Asbestos soil stack

[Anonymous]

Following on from my survey/damp question earlier on, another issue raised in the report was that of an Asbestos soil stack. Now, as I understand it Asbestos isn't an issue if it's not in poor condition/crumbling, but if it needed replacing it needs specialists to remove.

Has anyone had to have Asbestos removed from a property, and if so, so they have a ballpark figure for what it cost.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

This maynot help but our estate agents told our prospective buyers that our garage (wooden) contained asbestos, and that to have it dismantled and taken away would be about £2000.

We did not have any asbestos in our garage and the estate agent hadn't even been in it.

(Grumble no4 taken from my list of grumbles to be submitted to estate agent on completion)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Sarah,

I've just realized that the default search period for old posts is set to a fortnight which is why I couldn't find advice initially—searching over a longer period of time has turned up quite a few largely reassuring Asbestos threads, although none mentioning soil pipes. No costs mentioned, but the risk played down.

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

It's probably asbestos cement.

I removed some corrugated roof sheets today; put them in bags, taped the bags up, took it to the local authorities hazradous waste disposal site, threw it in the skip. No costs, except the bags, tape and fuel.

 

[Anonymous]

We have our landing walls lined with asbestos sheeting (lovely) and the bathroom walls (partitioned off from a former bedroom) I think are asbestos sheet, plastered. Lovely again.

The stuff on the landing is going (sorry Gareth, along with the plasterboard ceiling it's NOT NICE) and we called the local authority for advice.

The advice was to minimise any chance of breathing in any particles just in case, but not to get too paranoid. Wear a mask and disposable overalls, spread placcy sheeting on the floor, mix up a mix of PVA and water in a spray. If the stuff gets broken when removing (ours will - it's well nailed, always is when it's stuff you don't want) spray with the mix.

Bag up, and the local authority in our area will come and collect it.

Clear up, hoover, dispose properly of any dust.

 

[Anonymous]

First its not necessary to get specialists to remove asbestos. Second the concensus is that domestic licensed asbestos removal is mostly a rip off market sector.

Hazard depends on which type of asbestos it is: blue and brown asbestos are a genuine risk, and have killed many with asbestosis, but more recent research indicates that white asbestos is not a particular risk. To get a fairly good overview for yourself:

Website:
http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk

Report:
http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk/ACM.pdf

NT

 

[Anonymous]

I agree - if its a small amount and is a hard form it probably is asbestos cement and you could probably do it yourself. Getting it done professionally will be very very expensive (pressurised air tents any one).

it wont kill you in one encounter. It killed the men who worked with it every day - my father remembers being on a site watching them spray asbestos foam over the inside of a train shed, without any protection.

Your LA may even offer a collection service and may publish advice about how to deal with asbestos cement. Dampen it, dont break it up, wear a mask and gloves, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

PS - when people say "blue, brown, white" etc its a bit misleading. Can be any colour and still be one of them. Eg blue can be black or brown or white....

 

[Anonymous]

After removing an asbestos cement roof from my garage (rainy day, dust mask etc.) and wrapping it in industrial cling-film (visqueen, £8 from builders merchant) the council charged about £70 to collect the waste from our house. Bargain.

 

[Anonymous]

Pete, rainwater pipes are made from asbestos cement, which is not particularly hazardous. There are no regulations for the removal of asbestos cement. You do not need specialists and you do not need pressurised tents etc. However, you should still take sensible precautions - just as you should when dealing with any fibre or dust that might be inhaled.

The only regulation that applies to asbestos cement is that you must dispose of the material in the prescribed way at a licensed tip. That means double bagging in sealed 1200 gauge plastic bags. If the disposal is domestic all authorities have a tip somewhere that will take it. Some authorities collect but not all. None will take it if it is not bagged properly.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm. I agree theres room for complication, but am not sure its as unclear as that.

Brown asbestos is brown, blue is blue, white is white. Thats their nature. Normally asbestos reinforced cement is the same colour as the asbestos in it, but yes its possible to dye a blue product black, or contain only a very small percentage of blue in a white product.

However as a safety assessment, colour of goods is still a good guide. The other important factor in safety is whether the item is solid cement or loose fibres, the latter being much more dangerous with crocidolite and amosite, blue and brown.

NT