What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral, and when processed, it forms fine, hair-like fibres.
It was widely used in construction, especially for insulation, cement, building materials, and more.
The reason behind asbestos being used so often is thanks to its heat resistance, effective insulation, as well as being strong and long-lasting and resistant to chemicals.
In terms of roofing, asbestos was commonly used in:
- Corrugated roof sheets, used for sheds, garages, industrial units and farm buildings
- Roof tiles that look like slate (lower cost than real slate)
- Flat roofs (roofing felt and backing boards)
- Soffits and Fascia
- Gutters and Downpipes
Asbestos has also been used in products beyond roofing and construction, such as appliances, cosmetics and even children’s toys. However, it isn’t a recent creation. In fact asbestos has been used for hundreds of years, dating back at least 4,500. The UK banned the use of asbestos in 1999, but there are still many countries and territories that use asbestos, with only 66 having it banned.
Why Is It Dangerous?
When disturbed, the fine fibres release into the air, putting people at risk of being inhaled. These fibres are sharp, don’t get broken down by the body and extremely small, to the point that you can’t see them and won’t be aware of inhaling them.
Once inhaled, these fibres get lodged in the lung tissue, with the body being unable to remove them effectively. Over time, this causes scarring, inflammation and cell damage, and the symptoms often take from 20 to 50 years to appear.
After being inhaled, it can cause:
- Asbestosis (Lung scarring)
- Mesothelioma (cancer)
- Lung Cancer
- Other types of cancers
Asbestos is known to be toxic and carcinogenic, with the fact that it used to be commonly used before the 2000s, and the fibres being too small to see, it can become a silent killer that strikes years after exposure.
How Can You Spot It?
You can’t actually tell whether something is or isn’t asbestos. Usually, you have to send a sample out for testing to be 100% sure. Things containing asbestos, when damaged, have small, fuzzy, frayed fabric like fibres protruding from it. But like stated before, this does not mean that it is asbestos.
It is incredibly hard to spot, and that is what makes it that much more dangerous. If you believe that you might be facing something that contains asbestos, it’s best that you do not interact with it and have it removed, especially if damaged.
Asbestos In Roofs
When it comes to asbestos in roofs, it is just as difficult to spot. Most people assume that, if the roof was made before 1999, it is made out of asbestos. Another small identifier is whether your roof is cratered or has chipped corners. Some can use shape and colour to guess that asbestos materials were used in a roof, but that’s all that we can do, assume that it might be asbestos…
A mix of asbestos and concrete was also used as a cheap alternative to slate tiles, replicating their appearance, which made it quite popular. Fibre cement roofing sheets also contained asbestos, with the majority of it being cement.
Roof tiles are not the only roofing materials that could contain asbestos. You should also be wary of roofing felt, roofing insulation, guttering, wall panels and cladding, fascias and soffit panels.
If you have asbestos in your roof, and it’s not damaged, then it is low risk. However removing it will bring long-term safety against it. If your roof appears to be cracked, leaking or deteriorating, then removal will be required.
What To Do If You Believe That You Might Be Facing Asbestos
Asbestos is considered low risk if not damaged, however you should not interact with it. The second it gets damaged, the fibres become airborne and can be easily inhaled. It is best to get asbestos removed as soon as you encounter it in your home, due to the risk of it becoming damaged and putting you at risk.
If you encounter a material containing asbestos that is damaged, leave the area immediately. If you find dust (possible asbestos fibres) on your clothes and skin, do not brush the fibres off. Instead use a wet wipe to wipe yourself and your clothes down, before removing your clothing (not over the head). This is to avoid causing the fibres to become airborne and risk inhaling them.
When disposing of clothes that are contaminated with asbestos fibres, you must get information about their disposal from your local council.
We recommend looking at the Government website for more details on how to deal with exposure to Asbestos.
How We Deal With Asbestos
We take measures even before starting the work during the surveying process. If it looks like asbestos from afar, it’s best to be safe and deal with it as if it really is asbestos, as it could put our roofers and you at risk. If our roofers come into contact with asbestos while on-site, they follow the process above. Work is immediately stopped and we arrange for the removal of the asbestos before any work can be carried out.
Asbestos: A Silent Killer
Asbestos is a silent killer, and if your home was built before the 2000s, it’s highly likely that it was used in its construction. It’s extremely important that it is dealt with properly to keep both yourself and our roofers safe. Although low risk if undamaged, it can quickly become a problem if disturbed, becoming airborne and invisible to the naked eye. If you believe that your roof could contain asbestos, it’s best to remove it before it becomes damaged and results in a bigger problem.
Contact us for a free survey if you believe you may have asbestos in your roof. It’s best to get it sorted before it’s too late.
