Asbestos soffits

shadybrady · 6 Sep 2007

I've been helping my joiner mate redo our garage roof into fibreglass and then replace a number of the exterior light fittings.

However I drilled a hole in the soffits to fit a new wire through and my mate went bananas telling me that the soffits are most likely asbestos fibreboard and I shouldn't damage them at all.

So basically if i just drilled a 20mm hole with a spade bit and kept my mouth shut and didn't inhale it just got a bit coated it in on my clothes am i at that much of a risk??

Also what do you do about replacing the soffits as some of it fell off when replacing the fascia boards ?? Can you remove it do you get a specialist to remove it and if you get a specialist is it expensive ??

Thanks all - just a bit worried if I have swallowed some asbestos fibres.

Adam

Nige F · 6 Sep 2007

well, if I die before you I`ll let you know.....been inhaling that and other building dust from 1970-1995

Thermo · 6 Sep 2007

now he just does 2 lines of plasterboard dust a day through a 15mm copper pipe in each nostril!

StevieV · 6 Sep 2007

I think you are unlikely to be at risk. You were in the open air etc and it was only one hole. That said it is not advised.

There are Asbestos fibres in the air all around us, albeit very low level, from all the Asbestos used over the years, until its use was banned.

You can get more info on Asbestos from various local authority websites, or Google it. I myself have removed a garage roof made of it and panels from an old shed and disposed of at landfill site.

shadybrady · 6 Sep 2007

Cheers guys - in fast I did find the asbestos watchdog website which is very informative saying that 90% of asbestos materials used in home can be safely removed and disposed of in a landfill site without needing a specialist contractor.

So probably best just to dampen the soffits, remove and bag them and take them down to the amenity site.

tawelfryn · 6 Sep 2007

I think the white asbestos that was used for soffits/garage roofs etc, is low risk, Someone may tell me otherwise who knows though

Thermo · 6 Sep 2007

correct, blue or brown was the really nasty stuff. still not brilliant though!

shadybrady · 6 Sep 2007

I thought Insulating Board for soffits was made from brown asbestos ??

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Asbestos soffits

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