Took of all the kit and through the lot in the back of their van. Cost me £400 to get rid of fiber glass reinforced concrete

 

[Woody2Shoes]

I don't know about your side of the pond but there was a time here when asbestos was used in drywall and plaster compounds. In many places testing of the building before major work or demolition is mandatory and specialized crews brought in to do the remediation work. Lead paint is a similar problem. Asbestos was used everywhere in all kinds of products that was great at the time but turns out to be a PIA now.

Pete

Yes, here in the UK there are many ceilings with a textured 'artex' plaster on - older ones having asbestos in. They seemed to put asbestos into all sorts of things (because it was cheap and indestructable, mostly). I remember helping my dad use asbestos fibres before 'rawlplugs' were invented, you'd spit on it and roll it into a plug for a masonry fixing:
https://www.retonthenet.co.uk/vinta...lugging-compound-plugs-circa-1960s-1451-p.asp

 

[Spectric]

Once upon a time Asbestos was the wonder material of the day and in places like the railways where it was used for boiler insulation amongst many other places I have seen pictures where the maintenance sheds looked like snow and many a wife got asbestosis through washing the old mans works clothes.

 

[Ozi]

You're doing the right thing getting it tested. I had the "asbestos" roof on an old garage removed by a licensed contractor. They turned up damped it all down put on all the kit set up barriers, tested a few bits. Took of all the kit and through the lot in the back of their van. Cost me £400 to get rid of fiber glass reinforced concrete

My spelling list for the day includes

Threw
&
Off....... This is one of the reasons I married my secretary!

 

[DBC]

When I was a 17 year old apprentice boy my boss got a maintenance contract for social housing. We mostly just made replacement kitchens and doors for these houses. But in 1988 I was sent out in the ute for a couple of days to drill holes with a holesaw in the asbestos soffit boards immediately above the front doors of about 50 properties. The electrician was following me around putting sensor security lights in these holes. I drilled these holes without goggles or mask and remember getting a lot of s4!t in my nose, mouth and hair. This is something I now try not to think about too much. I wish I could say this was my only experience of working with asbestos but it is the only time I remember it falling into my face. Looking back I imagine the tradesmen in our firm refused to do this work which was why the ignorant apprentice was sent out.

 

[Keith 66]

It is not illegal to remove asbestos cement panels as used on garage roofs etc & can be done yourself. You will need disposable overalls respirators etc. But you still have to get rid of it. You must not break the sheets up so big sheets must be wrapped in polythene in manhandleable packages ie no more than 3 sheets at once.
You can buy large disposal sacks with lifting straps built in, the idea being that you load the lot into one of these & a hiab picks it up & takes it away. Unfortunately this type of pickup is not used across large parts of the country so best to check first! All bolts & roof seals etc go in a bag with the overalls etc.
We ended up getting a contractor in to wrap & dispose of the sheets cost for a large double garage was about £450 in Essex 2 years ago. If using a contractor you should get a proper disposal certificate from him detailing where its come from & where its going for disposal, this covers your buttocks!