Jun 09, 2021

Stop removing asbestos roofs - seal them instead

Up until 1999, asbestos was widely used in construction in the UK. For garages built before 1999, there’s a high chance that they were constructed using asbestos cement sheets.

Long-term exposure to asbestos can cause a range of different health problems. Although you might be tempted to remove the asbestos, it can be dangerous and very expensive as well.

This is where using asbestos sealing paint can help.

Effects of exposure

Side effects of exposure to asbestos can vary for each case, and they are linked to a couple of different factors. If you’re in contact with asbestos for a long amount of time, very frequently, or encounter a high concentration, then your risk will be higher.

That said however, there is currently no ‘safe’ level of exposure, so caution is needed at all times when working around asbestos.

Some of the most serious effects include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. All three of these conditions affect the lungs, and can be life threatening, so proper protection is really important.

Removing the asbestos

You could choose to have the asbestos removed from the building, but this really isn’t something that you should do yourself.

The asbestos needs to be agitated in order to remove it, and this can cause harmful fibres to be released into the air. As this option has the potential to be quite dangerous, you’ll need to hire a specialist team to carry out the removal for you.

Once the asbestos has been removed, you can’t just simply throw it into any old bin, however - you’ll also need to pay for it to be disposed of correctly.

The costs can quickly add up - especially if you have a large amount of material that needs to be dealt with.

Asbestos sealing paint

Instead of removing the asbestos, you can seal it instead by using an asbestos sealing paint. Not only is this safer, but it’s cheaper too as this is something that you can easily do yourself.

A single layer painted over the asbestos is enough to give you and your garage an extra 20 - 30 years of protection. As an added bonus, using this type of paint can also prolong the life of your roof (so you’ll be saving even more money on costly roof repairs in the future).

You can choose from either water or solvent based asbestos sealing paint, and both are full of durable, flexible fibres.

A solvent based formula will give you a higher performance coverage and uses a low odour, low VOC acrylic resin system. A water based formula, on the other hand, contains natural fibres, and no VOC at all. Once applied it seals the surface instantly.

Both types are waterproof and will massively reduce your risk of contracting any health problems from asbestos.