How to Remove a Roof That Is Made With Asbestos Cement
Posted on: 21 April 2020
If you want to renovate your outdoor space and build a brand-new garage alongside your home, you may have to dismantle an existing structure in order to make room. However, you may need to exercise great care when removing the garage roof, as this corrugated structure could well contain a dangerous substance. What precautions do you need to take and how should you proceed?
Bonded Material
Even though the garage in question is not particularly old, it's important to remember that asbestos was used in the construction of corrugated material like this throughout most of the last century. Indeed, the roof itself may be made of asbestos cement, which, as the name implies, is a mixture of concrete and asbestos. Often, white asbestos would have been used due to its strength and versatility, and you need to be particularly careful during the removal phase.
Additional Risk
Over the years, moss and lichen can build upon a sloping corrugated surface like this if you haven't consistently removed it. This can present an additional problem, as the roots can penetrate the surface and, in the worst-case scenario, could release fibres. If this is the case in your situation, it is best to leave any mature accumulation in place so that it can be removed, together with the corrugated roof, in one go.
Careful Removal
In this case, the asbestos is bonded into the roofing material and can be safely removed so long as the surface of the structure itself is not broken. It is best to avoid the use of power tools and make sure that the roofing segments are handled with great care as they are withdrawn from the structure and carried to the ground level. Even so, it is best to dampen the asbestos sheets while work is taking place, just in case any pieces break off when the fastenings are removed. This will help contain the fibres so that they do not disburse to any great degree. Nevertheless, it is also vitally important to wear the correct personal protective equipment, which will need to be destroyed correctly once the work has been finished.
Your Best Approach
Asbestos is very dangerous, and most people will want to outsource this type of work to an expert organisation. Get in touch with bonded asbestos removal companies, and tell them about your renovation project. They will take care of the asbestos so that you can focus on your new build.
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