About Asbestos Roofs

Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals which have been mined worldwide since the 19th century and used in thousands of applications across the construction industry.

The type of asbestos used in garage roof sheets, whilst not risk free is very low risk. Providing the sheets are undamaged they should cause no complications but can be a major pain when it comes to home buyer surveys should you wish to sell your property.

The reason the UK Government took so long to ban the use of Asbestos as there simply wasn’t an adequate replacement. Asbestos roofing sheets were a first in class product. Lightweight, Incredibly strong, resistant to all weather conditions, fireproof and low cost.

Unfortunately there are not many options available to repair damaged Asbestos roofing sheets. Repairs are often very short term and there are no cost effective long term solutions available.

Whilst it is not a requirement to change your asbestos roof, leaving it be places restrictions on the usage of your garage. It would be rather unsafe to use your garage as a workshop or gym due to the airborne fibres that move about during the vacuum created when you open and close doors. Asbestos roofs also often come up as a red flag on home buyer reports and can often put off potential buyers or cause them to try to renegotiate the purchase price.

Whilst many companies may offer Asbestos roof replacements it is important to understand that it is your responsibility as a homeowner to ensure that the company you instruct disposes of the Asbestos waste safely and in line with regulations.