I Have Found Asbestos in My Garage – What Do I Do?
Are you worried about asbestos in your home? Given all that we know about the dangers of asbestos nowadays, finding any evidence of it on our property can be very alarming. However, sadly, many homes built before the turn of the millennium which come with garages and sheds could well have been built with asbestos, so it’s not all that uncommon.
That said, it’s still something that will have to deal with. In this article, we will try to make this situation a little less stressful for you, and outline exactly what you need to do.
Asbestos Cement
The first thing to note is that the asbestos that you have found in your garage isn’t actually pure asbestos, rather it is asbestos cement. Asbestos cement, as you can imagine, is a mixture of cement and asbestos, with the latter only forming around 10-15% of the total material.
It was commonly used as corrugated roofing on sheds, garages and farms, and also to make drain pipes, flues, water tanks and other products.
The chances are your garage will contain white asbestos (chrysotile), however, if it is a particularly old garage, it could well consist of blue (crocidolite) or brown (amosite) asbestos. For the sake of this article, the type of asbestos isn’t overly important, given that all asbestos is harmful.
Do I Have to Remove It Right Away?
Although it could potentially cause some issues, no, it doesn’t have to be removed immediately.
Asbestos cement is extremely durable and can last for many years, meaning that, unless some external force is applied the fibres won’t be triggered. Also, given the relatively small amount of asbestos contained in the cement, this will make it difficult to release the fibres, anyway.
What To Do With Asbestos
Although the asbestos in your garage isn’t a threat in the short term, it should still be taken very seriously. Exposure to asbestos fibres is life-threatening, after all.
So, the answer: monitor it. Although you shouldn’t be handling the asbestos cement directly, you should take regular trips to your garage in order to make sure it hasn’t eroded to a dangerous degree. If it has, something needs to be done.
The Cement Has Eroded – Now What?
Although there is no law requiring you to seek out a licensed contractor to remove the asbestos cement, the process is highly dangerous and we would advise against carrying out the removal yourself.
If you are in any doubt, it’s always better to call in a reputable licensed contractor. This way, the procedure will be carried out in the safest way possible.
Professionals like ProDem provide a completely safe, efficient and effective domestic asbestos removal in Nottingham. Our highly trained team of experts use their knowledge and experience to identify, handle, remove and dispose of asbestos to the strictest standards of safety.
