Anyone any knowledge of asbestos removal? Need to replace soffits and guttering.?

Question

I've been told if I take it down, that's legal; but if contractor does it w/out a certificate then he is breaking the law. How dangerous is "low risk"? Years ago I removed asbestos sheets from a garage roof, having been told by Building Regs. people that the asbestos products were over 90% cement and the asbestos used was not the dangerous stuff, like they used in lagging pipes. Presumably my old gutters and soffits are the same as they were put up 40 yrs ago. I'm now very confused , it seems to be a case of double standards. Any help appreciated,thanks

Answer 1

not neccearily

soffits & guttering will almost certainly be "White Asbestos" which shouldnt be covered by the dangerous material acts (Blue & Brown Asbestos are bad news and should be removed only by a specialist contractor at vast cost).

Im not sure where the legal position is at present, there were murmering that white asbetos should be removed from the provisions of the asbestos legislation (I dont know if this has been done as yet, but Im pretty certain the asbestos contractors will be fighting it tooth and nail (i gets rid of a nice little earner they have been on for the last 10 years or so).

There seems to be a lot of legislation regarding non domestic property, but there sesm tobe precious little infor on what you as a domestic property owner can do about it..

Im guessing you could remove the asbestos yourself (take sensible precautions dust mask, gloves, use minimal force). The problem is going to be where to get rid of the stuff once youve removed it (might be best to dig a deep hole in the garden and bury it, or encapsulate it under some concrete.

The legislation was brought in regressivley since 1998, and has decalred materials that were safe as now being unsafe (thius includes decorative coverings like Artex). Its a con, white asbestos is a radically different material to Blue & Brown

Answer 2

Asbestos is asbestos and no amount of it is safe. Remember that the particles can fly every which way once loosened and it's the airborne particles that are a danger.

No amount of it is safe as far as I'm concerned. Once it's imbedded into your lungs there is always a risk. It's just a matter or time as to when or if.

No one will ever admit liability. I know that when I worked in purchasing for the government, great lengths were taken when it came to asbestos removal and there were only a few companies allowed to undertake the task. Everything was sealed off with plastic and all ventilation sealed off too. They had to wear special suits and ventilators as well. It was serious business.

Great care should be taken when purchasing an old home from the days of homes being manufactured using asbestos. Perhaps that is why so many "old" people develop certain cancers....much is attributed to smoking which everyone seemed to do in the old days but I bet a great deal was due to asbestos as well. Maybe you can have someone inspect it before you start and be sure.

Answer 3

The type of asbestos used in soffit is usually grey type not too harmful,you biggest problem will be disposing of it.If you live in UK
there are a few council run sites which will take it but you will probably have to travel.Where dust mask,keep breakage to minimal use old clothes which you can throw afterwards ,if you want to play it extra safe.
Certain types of Asbestos gave it a bad name.Nowdays asbestos removal is big buisness thats why so many regulations.
Be more careful who fits your soffit and fascia,i've seen some bad jobs over the years.

Answer 4

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RE:
Anyone any knowledge of asbestos removal? Need to replace soffits and guttering.?
I've been told if I take it down, that's legal; but if contractor does it w/out a certificate then he is breaking the law. How dangerous is "low risk"? Years ago I removed asbestos sheets from a garage roof, having been told by Building Regs. people that the asbestos products were...

Answer 5

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replacing the soffit, facia and gutters is a great little project. My only recomendation is that you have a helper. It looks better when you have long lengths instead of many short lengths. Be sure you dry fit your miters on the outside corners in case the framing is off before you start nailing. Also at every seam, put a bead of caulking to ensure it seals the end grain between the joints. For gutters, Use the hidden hangers. They have a hex drive screw that pulls the gutter into the house, and gives you one solid look instead of the old spike and farrel. Be sure if you are putting wood up to apply at least a coat of primer and maybe one coat of finish. It will make your life a lot easier. Doing a project for yourself is always a great thing. Nothing beats being able to say you did the entire thing. Good Luck, hope this helps. PS (use stainless ringshank trim nails (usually 2"). They are a little expensive but will prevent streaking in the paint from brites or galvonized nails.)

Answer 6

you can remove it yourself but if you are caught there is a fine and maybe jail time. asbestos is hazardous waste and can cause cancer. if your sheets are 30x15 and can be scratched with your fingernail they are asbestos.if you have a large area to replace i would get heavy duty garbage bags and double them and take each sheet and fill the bags.your gutters and soffit are not asbestos.guttering is made out of aluminum or stainless steel since you stated your home was 40 years old.the soffit is wood or fiberglasswear a mask while working with any material even if it is wood. small fibers of wood can cause breathing problems because of its age.it is also a great idea to wear a mask with wood removal because of termite damage. would be terrible to breath the dust made from those little bugs.wear a long sleeve shirt and gloves to protect yourself from any type of injury or exposure. play it safe

Answer 7

Asbestos is dangerous in all its crystalline forms. The problem is when old asbestos composites are broken up they can release asbestos dust. Please contact your local environmental health people who can advise you on appropriate licenced contractors etc.It is important that all asbestos residues are disposed of safely and correctly .
Do a search on asbestos mesothelioma , This malignant lung cancer can occur after very small exposures many years previously and I hear that it is a most unpleasant death!. I used to work with someone who had this.

Answer 8

Use plastic for the soffits, it doesn' rot and you won't have to do it again. Look at other gutters locally. The brackets should be 15-18 inches apart. Don't forget the fall towards the drainpipe. Make sure the ladder is supported properly.

Answer 9

Best to get a registered contractor to do it,asbestos dust is the
danger,but wearing the correct gear to remove should be ok,ie
mask,gloves etc,when you take your protective clothing off,make
sure you don't shake it and breathe in the airborne dust,its a killer.

Answer 10

There are specialists who deal in the safe removal of asbestos products. I'm sure you will find one in your area via the web or local newspapers. this may be your best option as they will also dispose of it for you in the correct manner. Here's hoping.