A friend is considering purchasing a house which has a garage which
runs under the sitting room on a sloping site, built in the early 50s.

The surveyor has pointed out that the garage ceiling,
i.e. below the sitting room floor, is lined with sheets that include
asbestos.

In the garage, the ceiling appears to have been skimmed with plaster,
so the surveyor only spotted the asbestos by pulling up a loose part
of the sitting-room floorboards, over the garage.

The surveyor's report says, "Use of asbestos is unacceptable today".
Brilliant -not altogether helpful a sort of, "No more, no less". No
advice about asbestos risks or their prevention.

Given that there is a range of risks associated with asbestos, I
understand there's different sorts of asbestos whose effects from
lethal to f-all.

So:
1. Is asbestos always a real problem, in every case?

2. If it is under a floor and skimmed with plaster, should we worry?

If anyone has real knowledge on asbestos, then we'd like to know.

(PS. There's no intention to avoid our genuine legal duties about
asbestos.)

So, if it requires stripping out by a licensed asbestos-removal-team
then it may well be that my friend buys the house and gets it
sorted.... but

just as nobody on this group has any respect whatsoever for the
"corgi-thieves" who instal £700 gas boilers for more than £2,500
theft.

some realistic thoughts about this required.....

Although it may not present a real hazard there is always the risk that it
might make the property difficult to sell. Tell him to walk away unless the
vendor is willing to pay the removal costs that will start at around £3k
judging by a local case that happened locally in Somerset.

Peter Crosland

If its not friable ( i.e. flaky) and you will not be disturbing it, then it
can be left.

The only risk is when the fibres are released into the air. Asbestos cement
boards are very dense and do not release fibres unless cut or broken - even
then the release is minor unless you produce lots of dust from the cutting
of it.

We leave it in all our properties, having first noted its location. If we
need to do any work which will disturb it, then we remove it.

Many houses have asbestos in them though, but it does not make the house
dangerous. The surveyor was trying to cover himself, but it is certainly not
a professional comment to have made.

Some local councils will collect suitably wrapped asbestos debris, or
provide a skip at the local dump for you to take it. You don't need it
professionally removed, as you can DIY

dg




"Timbrook99" wrote in message
m...
A friend is considering purchasing a house which has a garage which
runs under the sitting room on a sloping site, built in the early 50s.

The surveyor has pointed out that the garage ceiling,
i.e. below the sitting room floor, is lined with sheets that include
asbestos.

In the garage, the ceiling appears to have been skimmed with plaster,
so the surveyor only spotted the asbestos by pulling up a loose part
of the sitting-room floorboards, over the garage.

The surveyor's report says, "Use of asbestos is unacceptable today".
Brilliant -not altogether helpful a sort of, "No more, no less". No
advice about asbestos risks or their prevention.

Given that there is a range of risks associated with asbestos, I
understand there's different sorts of asbestos whose effects from
lethal to f-all.

So:
1. Is asbestos always a real problem, in every case?

2. If it is under a floor and skimmed with plaster, should we worry?

If anyone has real knowledge on asbestos, then we'd like to know.

(PS. There's no intention to avoid our genuine legal duties about
asbestos.)

So, if it requires stripping out by a licensed asbestos-removal-team
then it may well be that my friend buys the house and gets it
sorted.... but

just as nobody on this group has any respect whatsoever for the
"corgi-thieves" who instal £700 gas boilers for more than £2,500
theft.

some realistic thoughts about this required.....

On 23 Nov 2003 11:26:11 -0800, (Timbrook99)
wrote:

So:
1. Is asbestos always a real problem, in every case?


Not in domestic premises. Most asbestos in houses is included in
asbestos cement products (sheet, pipes, and flues) which include a lot
of cement and a little asbestos (10-15%). What little asbestos there
is is firmly bound in the cement substrate.


2. If it is under a floor and skimmed with plaster, should we worry?

If it's sound and not getting damaged it's best left alone, there is
some asbestos in most houses.


If anyone has real knowledge on asbestos, then we'd like to know.


There are loads of council websites with asbestos info. including
simple precautions if you have to cut it etc. Do a google search using
the terms: council + asbestos + health

(PS. There's no intention to avoid our genuine legal duties about
asbestos.)

So, if it requires stripping out by a licensed asbestos-removal-team
then it may well be that my friend buys the house and gets it
sorted.... but


Dwelling house quantities can just be wetted down, bagged up and
marked "Asbestos" and taken to a council tip, maybe by prior
arrangement.

just as nobody on this group has any respect whatsoever for the
"corgi-thieves" who instal £700 gas boilers for more than £2,500
theft.

some realistic thoughts about this required.....

DG

On 23 Nov 2003 11:26:11 -0800, (Timbrook99)
wrote:

The surveyor's report says, "Use of asbestos is unacceptable today".

This is simply false. _Installation_ of asbestos is unacceptable
today. Continued _use_ of long-installed asbestos is perfectly
acceptable, provided that there's no exposure hazard from it.

For a ceiling, provided it doesn't have any obvious damage, then it's
no problem at all. It's of a type that's an extremely low hazard, and
it isn't going anywhere. It's also a damned good fire protection above
a garage.

Failing that, float the house onto a barge and tow it round to
Cleveland.

--
Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods

As long as you don't break it and get loose fibres in the air its fine. If its cracked or loose its not fine. Getting it out professionally is expensive, I
would get a quote and reduce the vendors price by the size of the quote.

Rick


On 23 Nov 2003 11:26:11 -0800, (Timbrook99) wrote:
A friend is considering purchasing a house which has a garage which
runs under the sitting room on a sloping site, built in the early 50s.

The surveyor has pointed out that the garage ceiling,
i.e. below the sitting room floor, is lined with sheets that include
asbestos.

In the garage, the ceiling appears to have been skimmed with plaster,
so the surveyor only spotted the asbestos by pulling up a loose part
of the sitting-room floorboards, over the garage.

The surveyor's report says, "Use of asbestos is unacceptable today".
Brilliant -not altogether helpful a sort of, "No more, no less". No
advice about asbestos risks or their prevention.

Given that there is a range of risks associated with asbestos, I
understand there's different sorts of asbestos whose effects from
lethal to f-all.

So:
1. Is asbestos always a real problem, in every case?

2. If it is under a floor and skimmed with plaster, should we worry?

If anyone has real knowledge on asbestos, then we'd like to know.

(PS. There's no intention to avoid our genuine legal duties about
asbestos.)

So, if it requires stripping out by a licensed asbestos-removal-team
then it may well be that my friend buys the house and gets it
sorted.... but

just as nobody on this group has any respect whatsoever for the
"corgi-thieves" who instal £700 gas boilers for more than £2,500
theft.

some realistic thoughts about this required.....