Asbestos in property - anyone been through this / advice ?

[KidKruger]

I'm looking at a 1960's bungalow with what appear to be asbestos soffits (the horizontal under-surface, immediately underneath the overhanging bit of the roof).

Has anyone had asbestos assessed / checked by a specialist ?

If so what's the process / pitfalls ?

I've heard that if left undisturbed there's no issues but in disturbing it lie potential issues, but that's all I know (think I know).

Any advice appreciated.

[Seabag]

The building I'm in at the mo is going through the process. You'd be amazed what has asbestos in it. Tiles, floor tiles, toilet cistern and other stuff. It's a fairly straight forward process, but it needs dealing with correctly

Happy to give you the company's details later today

[Tallulahdoesthehula]

We have builders working on our house at the moment and I had a conversation with him about asbestos yesterday.

We are currently having the house extended and renovated but the next project when the renovations complete is the replacement of an outbuilding that is in a sorry state and has a roof that appears to be potentially asbestos.

Builder said he believed the roof was actually a type of concrete but it would need to be dealt with as though it was asbestos given how it looks (ie looks like could contain asbestos - lots of things do apparently). His reccomendation was to register the site as a contaminated waste site (think that is what it was called), which lasts a year and means all waste is disposed of properly. Once registered, it would only be @ ?1000 to dispose of the waste (it is a large roof).

He confirmed that it is fine when not broken, the risk occurring from the dust which occurs when it is broken. We didn't go into the finer details of exactly how they remove and dispose of it other than it involving removal without breakage and everything being soaked in water - we are at least a year away from this work so apologies for the vagueness!

[Salsaboy]

It's fine so long as you don't disturb it.

[Mustard]

I found out when living in my first flat that lots of internal doors had asbestos panels put over original doors as fireproofing. Also had a shed at end of the garden that was asbestos. Did hire a company to remove but it was so long ago I can't remember who they were.

[minder]

I would get it checked out properly.

My Mum was a dinner lady in a popular South London secondary school from the early 70s through to 80s.

I can remember her telling me about how they had an inspection for asbestos during that time. Then for weeks afterwards men would arrive in special space like suits and special headgear but all the ladies working in the kitchen would just have to carry on as normal around them, peeling the potatoes, veg, making the sponges and custard etc. and were not informed about any dangers.

[ratty]

I too am going through this with floor tiles. Marley thermoplastic! Luckily following a massive flood this is being done on insurance. Have been informed that I would not even have to move the kids out, just keep them upstairs. Not, that I will but the people dealing with this are pretty fab!

Will post details of the company if they are any good. Works being done next week I think!

[KidKruger]

Yes any company referrals useful, especially if National organisations.

Seabag - yes please do.

Ta all.