ASBESTOS!!!!!!!

[noddy5]

Have just had the mortgage report back on our new house and it says that the soffits(?)are probably asbestos.There is no mention of how dangerous this is and only says that any work carried out on them would need to be done by specialists,The house was valued at what we are paying for it and is ok in all other ways.Does anyone know anything about asbestos?Help!!

bump!

This site might be of use government asbestos site

Really don't know much. But our garage has an asbestos roof and as far as I understand there is absolutely no problem or danger with this unless you want to get it removed. That's when the specialists must be called in. They'll seal it all off and wear all the protective gear and depending on the job, you might need to be out of the area for a while cos of the dust. Um that's all I know I'm afraid. I'll have a google for you!

This site seems fairly sensible:

Asbestos info

I'm probably wrong, usually am accordingly to DP , but isn't it the dust from asbestos that's dangerous (ie when you're fitting or removing it)?

I think this is why you have to get a specialist asbestos company to remove it.

HTH.

muddaofsuburbia, you beat me to it!

I'd get in touch with the sellers and say that you want money taken off for this kind of work to go ahead - it is expensive and you have to get a specialist firm in who understand all of the safety and disposal implications - I can't see anybody being willing to pay the asking price for a house when they know there is asbestos present - what has your solicitor said??

We have asbestos soffits, and tiling in some cupboards, and around part of our ancient boiler. We had a report done which put it all at low risk, which meant it's ok to stay where it is, as long as it is good nick. I would advise getting someone to come out and take some samples though. We found ours by calliong our environmental health office.

it is just when it is moved and the dust is harmful. Get loads of quotes if you want it removing, they vary remarkably. My stupid friend knocked down an asbestos garage by herself not realising it was dangerous?!!

noddy5 there are different types of asbestos, and it is true that it is the dust that is dangerous, but if I were you I'd want it removed by a specialist firm before moving in. My brother in law died of asbestos related cancer at the age of 43, and no one was able to pinpoint exactly where he had been in contact with the asbestos that eventually killed him (he never worked with it at all). I don't mean to scare you but please be very careful about this, it is a serious matter

soffits are on the edge of your roof. Where the tiles end there is an overhang, made of wood or plastic (the Fascia) and the horizontal bit that fits to this and stops birds getting into your roof space is the soffit.

Blue Asbestos is the most dangerous, then white asbestos. Building materials are usually 'encapsulated asbestos' ie concrete and asbestos mixed. This is safe so long as it is intact. When it breaks, the asbestos fibres are released.

This is why specialist removal is required - the contractors wear protective clothing, seal everything off and double wrap the asbestos in polythene bags.

Contact Building Control at your local council planning office for more advice.