Worried about asbestos

[Username25]

Hello,

Hoping for some reassurance. We have lived in our 70’s build house (1979) to be exact.. for 4 years. I have 3 kids. Asbestos came up as a possibility in boiler cupboard on home buyer report.
I didn’t really worry too much about it as have been told as long as you don’t disturb it it’s ok.
Recently I asked a builder about having my boiler cupboard door replaced and he mentioned that the door looked like it has asbestos on it. Ever since then I’ve felt in such a panic that it’s unsafe and I’ve had my children living here for 4 years!! The door has what I think is asbestos insulation board nailed onto it?
Is this safe to live with like this or have we been in danger of breathing this in?
Is the insulation board quite a dangerous type of asbestos? I know there are different types? Would me opening and closing the cupboard every time I need to put the heating on cause dust?

Thanks in advance for any advise given.

Yes it's safe unless you cut into. It to create dust. Just get an asbestos removal company to check and remove the door.

Thank you for your reply. I will contact a company soon I’m just worried they might tell me the condition is dangerous and then I have to deal with the fact we’ve lived here for 4 years already! I’d that makes sense

My windows at work have asbestos, the company comes over annually to check fir breaches - they said the same, as long as it's undamaged it's fine. But I'd get a specialist company to remove it too

Don't worry, it's safe in situ it's only when it's removed and dust created that there is a risk.
There will likely be other bits (under and behind sinks etc) that you don't know about so if you do want it removed bare that in mind.

Yes I think there’s probably some in the ceilings as well. For some reason that doesn’t worry me as much I think it’s the fact I can visible see the asbestos in our boiler cupboard everyday so I’m feeling quite paranoid about it.

Thanks for your replies. I’ll defo have it removed I think. For piece of mind. X

If it a door, just change it , job done. I think unscrewing it won’t disturb the asbestos too much.

You need to get a company who specialises in asbestos to come out tell you what type of asbestos it is and give you a price for removing it. My in laws largish garage roof was thought by their buyer to be asbestos (it was bloody obvious it wasn’t but he was just being a dick and stalling for time and trying to get money of the house price). We contacted a specialist company a man came out within 3 days and gave up a report saying it wasn’t asbestos £120, apparently if it had been about £700-1000 (not the £10 000) the buyer wanted off the price) to remove it, and dispose of it correctly. It would have been done in a fortnight no agro no hassle. I know and understand you’re worried but you can’t rewrite the past just get rid of it now.

It is a legal requirement that it is correctly disposed of you can’t just unscrew the door and wheel it if to your local dump and chuck it in the general waste skip.

Hi OP, a surveyor told me that you can take your asbestos yourself to a waste centre (you'd have to find one that specialises in this in your area) double bagged (might be quite interesting with a door!). If you get anyone else to do it, it will cost a fortune. But as you are the homeowner, it would be free if you do it yourself.

I have no idea if this is correct, so forgive me if I'm talking bollocks. I haven't investigated it yet (I have asbestos floor tiles (I ended up just covering them up as was told this is fine and the tiles are relatively safe even if removed and broken up anyway). I also have the insulation type in the outhouse ceiling and I've been told this is the dangerous type! I'm guessing it's similar to yours. Again, I was told it's fine but don't disturb it.

We had a full double garage roof with asbesto removed from a house we were going to buy. Men in hazard suits, own air supply, portable shower outside etc etc and it took a full day. That cost about £1,500-£2k - I doubt your door would be that expensive but just get a quote from a company. Ignore other people saying do it yourself though - I know someone who died a horrible death from asbestos and you really don't want to risk it. Don't worry about what has happened before though - you can't change the past and its unlikely to have affected you.

Yes I defo wouldn’t remove myself. I’d have a company do it. What I’m concerned about is whether it’s ok just being there if we decide not to remove it?