Asbestos roof

[kiwisfly]

Hey ya, looking for some collective wisdom!
We're looking at a rental property which will work out well except for one thing. It's a 2 bedroom place so not a huge roof area however...
The roof needs replacing at some point and it's an asbestos corrugated product of some sort so am wondering what the potential "pa-lava" in getting the stuff removed & is it an expensive exercise?
Will a roofing company be able to sort the whole process or is it a mater of arranging a specialist company as well?
Has anyone had any experience in this & can offer some advice?
Cheers
Mark

[Swoop]

You will most definately require a specialist removal company. Even disposal of the product once removed, will be a difficult task...

[325rocket]

You will most definately require a specialist removal company. Even disposal of the product once removed, will be a difficult task...

and expensive. dont be tempted to do it yourself.

[loneranger]

Hey Mark, not too sure where your located but if you're in the auckland region call Metro Roofing ltd on 0800 766 3496.
They can take care of everything from start to finish.

[ajturbo]

want me to pop out and have a look at it????

[Subike]

You will find that there are roofing companies that will do this at a competative price for you. They will remove and dispose safley the old roofing according to council by laws and replace you roof with a new one. as you say it is a small dwelling, so could be done in a day easy. Just get quotes from as many roofers as you can, asking that they meet council regs for the removal and disposal of the existing roof.

[Headbanger]

It should cost between $25 and $50 a sheet. Although plenty of companies will ask for much more.

Might as well do it yourself if you want to save yourself some coin, the legal requirements only state that it be done by a competent person.

Wear a mask and overalls, Throw them away with the sheets when finished. The sheets will have to be wrapped in plastic to the requirements of the landfill.

All the asbestos we recover we truck to Bonny Glen near Marton.

The crap has such a low level of product in it that's its hardly worthy of being a health hazard.

[cowpoos]

asbestos corrugated product of some sort

ummm...how do you know its asbestos?? there are many many textured roofing products.

[Fatt Max]

I I I I I...uuuusssseeeddd t t t t to ddddddoooo asasasasbbbbeeeessstttoooosss w w w w wwwwooorrrk, b bu b bub bbu but iI I I I I g g g g gave it awa awa aw awy, tttttt tt tto totot ttooo to dange dan d dange geer toos......aw f f f fuck it.....

[Headbanger]

Unless it states otherwise on the product or there is a complete record of materials used you should consider it to contain asbestos, and treat it as such. Unless its brand new or you have had it tested

I have seen all of the old school tests for asbestos fail so don't believe any crap people say about the way the material breaks or what the fibres look like. And if anyone comes up with the spit test they need to be shot.

Generally all such products manufactured up untill the mid 80's contains asbestos fibre.

[Pedrostt500]

Other than it asbestos, why are you replacing it?, you can seal it by painting it, or by putting another roofing medium over the top, the only thing is if you end up in the future making a penitration through the asbestos you may be required to replace it.

[Deano]

Might as well do it yourself if you want to save yourself some coin, the legal requirements only state that it be done by a competent person.

Wear a mask and overalls, Throw them away with the sheets when finished. The sheets will have to be wrapped in plastic to the requirements of the landfill.

The crap has such a low level of product in it that's its hardly worthy of being a health hazard.

It only takes one fibre in your lungs to cause cancer......but I agree with the above.

Just take care when removing it - try not to crumble it so as to expose fibres. If in doubt, wet it down first.

I have heard some exorbitant prices for asbestos work and in most cases it really isn't warranted.

[birdhandler]

unless you have a good reason leave it on
Most rubbish companies will take it away you need to line refuse bin with black plastic, make sure its moist sop any fibres dont blow away and tape the plastic up. You need to wear a mask and make sure you keep it wet while you work with it
No Idea of the cost now sorry.

[Headbanger]

Last paper work I received from Bonny Glen stated stacks were to be no more then twenty sheets, and each stack was to be wrapped in two layers of black plastic. There are two thicknesses available and they stated the thicker of the two.Generally have to order it in, Hardware stores generally only carry the thin stuff used by concrete layers.

Granted you can get away with less, but I'd like to see where it ends up.

[Headbanger]

Other than it asbestos, why are you replacing it?, you can seal it by painting it, or by putting another roofing medium over the top, the only thing is if you end up in the future making a penitration through the asbestos you may be required to replace it.

The structure of the sheets will corrode to the point that painting it will achieve nothing, and you would be mad to roof over top of it. Reroofing is the perfect time to get rid of it.

That aside, Its heavy, That old house might have 5 ton of cement sheeting bearing down on it.

[BMWST?]

I have heard some exorbitant prices for asbestos work and in most cases it really isn't warranted.

apart from the fact that it can kill you and is labour intensive and requires packaging and "special procedures" to remove.No one is forcing you to accept the prices.If you dont like it dont accept it.

[ynot slow]

There is a lot of miss info re asbestos,when all vinyl flooring had a make up of part asbestos,everyone went gaga when removing it,I know several flooring guys in their 60-70's still healthy yet they removed numerous yards of the shit over the years.Sure heavy concentrations of asbestos aint healthy,i.e wallboards by Hardi-ferodo are different story,but ceilings and other products with smaller concentrations of asbestos is no problem if the company is competant.

Have known a heap of people lifting vinyl by themselves who freak out when any small remnants of flooring are left,and show it had asbestos in it,the look they give is as if they're given a week to live.

[Hitcher]

Building products that contain asbestos should be left alone, unless they are damaged. That old D4 corrugated roofing works just fine and will last longer than more modern claddings. But if you want rid of it, make sure that you get professionals in who not only know how to safely remove it, but also how to safely dispose of it.

There are no building products in New Zealand that are comprised exclusively of asbestos, so don't work yourself into a foam.

[Swoop]

My father worked with the stuff when he was younger and has serious health issues from it.

If at all possible, avoid the shit like the plague.

[kiwisfly]

thanks for all your info posts. Gonna find me a coin stuck down the back of the couch & flip the damn thing to help make a decision! Nothing would need to be done straight away however it is there. Will get some roofing crowds in from around Wellington & start getting some quotes in then as some one said use it as a bargain point. Again, thanks everyone for your input.

[Shadows]

It only takes one fibre in your lungs to cause cancer......

I know a fair bit about this stuff and if that was true we'd better start evacuating the Hutt Valley straight away. Petone Beach is covered in it from all the run off from commercial buildings and state housing. The air around Seaview is particularly full of it. The general population everywhere breathes hundreds, if not thousands, of asbestos fibres every day.

The workplace exposure standard above which you a required wear a respirator is 1 fibre per millilitre of air for chrysotile (white asbestos, the stuff most commonly found in asbestos cement products such as roofing) or 0.1 f/ml for croicolite (blue) or amosite (brown). Below those levels, a person working in that environment 40 hours per week for 20 years would not be expected to suffer any ill effects.

1 fibre per ml means about 500 fibres per the average half litre breath (or at 0.1 f/ml about 50 fibres per breath for the real nasty blue and brown shit which will not break down in one's lungs over time, unlike chrysotile, which appears to).

At ten breaths per minute at the "safe" level of 1 fibre per ml for chrysotile, that's 1,200,000,000 fibres inhaled over 20 years.

Yes the shit is really, really, bad for you, don't breathe it in if you can avoid it, and for fuckssakes don't mix it with your rolling tobacco every morning (they used to put it in cigarette filters and gas masks by the way) - but one fibre isn't going to kill you. It takes a cumulative dose of billions of fibres over a long period of time to do any real damage at all. Lung cancer usually requires an even higher dose.

[ajturbo]

so... do you want me to pop in to have a look?

i will advise what you should do... but i cannot do that until i SEE what your problem is!!!

[cowpoos]

so... do you want me to pop in to have a look?

i will advise what you should do... but i cannot do that until i SEE what your problem is!!!
the angle I was going to try to take... :)

get someone to look at it!

[Deano]

I know a fair bit about this stuff

Well according to my lecturer on the matter, and while not probable, and you would be very unlucky, it only takes 1 fibre lodged in your lung to cause cancer. Not a high chance but still a chance.

The fibres in the environment undoubtedly become bound to other particles, increasing the likelihood that you will cough it out before any harm is done.

[Deano]

apart from the fact that it can kill you and is labour intensive and requires packaging and "special procedures" to remove.No one is forcing you to accept the prices.If you dont like it dont accept it.

Mate, when quotes come in for the same work thousands of dollars apart, the upper price is a rort.

[ajturbo]

Well according to my lecturer on the matter, and while not probable, and you would be very unlucky, it only takes 1 fibre lodged in your lung to cause cancer. Not a high chance but still a chance.

The fibres in the environment undoubtedly become bound to other particles, increasing the likelihood that you will cough it out before any harm is done.
THAT is why you do NOT sand OR water blast....

sorry i have not been around.. will be there tomorrow to look at your problem...


AJ

[Gareth51]

Hate to think how many asbestos roofs we riped off and chucked in the bin or over the bank.

[The Stranger]

I know a fair bit about this stuff and if that was true we'd better start evacuating the Hutt Valley straight away. Petone Beach is covered in it from all the run off from commercial buildings and state housing. The air around Seaview is particularly full of it. The general population everywhere breathes hundreds, if not thousands, of asbestos fibres every day.

The workplace exposure standard above which you a required wear a respirator is 1 fibre per millilitre of air for chrysotile (white asbestos, the stuff most commonly found in asbestos cement products such as roofing) or 0.1 f/ml for croicolite (blue) or amosite (brown). Below those levels, a person working in that environment 40 hours per week for 20 years would not be expected to suffer any ill effects.

1 fibre per ml means about 500 fibres per the average half litre breath (or at 0.1 f/ml about 50 fibres per breath for the real nasty blue and brown shit which will not break down in one's lungs over time, unlike chrysotile, which appears to).

At ten breaths per minute at the "safe" level of 1 fibre per ml for chrysotile, that's 1,200,000,000 fibres inhaled over 20 years.

Yes the shit is really, really, bad for you, don't breathe it in if you can avoid it, and for fuckssakes don't mix it with your rolling tobacco every morning (they used to put it in cigarette filters and gas masks by the way) - but one fibre isn't going to kill you. It takes a cumulative dose of billions of fibres over a long period of time to do any real damage at all. Lung cancer usually requires an even higher dose.

That's good news, cause we used to blow this shit up in fires.
It fooken goes off.

[peasea]

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire......

Oh no it isn't, it's made of asbestos.

[Deano]

I know a fair bit about this stuff and if that was true we'd better start evacuating the Hutt Valley straight away. Petone Beach is covered in it from all the run off from commercial buildings and state housing. The air around Seaview is particularly full of it. The general population everywhere breathes hundreds, if not thousands, of asbestos fibres every day.

The workplace exposure standard above which you a required wear a respirator is 1 fibre per millilitre of air for chrysotile (white asbestos, the stuff most commonly found in asbestos cement products such as roofing) or 0.1 f/ml for croicolite (blue) or amosite (brown). Below those levels, a person working in that environment 40 hours per week for 20 years would not be expected to suffer any ill effects.



I seriously doubt that the general popn are breathing in thousands of fibres every day. Can you reference any authority on this ?

Also, from DoL website regarding WES - "The Workplace Exposure Standards are intended to be used as guidelines for those involved in occupational health practice. The use of the standards by untrained persons as a marker in determining 'compliance' is not recommended. In assigning the standards, defining a level that will achieve freedom from adverse health effects is the major consideration. Compliance with the designated value does not, however, guarantee protection from discomfort or possible ill-health outcomes for all workers. The range of individual susceptibility is wide and it is possible that workers will experience discomfort or develop occupational illness from exposure to substances at levels below the exposure standards."

Although - "Possible Diseases Due to Short Term Asbestos Exposure
Low levels of short term asbestos exposure is not considered a threat to humans and can generally be overlooked."

I wouldn't risk it myself and wet the roof down thoroughly before doing any work.

[ajturbo]

i am going to have a look at this roof today....

i will let you all know my findings...

i have worked on many of these roofs in my time, even before osh got involved!

so hold your breath for me...
i am unsure which is worst

welly wind
or
asbestos roof....

or a combination of both..:woohoo:

[Shadows]

I seriously doubt that the general popn are breathing in thousands of fibres every day. Can you reference any authority on this ?

Also, from DoL website regarding WES - "The Workplace Exposure Standards are intended to be used as guidelines for those involved in occupational health practice. The use of the standards by untrained persons as a marker in determining 'compliance' is not recommended. In assigning the standards, defining a level that will achieve freedom from adverse health effects is the major consideration. Compliance with the designated value does not, however, guarantee protection from discomfort or possible ill-health outcomes for all workers. The range of individual susceptibility is wide and it is possible that workers will experience discomfort or develop occupational illness from exposure to substances at levels below the exposure standards."

Although - "Possible Diseases Due to Short Term Asbestos Exposure
Low levels of short term asbestos exposure is not considered a threat to humans and can generally be overlooked."

I wouldn't risk it myself and wet the roof down thoroughly before doing any work.

Yes they are. Let me find it and get back to you.

What DOL are saying is like saying that if you have ever smoked a single cigarette you are at risk of cancer. Which, I suppose, is true. You are also at risk of cancer if you have not smoked a cigarette. DOL are simply covering their collective arses.

Regarding wetting the roof down - absofuckinglutely! Personally I wouldn't do the work myself any way and leave it to the experts. As I said, the shit is really really bad for you.

[ajturbo]

ok you wannabies... i have been around to look at the roof in question..

yes it IS asbestos...


the guy has 3 choises

1. leave it
2. paint it
3. replace it.

Replacing it will be a major, it is part of joined unit, the other owner would have to replace their side also.

this is assuming that there are no leaks...

but i would be more concerned with the rotting wood around the house...


painting it... this will need to be moss treated, then LEFT for 12 months, re-treated then 1-2 months latter it could be painted.


painting would have to be a MINIMUM 3 coat system

cost of getting me to paint it...4-5k



Leaving it, he could just moss treat it and walk-away

[Headbanger]

ok you wannabies... i have been around to look at the roof in question..


Did you also look at the ceilings?, Pipe lagging?

[Headbanger]

Regarding wetting the roof down - absofuckinglutely! .

Wet asbestos roof can be slicker then ice, Plus the sheet is what's called non-friable, meaning the fibre is contained, Wetting it doesn't do anything apart from make the job more dangerous.

By all means wet it if your going to crush it and free the fibres, otherwise wear a mask,take care not to break the sheets.

[Deano]

Wet asbestos roof can be slicker then ice, Plus the sheet is what's called non-friable, meaning the fibre is contained, Wetting it doesn't do anything apart from make the job more dangerous.

By all means wet it if your going to crush it and free the fibres, otherwise wear a mask,take care not to break the sheets.

As soon as you start "working" with the material (lifting sheets/pulling nails/dropping onto ground etc, there is potential to release fibres.

Personally, as dangerous as it is, it isn't rocket science and standard precautions such as wetting it down (not the sheet you are standing on of course) should mitigate any potential hazards.

[cowpoos]

but i would be more concerned with the rotting wood around the house...



My concern with all due respect fella...if wood is rotting...the advice should be replacing it!!

[Headbanger]

As soon as you start "working" with the material (lifting sheets/pulling nails/dropping onto ground etc, there is potential to release fibres.

Personally, as dangerous as it is, it isn't rocket science and standard precautions such as wetting it down (not the sheet you are standing on of course) should mitigate any potential hazards.

The masks is for any released fibres.And you wash down teh area afterwards.

Anyhow, Guess what I do for a living?, Yeah, remove asbestos roofing on a massive scale. Rocket science or not, anybody in my crew who wet down a roof we were working on would be getting retrained pretty damn quickly,a second time would be their job. You have to start on the top row,water runs onto the row below,where you have to be standing to lift the sheet.Cue person slipping and rolling ankle while holding asbestos sheet over abyss.

Heres a photo of one of my jobs, Many of the structures are 3 or 4 stories high, Every green roof you can see is asbestos sheeting and my crew removed the lot,Thousands upon thousands of sheets, and this is just one of our sites. and there is more including the sheep yards that aren't in the photo.

http://imagef1.net.nz/files/affco2.jpg

[Deano]

My bad - removing material from a house I figured a scaffold or ladder on the roof would be the go. Then you wouldn't have to stand on the wetted bits.

[ajturbo]

Did you also look at the ceilings?, Pipe lagging?
ya dopey bugger..

i look at the ROOF

[Headbanger]

ya dopey bugger..

i look at the ROOF

Yeah, I suggested to the thread starter that he get a full asbestos report done to make sure he knew what he was getting into, just seeing what was done. The ceilings (if sprayed in asbestos) are a bigger issue then roofing materials. The crap they sprayed on ceilings can breakdown and contaminate the air in the house.

[ajturbo]

Yeah, I suggested to the thread starter that he get a full asbestos report done to make sure he knew what he was getting into, just seeing what was done. The ceilings (if sprayed in asbestos) are a bigger issue then roofing materials. The crap they sprayed on ceilings can breakdown and contaminate the air in the house.
don't get me started on that shit........

[BMWST?]

Mate, when quotes come in for the same work thousands of dollars apart, the upper price is a rort.

well that still leaves you with a choice doesnt it.And it isnt a rort the lower guy might have cocked it up....