Soffits..

waynes · 21 Nov 2005

Hello all,

It looks as if I may need to replace the soffits soon as they appear to be crumbling away where they meet the fascia (looks like someone covered this up with tape and then painted over..)

How much work is involved in replacing them? also is there anyway to tell what material they currently are? have heard mentioned that they may be asbestos based material but not sure how to visualy check.

Its not too bad to work on as its only single storey.

Thanks in advance

Wayne

TexMex · 21 Nov 2005

waynes said:
How much work is involved in replacing them?

On a single storey building, Easy job for any half competant DIYer (with a mate).

waynes said:
also is there anyway to tell what material they currently are? have heard mentioned that they may be asbestos based material but not sure how to visualy check.

It's possible, some were. If you could post a picture of some of those crumbly areas, chances are, someone on here will be able to identify the material involved. crumbly asbestos has a fairly distinctive appearance.

BTW, You may find this site useful for hosting your pictures.

Ukwoody · 21 Nov 2005

If it were me, I would don a face mask and goggles, then gently scrape a little of the flaking paint off and take a look. If it is Greyish/whitish and looks like compressed cement, then it is a good chance it may be an asbestos based substance. (How old is you house, that may also be a clue).

If when you scrape it, you see wood, then it obviously is wood!

TexMex · 22 Nov 2005

Alternatively, you could play a blow torch on it. If you bungalow burns down, you'll know it wasn't asbestos

waynes · 22 Nov 2005

I'll pass on the blow torch idea.... thanks all the same

I will try and get some photos done tonight but its definatly not wood, seems to be a whitish compressed cement type thing....

Bungalow is an ex council built around 1950ish

If it is the dreaded asbestos I take it its a lot more work and expense? is it something a surveyor should have picked up on?

Ukwoody · 22 Nov 2005

ex council, buily 1950's VERY good chance it's asbestos. Unless you paid for a full structural survey, no the surveyor wouldn't have commented unless he had cause to.

You've got a couple of choices. Prime over it then paint it leaving it all in place. Rub off the loose paint first BUT YOU MUST MUST WEAR DISPOSABLE OVERALLS< FACE MASK AND GOGGLES when removing the loose paint.

Get a test done (I think they're about £80)

Remove it all and not tell anyone - but you may have trouble getting rid of it as many council tips flatly refuse to take it and will sue you if you try to dump it.

Asbestos is safe if it is not disturbed. But there is NO safe limit. Dont also beleive the rubbish that blue asbestos is worse than white or brown.

This is from the HSE website. http://www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/asbestos/

3,500 people are currently dying each year from asbestos-related disease, 25% of whom have worked in the building and maintenance trades often working unknowlingly on or near to asbestos-containing materials. Whilst virtually all other activities involving potential exposure to asbestos have now ceased, our evidence suggests that this vulnerable group is still at considerable risk from being unknowlingly exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos containing materials were used extensively in buildings from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s, both in new construction and refurbishment. Although much of the material has been removed there are many thousands of tonnes of asbestos remaining, representing a real risk to the health of those in building, maintenance and installation trades working in these buildings.

woody

carpenter les · 22 Nov 2005

if you need to dispose of the asbestos, phone your local council and chances are that they will dispose of it for you , free of charge , our council do , as long as its sealed in plastic bags

tsmiths · 22 Nov 2005

looks like you need one of those traveller guys to do a job for u

waynes · 23 Nov 2005

I wouldnt be so worried if it was just flaking paint, the soffits are crumbling at the edges

And yes it was a full structural survey, the whole reason we had one done was to check for any pitfalls.

I will sort out a proper check to make sure it is what I hope it isnt and then try and findout how much its going to cost me to have replaced.

couldnt get any photos last nite as diddnt get home at a decent time, dark by 4 these days

Ukwoody · 23 Nov 2005

Waynes. From personal experience it is nigh on impossible to get a surveyor to admit they made a mistake or missed something. However, there wouldn't be any harm in phoning one of the partners of the company, explaining you feel they should have picked up on it and asking if they would consider paying at least half the cost of a test as a getsure of good will.

Now as for travelling friends, as a reputable chippy I couldn't possibly comment or even less recommend them could I

Woody

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Soffits..

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