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Are Asbestos Garages Safe?

24 May 2024

Number 1 customer question : Are asbestos garages safe?

Many times we have been asked whether asbestos garages are safe to keep in place. From moving into a new property through to renovating your garden , asbestos garages can become a headache.


Here’s some background information on what asbestos actually is


Asbestos is a group of natural minerals made of fibres. There are six different types of asbestos , being Crocidolite , Amosite , Chrysotile , Anthophyllite , tremolite and Actinolite. In the UK , the 3 most common types of asbestos found in building materials are Chrysotile (White) , Amosite (Brown) and Crocidolite (Blue)


The thin needle like , microscopic fibres of asbestos are what can be released into the air and inhaled. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause life threatening lung disease such as cancer – which is why it is classed as a carcinogenic substance.

Removal of asbestos must be done by professionals who are trained to control these microscopic fibres.


Is asbestos still used to make garages now?


Asbestos was fully banned in 1999 in the UK. So, it is illegal to import and use asbestos now.

Therefore, modern constructions will not contain asbestos materials.


Where are the asbestos fibres found in asbestos garages?


When looking at an asbestos garage, a common misconception is that the actual cement itself is the asbestos – this isn’t actually true. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre which has been mixed with cement to strengthen it. Strengthening of the cement with asbestos makes it last longer – at the time of manufacture , this was a good idea. Not so much now!

Asbestos makes up approximately 10-15% of cement products. The high percentage of cement results in the grey colour – making it hard to distinguish between asbestos cement and fibre cement (non-asbestos material).


How can you tell the difference between asbestos cement and non-asbestos fibre cement?


Asbestos cement and fibre cement look near on identical. This causes issues when deciding whether to employ an asbestos removal contractor or not to remove your asbestos garage or garage roof.

The only accurate way to tell whether cement sheets are asbestos or not is to have sample testing carried out. A sample of the cement is analysed under polarised light microscopes to identify if asbestos fibres are present. Only UKAS accredited laboratories can provide you an accurate result.

It is advisable to have the material tested so you can handle and dispose od it appropriately.


Is the asbestos cement in garages safe?


Asbestos is at it’s most dangerous when it becomes airborne. Airborne asbestos fibres can be inhaled and cause serious lung disease. Damaged or deteriorating asbestos containing cement , can release asbestos fibres into the air. Therefore :


·        Asbestos cement which is in a good condition is safe to be left in place.


·        Asbestos cement which is cracked , damaged or deteriorating needs to be either encapsulated (if appropriate) or removed.


Checking your asbestos garage on a regular basis , including after frost , high winds and heavy rain is advisable and can help to extend it’s life. You will be able to notice changes in the condition early. Early detection of changes means you can act before the asbestos cement gets worse becomes a higher risk.


Selling a house with an asbestos garage


There is no legal reason why you cannot sell a property which has an asbestos garage.

If the condition of the asbestos is good , there would be no reason for the garage to be an issue during a property sale. On the flip side , if you have a deteriorated garage ,it may de-value the property and potential buyers may either ask for a reduction in the property price,  or ask to have it removed before as part of the sale conditions.


Do you need advice about asbestos garage removal?

Call us on 01158 241 995 

5 December 2024
Have you removed the roof off your old garage or even removed the whole asbestos garage yourself? Now you’re wondering what to do with the asbestos sheets. We can help! Nottingham Councils do offer a service for you to take your asbestos cement waste to them. This can be booked online with them and there are restrictions , but they will accept it. Depending on the area you live in will depend on how much the asbestos disposal costs. To give you an idea – Nottinghamshire County Council charge £120 for you to take your asbestos to them. For more information on Nottingham local council asbestos disposal. Using a private company like us! We will collect your asbestos cement sheets direct from your property. No need to transport them yourself , no need to stack it in a skip yourself. Just simply leave the asbestos at your property and we do all the loading and disposal. Once we have completed the safe disposal , you get the legal documents to prove you’ve followed your duty of care! To help you further , we’ve added some popular FAQ’s we get from asbestos collection customers: Do I have to wrap the asbestos sheets before you collect? No , you do not have to wrap them , we will do this as part of the service. Can you collect any day of the week or is it just Saturdays? We can carry out the asbestos collections on any week days. How do I pay for the asbestos collection? When we have collected and disposed of the asbestos , you will get an invoice which can be paid online or over the phone by card. No up front payment required. Where is the asbestos disposed of? We take out asbestos to a licensed asbestos disposal site in Nottingham. This information will be displayed on the Hazardous Waste Consignment Note we provide to you. You can check their details on the Environment Agency Website. If you would like a quote for the collection and disposal of your asbestos , contact us on 01158 241995 WE NEVER OVERINFLATE PRICES!
28 November 2024
Asbestos garages are made up of mainly cement asbestos , wooden frames , glass/wood windows and wooden doors. There are of course variations to this , but the main element is cement asbestos. The asbestos can be just on the roof in a corrugated style sheet or on the roof and sides (flat panels) As asbestos is a hazardous waste , it needs to be removed and disposed of safely and legally! Asbestos removed from your property will generally go two ways , it will either go to an Asbestos Waste Transfer Station then to Landfill or direct to Landfill. Asbestos Waste Transfer Station An asbestos waste transfer station is a site which has been specially designed to accept and store asbestos waste. The site will have been approved by the local council and Environment Agency to carry out this operation. A specialist Asbestos Waste Transfer Environmental Permit will be in place. Mostly , the asbestos from your home is brought into the asbestos site and loaded into large enclosed skips. The skips are kept compounded and locked. Once the skips are full , they are taken direct to an asbestos landfill. If you dispose of asbestos via an Asbestos Waste Transfer Station or the company you use for removal are taking it to one , make sure you have checked the sites Environmental Permit on the Environment Agency Public Register. The company will supply you with the permit number which can be checked. You can check Environmental Permits here : https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index Asbestos Landfill Asbestos landfills are specially designed to accept asbestos waste , from bonded to fibrous. Like an asbestos waste transfer station , the landfill will also need an Environmental Permit and Planning Permission. You can check the environmental permit of the landfill here : https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/index There are strict controls in place which the landfill operator has to follow and will charge landfill tax for each ton of asbestos tipped. Specialist mapped out asbestos cells are created on the landfill site. Asbestos waste is tipped within the cell and covered over. Covering the asbestos with appropriate material , prevents the dispersion of asbestos fibres. The cells are for hazardous waste only and no non-hazardous waste should be mixed with it. Whether your asbestos is being disposed of at a transfer station or landfill , you still need a copy of the Hazardous Waste Consignment Note to prove your asbestos has been disposed of legally.
5 November 2024
Are you wondering if an asbestos garage can de-value your property? We give you a run on this in our latest article
5 October 2024
Have you got fibre cement roof sheets sheets and are wondering how to dispose of them. We help you work out how to dispose of fibre cement sheets and asbestos cement sheets legally.
26 September 2024
Do you know what kind of asbestos is within your asbestos garage? There are 3 main types of asbestos , but knowing which one it is can help when dealing with the asbestos garage disposal
5 September 2024
If you’re looking around for asbestos garage removal , you may be wondering what the cost could be to remove yours. There are many factors which affect the price of asbestos garage removal , so we have listed some tips on how to make it as budget friendly as possible. 1. Remove the contents of the garage Additional costs will be charged if the asbestos company have to remove your garage waste first. Furthermore , in general you will be paying asbestos operative prices for waste clearance (there’s so many cheaper ways). So make sure your garage is empty so the asbestos operatives can get straight to work. 2. Remove overgrown ivy and bushes When asbestos garage removal takes place , the operatives need to be able to get around your garage without obstacles. They are handling asbestos , so need clear access. Whilst some bushes are fine , if you have over growing bushes, trees and ivy , it will be cheaper for you to get these removed first. 3. Let the company know the correct size of the garage Most asbestos removal companies like us can quote you from a photo. So , you need to make sure you get as much information in those photos as possible. If you’re taking a photo of a garage but miss out an extension on one side , this will cause higher costs when it comes to removal day. 4. Get the garage removed before it collapses. Some garages are in poor condition but are still standing. Therefore , it is always better and cheaper to get the garage removed before it falls down. A collapsed garage becomes a more in-depth job because of the broken asbestos. Therefore if you do start to see signs of deterioration , it’s best to get that garage removed as soon as possible 5. Dismantle the garage yourself Although this option is generally not advised by professionals , a lot of home owners will remove asbestos garages themselves. So if you are planning on doing it , make sure you’ve read how to do this correctly and the type of Personal Protective Equipment you need. The HSE have handy guides on low risk asbestos removal tasks. The cost reduction comes in because you’ve done all the hard work , so all you need is a reputable company to come and collect the asbestos for disposal.
22 August 2024
5 tips to help you avoid using a rouge trader when looking for asbestos removal in Nottingham.
2 August 2024
Asbestos is a Hazardous material and you are at risk of asbestos fibres being inhaled if the asbestos is not removed properly. We lay out the health risks of asbestos in our latest article.
26 July 2024
Making sure your asbestos garage is in good condition is paramount to extending it’s life. You may not be able to afford the cost of asbestos garage removal yet , or you’re just happy with it and want to carry on using it. Whatever your reason , we have devised some handy tips to help! 1. Regular inspections Keeping an eye on the condition of the asbestos every few months and especially after frost , high winds and heavy rain. If you notice minor cracks or leaks , these are easier to get fixed or encapsulated before they become a larger issue. 2. Cleaning out guttering Keeping your gutters clear will eliminate the build up of debris and water. Debris and water can cause issues with asbestos roofs , the water seeps into the asbestos can causes deterioration which in turn results in cracks and leaks. 3. Clearing off standing water Having a flat roof , which does not easily allow for water to drain off causes standing water. Standing water on the roof again can cause deterioration. By simply sweeping this off with a broom you can stop unwanted cracks and leaks on your asbestos garage roof. 4. Trim back overhanging trees and branches Trees can cause debris build up in your guttering (point 2), but there is also the risk that in high winds the branches will snap – which may damage your asbestos garage. Just keeping the greenery trimmed and away from your garage will help prevent these issues. By regularly monitoring and maintaining your garage you can extend it’s lift longer. Asbestos is only dangerous when it becomes air borne , so preventing and fixing damage is key to keeping your garage a safe space. If you need any further guidance or would like a quote for your asbestos garage removal , contact us on 01158 241 995
5 July 2024
Facts about asbestos , from the different types of asbestos right to whether asbestos can be seen by the naked eye. We give you some really useful information
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