Asbestos underlay

[Beansbaked]

Hi our house was built in the 1950-1960s. W are thinking of possibly having a loft conversion in the future so was doing a little bit of research and came across an article saying the underlay in a loft could contain asbestos, especially if it’s black and white. I know the only way to know for sure will be testing at the time but is it really common? it’s something I hadn‘t considered which seems stupid as the stuff seems to be everywhere

 

[Wayners]

If it bothers you get it tested

 

[Beansbaked]

It’s not doing any harm at the moment im just wondering what it means if we do convert the loft or possibly when we have a new roof. Roofers and builders must come across it quite a lot if it’s in as many roofs as Google suggests. 2 houses in the road both had a new roof in the last few years so I’m assuming they had new underlay but I didn’t notice any asbestos companies

 

[Alastairreid]

That's harmless type 1f tar based underfelt.

 

[Wayners]

Not noticing asbestos companies means they either didn't know or never cared and got rid of it.
It's possible it was tested and was fine.

Always worth asking neighbors..

I've ripped up loads of underlay over the years from old houses. Can't say I even considered it could be asbestos

 

[Beansbaked]

One roof was done by a local firm (who I’ve asked about asbestos when doing our guttering and soffits - he said if I wanted the soffits removed I’ll have to get an asbestos company in) and the other was done by the council so I would have thought they would have asked.

 

[noseall]

came across an article saying the underlay in a loft could contain asbestos, especially if it’s black and white

Conspicuously ambiguous. I wonder if that article was sponsored by an asbestos removal company, as the 'black and white' reference narrows it down to about 18 million homes.

 

[Beansbaked]

Conspicuously ambiguous. I wonder if that article was sponsored by an asbestos removal company, as the 'black and white' reference narrows it down to about 18 million homes.

I read it on asbestos-sampling.com

“Asbestos roofing felt typically has a black, grey, and white speckled textured appearance. It is one of the easier asbestos products to identify although it can look similar to standard roofing felt.”

I also came up in a few different searches which were asbestos removal companies which is why I thought it might be best to come on here and ask the opinions of people who work with/ have dealt with it before.

 

[Wayners]

Marketing.

Real world this stuff goes in the skip.

 

[^woody^]

There are potential asbestos fibres in any bitumen roof felt and DPC or bitumen product. If it's made of bitumen and of a certain install date, it's potentially at risk. You won't know by its colour or texture.

It's common (in fact a legal requirement) for this to be tested via an asbestos survey prior to any building works. Well, that's what should happen, but your local roofing company won't bother and will just come and rip the felt off and skip it.

Strictly, the homeowner as the client is responsible to point out any possible asbestos materials to any person they employ - via a survey and report by a specialist firm. Any asbestos material would then require suitably trained people to work on or around it or remove it. Again, it is the homeowners responsibility to ensure that this is done and any asbestos product removed to be suitably disposed of - get waste transfer notes.

In context, the fibre content of felt will be very low and of the least hazardous type of asbestos. Old felt is very friable and you tend to get lots of bits break off and land in the loft, but again in context there will be probably many many more insulation fibres floating about and they would be potentially more harmful.

There is no hazard by the felt just being there.