Cracked Asbestos soffits

[DVader]

Hi. I have some concerns regarding cracked and crazed soffit boards. I am sure they are some form of asbestos, presuming ACB as they are about 5mm thick and very hard. However, as they are crazed and cracked does this pose a danger?

The house is council owned, built early to mid 1960s. I will advise the council of my concerns, but wondered if there was a more knowledgable person on this site than the local housing officer.

Ideally I want the eyesore removed. As the cost of soffits is cheap and a relatively diy job, I would do the job myself, but not if there is a danger.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Keithmac]

Never knew they did asbestos soffits, presumed ours were wood but could well be as well (1950's ex council house).

Can you post a picture?.

 

[^woody^]

They are no risk in that location, unless you are up there drilling them or suchlike.

If you are a tenant, you cant remove these without the landlords permission - and you will need to provide a whole lot of compliance and paper work if the council let you work on these.

 

[^woody^]

Never knew they did asbestos soffits, presumed ours were wood but could well be as well (1950's ex council house).

Can you post a picture?.

They are more common than your presumed plywood ones

 

[DVader]

.

 

[DVader]

My concern is the fractures that may reveal and release fibres inches from the bedroom windows. The soffits are about an inch above the top of the window

 

[^woody^]

The relatively few fibres within the mix are bonded and held within the cement so don't get released very easily unless drilled or sanded, and if any do they are so light that they have more chance of being blown to my house than of getting into your lungs while you are in the bedroom.

 

[pete50]

If it is asbestos, in view of the huge amounts written about the dangers, then you have to assume it is highly dangerous. You will need a specialist company to remove and dispose of it. If you are in a council house then it will be the councils responsibilty to get it removed and disposed of, good luck with that. You will not be allowed to remove or dispose of it without using proper precautions and protections, not because of what it might do to you as such but in case it endangers other people, and if it is council property then you will not be allowed to remove it period as it does not belong to you neither does the property. This should be the councils responsibility and as I said good luck with that.

I have a friend who is in a similar situation. She owns a rental property. There is, what we think is asbestos, dumped on land near her property. This is not her land and nobody has any proof as to who has dumped it. Because of complaints from her tenants she has taken it on herself to remove it. She has contacted a local skippery who say they will remove it but she has to bag it up in triple layers using the recommended safety procedures. Then they will come and take it away. For that service the skippery say they will charge £1200. We have also been told that it isn't asbestos but it is cement boards. Neither she nor I know whether it is asbestos or not so it has to be treated as asbestos. There are companies who will test it at a price. Our local tip will take it at a price, but again she has to bag it using the proper safety procedures. There doesn't seem to be a company around here that are willing to take the risk of picking it up and bagging it and I am pretty sure that you could well hit the same obstacles.

 

[DVader]

With removal, drilling, sanding a big NO NO, is capping with upvc and frame sealant going to pose any problems with regulations? I know capping is not the ‘correct’ method of soffit refurbishment, but seems the only option left.

 

[^woody^]

then you have to assume it is highly dangerous.You will need a specialist company to remove and dispose of it

No, you follow recognised advice from bodies such as the HSE and dont be alarmist.

Also, you don't actually need to be a specialist company to remove this type of material.

 

[^woody^]

With removal, drilling, sanding a big NO NO, is capping with upvc and frame sealant going to pose any problems with regulations? I know capping is not the ‘correct’ method of soffit refurbishment, but seems the only option left.

Ask you landlord.

You can't cap it as you are a tenant. They won't cap it, and wont allow you to either.

You could cap it if you were a home owner.

 

[DVader]

No, you follow recognised advice from bodies such as the HSE and dont be alarmist.

Also, you don't actually need to be a specialist company to remove this type of material.

But I can’t remove without council consent.

 

[Keithmac]

Does this look like asbestos board?.

I know for a fact the rear gutter is (getting bagged correctly and taken to skip).

 

[^woody^]

Lol. Aren't you allowed in the bedroom?

Oh, and best start your own thread.

 

[Keithmac]

I was out at front and took a quick pic while there..