Removing Asbestos Roofing from Your Home
- Written by NewsServices.com
These days, most people know that asbestos is bad news. It’s very dangerous and can even cause serious diseases like cancer.
However, we weren’t always that well-informed.
For many years, asbestos was used in all kinds of building materials, and if you have an older home, there’s a good chance that you might have some in your house. One common area for asbestos to be found in Australian homes is on the roof.
Here’s what you need to know about removing asbestos roofing from your home.
How Can You Tell If You Have Asbestos Roofing?
The problem with asbestos is you can’t tell just by looking at something whether it is or isn’t. If your home is older, there’s a good chance it could be, though.
The best way to find out if you have asbestos is to contact an asbestos specialist, have them take a sample, and confirm whether it is asbestos. They can also tell you what kind of asbestos you have. This will help to determine what type of abatement process needs to be followed.
Until you have confirmation, don’t start any work on the roof!
Should You Remove Asbestos Roofing?
Many people feel that if they have asbestos in their homes (or on it), they must remove it as soon as possible. That’s understandable, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to get dangerous materials far away from your home.
However, it’s also important to know that if asbestos is not disturbed or damaged, it won’t become airborne, and it won’t pose a risk to you. This is why you shouldn’t start ripping off your roofing until you know for sure what you’re dealing with!
How Do You Go About Removing Asbestos Roofing?
Once you’ve confirmed that you do have asbestos roofing and if you need to replace your roof, you’re probably wondering how to remove it.
The first thing you should do is find out what the regulations in your area are. Some parts of Australia do allow homeowners to remove small, up to ten square meter sections of non-friable asbestos. Other areas do not permit DIY asbestos removal at all.
Regardless of who removes your asbestos roofing, you will also need to follow all the regulations for disposing of it properly. You can’t simply throw asbestos roofing in a waste bin and hope for the best!
There are also many special tools and equipment, as well as personal protective clothing and equipment that are legally required for asbestos removal. Buying all the equipment to complete the process safely makes it prohibitively expensive for most people.
Find a Qualified Contractor
Removing asbestos is expensive, dangerous, and often a very hot and unpleasant process. This is not the kind of job you want to tackle as a DIY project, and the best thing you can do is find asbestos roofing specialists that know the procedures and have all the right equipment for the job.
Professionals will get the job done quickly and safely, so you can move on to the next step, and get your brand-new roof installed.
