**Replacing fascia/soffit on 1970s bungalow — how to deal with possible asbestos cement undercloak?**

[bobcongo]

**Replacing fascia/soffit on 1970s bungalow — how to deal with possible asbestos cement undercloak?**

I'm replacing the fascia and soffit on a 1970s bungalow. Along the verge there is what I believe is fibre cement undercloak beneath the tile ends, sitting on top of the bargeboard and bedded in mortar. The mortar is largely intact but the undercloak is broken in places. Given the age of the property I'm treating it as potentially asbestos cement.

My main concern is straightforward: I want to replace the fascia and soffit but I'm not sure how to handle the undercloak when I get to it.

A few things I'm uncertain about:

1. Is the undercloak likely to be attached to or resting on the fascia, and will removing the fascia disturb it?
2. If it stays intact when the fascia comes off, is leaving it in place an option — or does it need to come out regardless to do the job properly?
3. If it does need to come out, what's the right way to handle that — get it tested first, treat it as notifiable asbestos, or is non-licensed controlled removal sufficient for this type of material?

Happy to consider a dry verge finish if that's the sensible solution, but that's not the driving goal — I just want to understand what I'm getting into before I start pulling things apart.

 

[Wayners]

Mine I took to tip. My local council has an asbestos container which you can wrap and dump asbestos follow the guide.
Probably asbestos under the tiles and soffit on your house, but you can get it tested to be sure.
I personally would get it removed if you're going up there and want to refurbish it all and be done with it. If you sell and buyers have an asbestos survey then it looks good.

Other option is to get a company in with scaffolding and to organise the removal and replacement or project manage yourself.
Get scaffolding.
Get it removed or do yourself.
Get it all replaced.

My neighbour just convered over the asbestos soffit. Problem is it hard and needs drilling sometimes for fixing. Spray with water and pull down is how I done mine.
Shaving foam is good when you leaver out nails

 

[^woody^]

You're not overcladding the barge board then?

If you remove the barge board, the undercloak will fall off.

Asbestos undercloak is fibre cement and would not be notifiable, however CAR 2012 is a workplace regulation and does not apply to DIY.

So if removing, your only concern is transport and disposal - ie who will accept the undercloak and the verge mortar.

 

[bobcongo]

You're not overcladding the barge board then?

If you remove the barge board, the undercloak will fall off.

Asbestos undercloak is fibre cement and would not be notifiable, however CAR 2012 is a workplace regulation and does not apply to DIY.

So if removing, your only concern is transport and disposal - ie who will accept the undercloak and the

Mine I took to tip. My local council has an asbestos container which you can wrap and dump asbestos follow the guide.
Probably asbestos under the tiles and soffit on your house, but you can get it tested to be sure.
I personally would get it removed if you're going up there and want to refurbish it all and be done with it. If you sell and buyers have an asbestos survey then it looks good.

Other option is to get a company in with scaffolding and to organise the removal and replacement or project manage yourself.
Get scaffolding.
Get it removed or do yourself.
Get it all replaced.

My neighbour just convered over the asbestos soffit. Problem is it hard and needs drilling sometimes for fixing. Spray with water and pull down is how I done mine.
Shaving foam is good when you leaver out nails

Thanks! So you removed it yourself? Am I overthinking the asbestos risk? As long as it doesn't snap and blow dust everywhere then it's generally fine to handle (with gloves etc)?

 

[bobcongo]

You're not overcladding the barge board then?

If you remove the barge board, the undercloak will fall off.

Asbestos undercloak is fibre cement and would not be notifiable, however CAR 2012 is a workplace regulation and does not apply to DIY.

So if removing, your only concern is transport and disposal - ie who will accept the undercloak and the verge mortar.

Thought about overcladding but would feel better to just remove the wood as it doesn't look great and would want to see into the roof.line to check it's all okay. So removing myself is a sound option safety wise?

 

[^woody^]

Asbestos cement board has the least hazardous type of fibre and it's very well bound within the board.

This is outside, and so any bit of fibre that might be released, is just going to float away.

So the actual risk is low. And only from broken edges or where the mortar is prized away if it pulls the surface

However, it would still be wise to wear a suitable mask, and disposables if you are worried.

Misting the area is often recommended, but I'd question that as that potentially holds any fibre down until the area dries and just then releases it in one go.

In real terms, you can just remove the tiles, remove the mortar and then lift the undercloak off in one piece, and snip or pull any nails holding it.

You'll tend to need to snap it though for transport. Use water or pva at break points and double bag or polythene and tape.