Concrete garage roof

[No skills]

Evening all.

I might be looking to purchase a concrete sectional garage from somebody moving to another area, am I right in thinking that a lot of older garages like this had asbestos roofs?

I have asked what the roofing material is and have been told it was concrete sheets, this set alarm bells ringing as one area of my last infernal workplace areas was covered in corrugated asbestos sheets, which looked like concrete to me tbh.

I have very little experience with this sort of material either in identifying it or handling it, so is there any easy ways to identify asbestos roofing?

Cheers.

 

[carlb40]

Any idea of the age of the garage? If it is from the last 10yrs or so, i doubt very much it will be asbestos. Sorry i can't help on identifying it.

 

[No skills]

I don't think its a modern garage, defo older than 10 years.

 

[graduate_owner]

Perhaps by concrete they meant cement? Asbestos sheets are actually called asbestos cement, so the term concrete may be a clever way of avoiding the word cement and therefore trying to disguising this.

K

 

[beech1948]

These asbestos cement sheets were once explained to me as being only minimally dangerous. This was because the asbestos is fully encapsulated within the cement compound ( its not concrete) and loose fibers could not escape. Obviously breaking a sheet gives a small increase in the exposure rates.

Most local authorities will accept asbestos cement sheets if wrapped in plastic ( sometimes double wrapped) and placed in their reserved asbestos skip. At least hat's what the three councils around us do.

So take care when disassembling. Don't take the asbestos cement sheets your seller should dispose of them. Replace with wood purlins on the metal roof frame and a bitumastic ridged roof sheet such as Onduline. This does sag over time if not properly supported. I laid mine on OSB with a Tyvek style sheet over it. Gives support and a way to screw it down.

Hope this helps.

Al

 

[gregmcateer]

If older than ten years it will definitely have asbestos in it, according to my asbestos inspecting buddy.

Be very careful of it.

 

[whiskywill]

Slightly off topic but related. I work in a 1940's era rented office and, when the landlord carried out a routine maintenance inspection last month, I was surprised to find that what looked like ordinary stick on vinyl floor tiles actually contain asbestos. It is allowed because it is encapsulated in whatever plastic they are made of.

 

[finneyb]

I think the greater risk is falling through the sheets rather than the minimal amount of poss asbestos, so don't get on the roof work from beneath.
I'd budget for a new roof - they will be fragile and bound to break as you take them down.

This maybe useful http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf

HTH

Brian

 

[Hemsby]

Slightly off topic but related. I work in a 1940's era rented office and, when the landlord carried out a routine maintenance inspection last month, I was surprised to find that what looked like ordinary stick on vinyl floor tiles actually contain asbestos. It is allowed because it is encapsulated in whatever plastic they are made of.

I believe these are known affectionately in the trade as Marley Crunch tiles, not sure if they are actually made by Marley they were always stuck with a bitumen type material

Recently near a rental property I own (built in 1898) a bungalow that was built in the mid 70’s was subject to flood damage as was my property, both properties were subject to an insurance company specialist inspection check for Asbestos in walls & floors. The 70’s bungalow was deemed to have these floor tiles which contain asbestos and a specialist company was employed to remove them before the builders were allowed to start remedial work.

My property that was affected by the flood had some Artex walls which had to be stripped and re plastered but because the property was possibly Artexed before 1990 the Artex had to be checked to see if it contained Asbestos

 

[powertools]

I am facing the same problem myself but on a larger scale and have done a lot of research on the matter.
The sheets will most likely be asbestos cement and will contain around 5% asbestos fibers to bind the cement together and will not be free in the air unless you damage a sheet when removing.
With sensible precautions in place I would see no problems in removing it infact I would rather remove that roof than drive for 6 hours on a motorway as I would end up inhaling far more harmful particles from exhaust fumes.

 

[Hemsby]

Evening all.

I might be looking to purchase a concrete sectional garage from somebody moving to another area, am I right in thinking that a lot of older garages like this had asbestos roofs?

I have asked what the roofing material is and have been told it was concrete sheets, this set alarm bells ringing as one area of my last infernal workplace areas was covered in corrugated asbestos sheets, which looked like concrete to me tbh.

I have very little experience with this sort of material either in identifying it or handling it, so is there any easy ways to identify asbestos roofing?

Cheers.

This is one local councils advice on the removal of Asbestos Cement roof sheeting, may be of some use to you

http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/files/docum ... 0Sheet.pdf

 

[Soylent1]

Can't you just say you will take the garage except the roofing material (if it's dubious) ?? and replace the roof with something else?

 

[No skills]

Well then, some very handy information there folks.

I do believe the garage is covered in cement/asbestos roofing. Yes it is brittle stuff - the current owner fell through a sheet whilst on the roof a few years ago #-o

I have declined the purchase and walked away. The garage was going for a steal but the agro factor in safely removing the roof and disposing of it in a responsible manner far out-weighs the price. I think the seller might come back to me and say they will take the roof off and dispose of it, BUT knowing them it will end up fly tipped in some kiddy's playground somewhere. I have to say if I found out anything like that had happened it would be quite bad for their health, if you know what I mean.

I have already fallen foul of the asbestos floor tiles, and have possibly been exposed to asbestos dust while working for the local council in my early 20's.

Needless to say I have no wish to be around the stuff in any way shape or form any further, this thread has got me wondering what might be lurking in this old house I live in and what I might have already disturbed..

Still never mind, thanks a lot for the replys.