Home

Why Asbestos Roofing Is Harmful and Why You Need Professional Removal

If you’ve bought an old property, chances are that it has a roof built with asbestos fibres. These are harmful to health when released into the atmosphere. As such, working or living in a building with asbestos roofs needs a permanent solution that protects your health.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring stone that was used in roof and floor tiles prior to the 1980s. It was prized because of its fireproof qualities and corrosion resistance. It was added to reinforce and strengthen roofs at a comparatively low cost. The fibres of asbestos were woven into most roofs in the last century.

However, asbestos wasn’t totally banned until 2003. So if your home was built before the 2000s, it’s possible that your roof has asbestos cement. Asbestos comprises around 10% to 15% of a cement mixture, which is a significant amount. So any cement breakdown releases quite a bit of this hazardous chemical. Having an inspection done to check whether your roof has asbestos or not is crucial.

What Makes Asbestos Dangerous?

While undamaged asbestos roofs don’t pose any danger, they can be cracked or chipped by harsh weather and impact. Asbestos cement may deteriorate as it ages, too.

That’s when asbestos becomes hazardous for you. Crumbled asbestos releases fibres and fumes in the air. These are microscopic, have no taste, and carry no odour. If a person comes into contact with asbestos and inhales the asbestos dust, they won’t feel anything.

Unfortunately, these are dangerous and can trigger inflammation, lung diseases, and scarring. And although rare, constant exposure to a moderate amount of asbestos for years can even lead to fatal diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer.

How to Deal with an Asbestos Roof

There are two ways to deal with an asbestos roof: over-cladding and asbestos removal. Asbestos removal is a better option, but if you don’t have the budget to replace your whole roof, over-cladding may be done.

In over-cladding, your undamaged asbestos roof is covered with metal or enforced with some other material on the outside. Over-cladding is a preventive measure, and it significantly lowers the chances of your asbestos roof being damaged by the weather or impact from animals. Sealants may also be used to prevent asbestos fibre exposure.

Over-cladding should be done when you move into a property with asbestos roofing and you don’t have the finances to pay for a full roof replacement. A thorough inspection must be done to check if there’s any damage to the asbestos roof, or over-cladding may be a waste of time and resources.

However, over-cladding doesn’t fix a broken or old and deteriorating asbestos roof, which is a health hazard. Then the only solution is to get in touch with asbestos removal companies in Perth.

Asbestos roof removal and replacement is a delicate procedure that must be handled by professionals. Your roofing contractors will drop by, chip away at the roof, and install a new model, leaving no traces of asbestos behind. Any asbestos present near pipes and boilers is also removed.