Asbestos, possibly...

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Asbestos, possibly...
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sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 11:33 am Post subject: Asbestos, possibly...
I think I may have found some Does anyone know if you can get something like a tester kit or something?

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 11:35 am Post subject:
I think the council will confirm it for you and then wrap the whole place in plastic.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 11:46 am Post subject:
They will also charge you a fortune to get rid, and will not give you time to think about it first.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:02 pm Post subject:
Do some of the special disposal companies not give free quotes and tests? What kind of survey did you get done on the house as if it was something more than a valuation they should have spotted it.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:10 pm Post subject:
They didn't. I think it probably isn't to be honest, but it just might be, which is why I'd like a way of checking without using someone who has a vested interest in saying it is, if you see what I mean.

moogie

Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 525
Location: Near Bridgend

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:19 pm Post subject:
Wherre did you find it? And what does it look like?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:22 pm Post subject:
It's outside the house and involved in a blocked up chimney thing, so not too worrying. It looks like corrugated board stuff, but it's got loads of layers of paint on it, which I'm loath to disturb.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:34 pm Post subject:

The corrugated stuff is safe while it is in one piece and undisturbed - just don't go crushing it into small pieces and breathing hard. Our Council has a skip for asbestos at the disposal facility. If you want to get rid of the stuff, wear a mask, take it out, and then double-bag it if you want to be really safe.
The waste disposal people at your Council should be able to tell you where to take it.

Riverflow

Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Deepest Darkest Hampshire

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:47 pm Post subject:

I agree with Judith on this one - cement bonded asbestos like this appears to be is only dangerous when you start breaking it and making dust. I'd have thought the paint is doing a good job of holding it all together. Here in Hampshire there's a few dumps (Household Waste Recycling Centres as they like to be called) that take it, I believe with a maximum amount you can take in one go.

If you do have to break it, soak it with water and keep the hose running on it as you break it. The fibres can't get into the air if they are wet. I'd prefer snapping it to sawing it as the latter creates tons of dust.

The real dangerous asbestos is the wooly stuff used in insulation. This stuff floats around at the slightest touch. Also, asbestos brake pads/shoes can be dodgy - the action of braking produces dust quite readily which collects around the brake drum / calliper as a matter of course. I know a mechanic with asbestosis from years of changing these.

Above all, don't be too scared of it - take Judith's sensible precautions and keep it wet if you're in doubt about fibres in the air, and you'll be fine.

Colin

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:50 pm Post subject:
I'll probably just leave it alone then, as I said it's outside rather than in so not really worth risking a mesothelioma over.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:06 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

not really worth risking a mesothelioma over.

I'd have thought that words like mesothelioma would really bring in the lucrative compensation links

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:09 pm Post subject:
That and asbestos...

hils

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 568
Location: Nottingham

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:10 pm Post subject:

Riverflow wrote:

If you do have to break it, soak it with water and keep the hose running on it as you break it.

Ditto to this - we had a specially arranged removal of the stuff at the allotments - only catch being we had to get it to the car parks our self!

I did this and I soaked it first (luckily it had rained the night before too) and wore goggles and a breathing mask. I still have masses of it including a potting shed entirley made of it. I just use this as a store shed and wear a mask when I go in. Very hand for a neuclear warfare shelter (I've been told)

wizz

Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 561

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:13 pm Post subject:
We had an old garage roof made of strips of the corrugated stuff. The council sent us a load of info (mostly advice as outlined above)and were happy to pick it up and dispose of it all for �20 as long as it was wrapped in 2 layers of clear plastic. wizz

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 2:31 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

That and asbestos...

And I'll just add Armley - the bit of leeds where I live and site of an asbestos factory that spewed dust all over the far end of the neighbourhood. Local houses have had to be cleansed and are sold with prominent mentions about their 'clear' certificate. Kids who went to the local school across the road can remember being sent out into the playground to sweep up the dust.

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