Should I be concerned....(asbestos related)

jasonbsad · 24 Mar 2011

Hi

I have what appears to be painted over thick brown paper on parts of the walls and architrave inside our airing cupboard.

It appears thicker on the walls, so maybe it is different to that applied to the architrave, so maybe it is very thin board (cardboard like) on the wall and paper on the architrave.

Being a complete D.I.Y. novice, I don't understand why it is there, and more importantly, what it is made of. Do I need to be worried about the presence of asbestos in this material(s)?

Thanks in advance for anyone that can shed some light.

Cheers, Jason

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wavetrain · 24 Mar 2011

jasonbsad · 24 Mar 2011

Thanks wavetrain

However, do you know what the material(s) is and what it's there for? I'm a complete numpty when it comes to D.I.Y. but I am also a perfectionist!

It looks a mess and didn't want to risk undue disturbance if asbestos is a concern (though I have already had a small piece fall off in my hand when prodding it).

Cheers.

merlin50 · 24 Mar 2011

it looks like soft board that was used a lot years ago

jasonbsad · 24 Mar 2011

Thanks merlin50.

However, bearing in mind I'm a numpty as D.I.Y. goes, the "covering" seems far too thin to be a "board" as such. Where it is coming away from the wall, it is easily pressed in - more like a thin cardboard / thick paper.

Whether this is the same material that is on the architrave I cannot tell - this seems to have peeled away from the architrave in places, and here therefore seems more like some kind of paper. Why it is there in the first place I don't understand.

merlin50 · 24 Mar 2011

asbestos used in old buildings is hard and if you hit it with a hammer it shatters, we used to put it on bonfires then it would explode

digdilem · 24 Mar 2011

Agree with the above, it's probably not a risk.

However, if you are still concerned you could take a sample and send it off for analysis. Costs under £50 I believe.

alittlerespect · 25 Mar 2011

Hi

Its a material that goes by the name of 'tentis board' its a lightweight board that used to be used frequently in day's gone by. Problem is it does not like damp or high humidity and the board can become distorted, much like what's shown in your photographs.

To my knowledge it has no asbestos content, and a web search should be able to provide a full answer to your question.

Regards

diynot

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Should I be concerned....(asbestos related)

merlin50

merlin50

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