"John Nagelson" wrote in message
...
I've got an asbestos cement roof on my small 1930s garage. Knowing
that asbestos cement is not seen as being as dangerous as asbestos
without cement, I've until now taken the attitude that I won't cause
any damage to it and it won't cause any trouble to me. But now it's
leaking. I really don't want to mess about with it. Sure I could spray
something on it, but I feel this might be the start of the slippery
slope - leaks, drying up after the leaks, crumbling at the edge of
cracks, fibres breaking away.

So maybe the time has come to have it removed and replaced. I've never
done anything with asbestos before, so I know this is a DIY group but
it's probably something I'd want to call someone in for, just to make
sure that no-one inhales any fibres or leaves any lying around. A
friend's husband died of asbestosis.

I imagine there are all sorts of sharp-intake-of-breath conmen around
in this field, so how do I ensure a) I get a proper job done, in
accordance with all laws and regulations covering asbestos cement
disposal, and b) I pay a reasonable amount only?


Allegedly only certain types of asbestos are harmful and also only in large
quantities.
A while since I looked at this but we have disposed of asbestos ourselves in
the past, carefully following the recommended precautions.
http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk/ is an interesting resource.
Asbestosis is allegedly mainly (only?) found in people who have had very
long term exposure such as in manufacturing and in applications where they
have been dealing with loose asbestos insulation.
Back gardens throughout the country are littered with cement sheets which
may or may not contain asbestos so they are not an uncommon thing at all,
not are they generally high risk.
I have a couple of small sheets at the moment, which I decided should not be
added to the poured concrete floor of the shed just to hide them.

In principle you should be able to remove this yourself safely, especially
if you can avoid any cutting or drilling of the sheets.
Obviously you need to be able to lift them safely so a helper would be good.

Your main problem will be the disposal - most places seem to charge an arm
and a leg to take this (although Basingstoke tip used to take it for free,
which IMHO was very sensible).
I still don't understand the logic of making it very difficult and expensive
to hand in supposedly dangerous substances.
This just encourages people to fly tip, and then the council has to send
someone out to clear it up anyway.

Talk to your local council and see where they will accept it, how much they
will take at one time, and how they want it wrapped.
We double wrapped in builders plastic and sealed both wrappings with gaffer
tape.

You will need some kind of transport which will take full sheets of roofing
but I think that you will find hiring a trailer or small van/truck for a day
much cheaper than paying a specialist contractor.

Looking back to previous discussions
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.d-...64e4dd49abecdb

Can't find anything on the NG about how we did it in the end, though.

Cheers

Dave R
--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.
[Not even bunny]

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

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