Survey results and Asbestos

[Dizeee]

So... Got our survey back for the 1950s house we are buying and it makes reference to the roof lining being of an asbestos and cement mix that should present no issue if undisturbed but may need specialist removal if works are to be carried out at a later stage.

It's been marked as urgent on the report. Is this an issue I should be concerned about and what is the approximate cost of removal?

[Dizeee]

Its an internal main roof, which is showing signs of needing some maintenance, and it is has now been complicated by this "warning". I have no experience of asbestos but the homebuyer's report states:

[Dizeee]

I've not seen many new roofs on the houses there, in fact I can't recall seeing one. I am just wondering how much of this is arse covering for the sake of mentioning it on a report vs an actual issue.

This is a bank home buyers report that we were forced into in order to be able to take out the mortgage, so not an independent surveyor.

[Dizeee]

Specialist asbestos chap gors round to the house tomorrow to give me the lowdown on exactly whats going on up there. Will ypdate in detail when I hear back...

[Dizeee]

Interesting conversation I have just had with a friend who used to be involved in the field - he said its absolutely fine if left alone and not to worry about it. Said it sounds like you can work around it in terms of tiling and installing ventilation holes in the soffets, and therefore you wouldn't need to touch this material unless you were considering a loft conversion and therefore a roof lift. Reading the survey again, it does kind of tye in with the notion that what is there is safe, and should remain so, as long as you keep a keen eye on the roof and nip any issues in the bud early.

I will come back tomorrow with what the specialist say's. Cheers for replies so far.

[Dizeee]

Chaps gone round, says it is safe in its current form and is asbestos cement. Its like corragated boarding. He stated as long as not disturbed would not present a problem, and that ventilation gaps and tiling could be done without moving it.

He quoted £4200 to remove it but said it would need a full roof lift and it goes through to the neighbouring property so it would not be a straightforward job. Therefore, just leave as is and monitor.

Interestingly he said the ceilings may contain asbestos, and that he could sample it. If so to remove the ceilings and leave an empty space would be cicra £2000. To plaster over again would be whatever that cost, no idea what plaster boarding cost but for 3 rooms I was thinking around £500 ish?

So all in all it's ok. Question now is do I try and subtract the cost of re plastering the ceilings or should I just forget about it and move on.

[Dizeee]

Forgot to mention, he said that he recommends a hoover off of the material followed by a spray to conceal it all and quoted £550 to do that. Probably going to go down that route, might get the vendor to do it.

[Dizeee]

[Dizeee]

roofer said:

If the fella quoted to do it, I would assume he's an Azzy specialist and has the correctly filtered equipment .

[Dizeee]

When you say Unibond it, what do you mean exactly? Spray it with Unibond myself?

[Dizeee]

Yup - outside of house :-

[Dizeee]

elanfan said:

You don't know how much that lining was disturbed when they tiled the roof. The loft could be full of fibres. It also is suggested that you have 1960's art ex ceilings which contain asbestos. Replasterboarding will release those fibres. Personally I wouldn't want to bring up my family in that place and how would you feel if someone were to be made I'll by it in years to come. if I were you I'd walk away - plenty more asbestos free properties about.

Yet a survey and an asbestos specialist has deemed it perfectly safe and even workable for the most part. I think id be a fool to ealk away. We spent months looking at everything in our price range and trust me this house is a one off.

[Dizeee]

It's an ex council house and apparently they were built to last!

[Dizeee]

Result, chatted with my vendor today and he has agreed to have the loft work done by the azzy specialist, the vacuum and ET150 spray, and pay for it all e.t.c. at a cost of around £850 so that's that issue sorted. Also had a chat with a local roofer who said the sheets have a very small proportion of asbestos in them anyway, and that they are fairly easy to work around.

[Dizeee]

elanfan said:

Yet I've seen nothing that's says any atmospheric testing has been done nor of the the dust/debris that will be lying on the top surface of whatever the floor consists of. So every time someone goes up there it will get kicked up and inhaled.. Look if you want to take that risk be my guest I'm just saying I wouldn't put my family at risk however small that risk might be. I'll shut up now the OP is determined to buy it.

I get what your saying, but I have had roofers and surveyors all saying it is safe. One roofer told me the amount of asbestos in the sheeting is 0.05% and really not dangerous at all. Plus, by having this azzy specialist in to vacuum and seal I am sure that will make it as safe as possible in terms of going up there e.t.c. There are hundreds of houses in the road and adjoining roads with the exact same roof and setup and they all seem to be going strong, nobody is dropping dead on a regular basis!

[Dizeee]

The chap said he would issue a certificate of cleanliness so im hoping im sure that his work should be to the required depth so to speak.

[Dizeee]

Not sure about that. Doubt it to be honest. It was done today anyway, so what's done is done. I'll soon find out no doubt!

[Dizeee]

I've had enough people tell me it's harmless in it's current form, and perfectly safe. It's only 0.05% asbestos anyway, and unless it needs fully removing, it won't cause an issue. The initial panic has definitely subsided now.