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• How hazardous is asbestos roofing?

• Are you required to remove it?

• Can you do the job yourself?

• Will it effect the sale of your home?

If you own or are considering buying a home with asbestos roofing then there are several things that you need to know, and the first one is that you’re not alone. This is because untold numbers of homes, and businesses all over the U.S., and the UK have asbestos tiles either on their roofs or, being used for siding.

Another thing that many people are completely unaware of is that asbestos was also also commonly used in roofing felt underlayment, sealers, and patching compound as well as several other types of roof covering materials besides just tiles.

There is More than Just Asbestos Roofing


Also up until the late 1970s when it was banned, it was quite commonly used in a whole host of other building materials, including ceiling tiles, various types of pressed siding board, and even in some instances as loose insulation in attics and walls.

So when you consider that asbestos building products have a 60 to 70 year lifespan, it isn’t hard to imagine that there is a heck of a lot of it out there in and on homes, and businesses. Way more than the people in charge in our governments would like to have us all know.

Now the good news is that as far as hazardous materials are concerned, there are substances out there that are far more dangerous than asbestos roofing. Besides the amount of it in most tiles only amounts to 5% -30%, and it’s encapsulated in concrete.

It’s a Naturally Occurring Mineral


The real irony though, is that this substance is actually a natural occurring mineral that exists on the surface topsoil in many areas of the planet. In fact green serpentine which is loaded with asbestos, is California’s state rock because it’s so prevalent in that state.

Regulations for Private Owners are Surprisingly Lax

So yes asbestos is harmful if you breath it, but as long as it’s encapsulated in concrete, and sitting safely on your roof it’s absolutely no problem. This is also the reason why for private parties or, individual homeowners, regulations regarding its removal are so lax.

Now keep in mind that’s regulations for private parties, and homeowners because for business operators such as roofing, and asbestos removal companies, it’s en entirely different story. For them there is a host of government regulations to abide by, all backed up by stiff fines and penalties.

You Have Several Options

So in plain terms what are your options as a homeowner if you happen to own a residence that has an asbestos roof? The answer to that is that there are many options, but if you live in the UK and the building is a multi-family dwelling with more than four units, only a professional service can touch your project.

Now assuming that your building has four units or, less or, that you don’t live in the UK, the regulations governing the removal of asbestos roof tiles by private parties are relatively few in number. Now they do vary from region to region, but they all are quite similar in that they basically deal with the handling, and disposal of asbestos tiles.

You Do Need a Permit to Remove Asbestos Roofing


You will need a permit, but there are no special requirements other than paying for it. You will also be presented with a list of procedures that you must follow during the removal, and disposal process. As an example, you will be required to keep the material contained in plastic bags, and to keep the roof wet as the asbestos roofing tiles are being removed.

So the good news is that they’re all basic, common sense regulations that are are very easy to abide by. You should also know that your asbestos roofing shingles can only be disposed of in a landfill facility that allows them. Not to worry though because there is one in your area, but you may have to drive a little further to get to it. That’s all.

Of course you always have the least costly, and problematic option to consider, and that is to do nothing at all. You can simply leave them as they are, cover them with a roof coating or, simply have them roofed over with perhaps metal roofing. You see as stated from the beginning, you aren’t required in any way to do anything with asbestos roofing tiles.

Tags: Asbestos Roofing

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 1:17 pm and is filed under Asbestos Roofing, Helpful Facts & Trivia, Roof Coating Products, Roof Tiles, Roofing Materials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.