asbestos roofslates (?)

[charlie-ia]

i think our slate roof is actually asbestos. they have fibery bits inside like recycled cardboard and are a nice bluegrey.look like slate from a distance and feel abit like thin cement. am i right? the joiner says everyone has them round there. the roof was redone in 1977

should i be worried? the roof doesnt appear to need much work, except the external woodwork, but we may need to be in the loft a bit.
i wondered if there is likely to be dust around, especially in the loft, or are they only a trouble if i break them? just how careful do we need to be?

there are numerous old broken bits fallen in the soil,can i use them as pinnings in the repointing, or is that a silly idea? (i was going to collect them up and tidyly rebury them otherwise)

 

[chuckey]

I think that by 1977 Asbestos would have been replaced by glass fibre in roofing products. Of course they might be old stock. I think what I would do for your own peace of mind is to search the web for manufactures of synthetic slate tiles and e-mail them to see if you can get a definite date when the changeover to glass fibre occurred.
Frank

 

[NT]

Theyre a non-issue safetywise, but an issue in the minds of buyers. If they are asbestos it wouldnt be legal to refit bits of them anywhere.

Binning would be better than burying. If asbestos youre required to double bag it and take to the tip.


NT