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I've got a couple that need to come out of a garage, what's the safest way to get rid?
Council website says I should prepare the area with PVA adhesive, how's that work? Do I just dip a brush in the can and spread it all over the walls and floors?
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/help-is-this-asbestos-in-my-rented-workshop ]Have a read of this[/url]
An emulsion roller is best for PVAing... I've just removed a load of concrete fibre-board that 'could' have been asbestos... I got some special bags from the tip and double-bagged/taped as per their instructions.
I just wore a good mask. PVA wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference once I got the crow-bar behind it!
GET A PROFESSIONAL TO DO IT... My father got Mesothelioma from a botched removal (by others) in the 1980's... didn't manifest itself until 2007 - died within 2 years. Sorry to be morbid, but it is very dangerous stuff and you can not know for years whether you've got problems from exposure.
A couple of what to come out of the garage?
If it's asbestos cement sheets, there's a lot of paranoia so get the special butyl sheets or bags from the dump for double-wrapping them. Wear a good mask, drench the area with water and get the sheets out with as little breakage as possible. It's loose asbestos fibres that are dangerous, not asbestos that's encapsulated in cement sheets. I chopped and sanded some of those when I was about 15 for a DIY project and I'm still alive at 57. I expect Alzheimer's will get me before my lungs give out.
You have to take the sheets down to the dump and book the butyl wrappers back in. Make sure you don't show signs of flippancy because asbestos paranoiacs take themselves very seriously.
Don't mess around with loose fibres though; they are Bad News.
Get a small sample tested, it might not be astbestos. My garage roof turned out to be concrete, made removal & tipping a lot easier 🙂
Though both are valid points of view, listen to
died within 2 years. Sorry to be morbid, but it is very dangerous stuff and you can not know for years whether you've got problems from exposure.
rather than
I chopped and sanded some of those when I was about 15 for a DIY project and I'm still alive at 57. I expect Alzheimer's will get me before my lungs give out.
I have an asbestos support organisation on my client list - they spend all day every day dealing with the consequences of asbestos related diseases. It's grim work, and it is believed that the full extent of the problem is yet to surface.
If it's asbestos cement you might be lucky and find a local asbestos contractor who will do the work without it being too expensive. Removing cement sheets comes under a lower risk classification so they won't need ventilation/special hoovers etc. They'll be able to give you a pretty confident assessment of the asbestos content without the cost of lab tests.
I had eight 8'x 3' sheets and a length of guttering removed and disposed of from my shed for around £450 which may sound expensive on the face of it - but our council will not accept any asbestos waste at all.
The guys did a good solid mornings work. It would have taken me forever and driven my fiance crackers if I'd done it myself.
However, if it's asbestos insulating board on the ceiling of an integrated garage, don't touch it. In fact, by law you're basically not allowed to.
Not looking forward to the bill for removing mine when we do a load of work to the house next year, but there's no way I'm taking any chances with the stuff....
It does depend on what it is and what condition it is in. There is a lot of paranoia about all asbestos while some is fairly safe if intact.
It made me chuckle that the council not collect double bagged cement bonded roof panels from my house but are happy for me to take them to the special container at the tip.
Not being flippant btw, used to deal with industrial asbestosis claims. Including the claim for my colleagues dad who died from it, on a Chinese walls basis 🙁
I often wondered about the cement sheets on old garages which are weathered and crumbly/dusty. Is the crumbly stuff basically fibres or a less hazardous material.
Your Council will have advice on getting rid of asbestos cement waste
eg
Asbestos cement removal is non-licensed work, ie you can do it your self.
My sister runs a business that tests for asbestos, they do not remove it so are impartial and have a good rep in the business I understand. She tested some for me recently that was safe to remove.
It is not particularly expensive and probably worth doing for peace of mind.
Might get a small discount if you mention me, maybe (Kevin)
East Riding Laboratories in Hull 01482-221651
[url] http://www.thomsonlocal.com/East%20Riding%20Laboratories/0218973530300497000/ [/url]
Thered, is your garage made of asbestos cement, or have you got an asbestos product within your garage. If its that your garage is asbestos cement get it tested by a UKAS accredited lab (doesnt cost too much if you can take the sample yourself) as it may be NT (new technology) as opposed to AT (asbestos technology). Depending on the results, is its asbestos cement then you can either -
a) Don a FFP3 filtered mask (available from DIY store) some type 5 paper suits, some PVA/water 50/50 mix in a pump up sprayer, a nail bar, bolt cutters and asbestos waste sacks and remove it yourself
or
b) contact an asbestos removal company who can remove it on a non-lisenced removals basis, probably costing between £500-1000 depending on location. Dont sound desperate and paranoid down the phone or you'll be rinsed.
It's bad stuff, but asbestos cement is generally the lesser of the evils and if your kitted up properly and clean up after yourself its an easy and generally safe job, the asbestos is pretty well boned into cement. It's the more fibrous products that are the real killers.
Your Council will have advice on getting rid of asbestos cement waste
I think our council took their advice straight from Withnail and I
"You can shove it up your for nothing, and off while you're at it"
Or words to that effect.