Beware of Asbestos In Roofing Materials

Asbestos was once considered a wonderful material, it was used throughout the building industry and added to many products during decades of use. There are still instances where people are exposed to asbestos because they don’t know the wide range of materials that contain it. This is one of the many reasons why you should beware of asbestos in roofing materials.

Buildings constructed right up until the year 2000 may contain traces of asbestos products. Asbestos was strong and fire retardant so it was an ideal additive to many building products.

Asbestos was extremely common in roofing materials. Many will have seen the corrugated asbestos roofing sheets on garages, sheds and outbuildings. Indeed it is also present in many roofing felts. Here is a list of roofing materials where asbestos can be found:

1. Garage, shed and outbuilding / warehouse roofing.
2. Cement based corrugated roofing.
3. Shingle materials used in roofing.
4. Roofing felts and membranes.
5. Asphalt based roofs.
6. Click here for the HSE full list of roofing materials containing asbestos.

This is not a complete list and if you are in any doubt whatsoever please contact us and we will be happy to conduct a full asbestos survey. Contact Us to find out more today.

Asbestos has been used as a building material up until 1999 until it was banned in the UK although some builders may have continued use to deplete stocks after this. According to the asbestos.com website, You might be surprised to know that pro-asbestos groups have tried to keep the asbestos industry going by spending around $100 million since the 80’s. (At the time of publication) Asbestos is still widely used in a few countries.

Asbestos Roofing Safety Tips

Number 1! – If you suspect you may be dealing with asbestos then the best thing to do is to leave well alone. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

If the asbestos is damaged then you should avoid further damage and stay away. It should be dealt with by a professional and qualified contractor.

We can carry out asbestos surveys across Northern Ireland and provide you with a full report on our findings. We can advise on the best course of action after the survey. All samples are tested at a local UKAS accredited lab here in Northern Ireland.

Contact Us if you would like to book an asbestos home survey.