 Dealing with Asbestos in Your Roof If you suspect that you’ve found asbestos in your home or place of work, it is imperative that you act straight away to ensure the safe removal of the material. Exposure to asbestos can be potentially fatal through a raft of respiratory diseases, but this is only after prolonged periods of time. If you have found asbestos in your walls, tiles, garage or attic, it is essential to not panic and to follow a few simple steps we have put together. At Ideal Roofing, we specialise in professional asbestos removal and roofing replacement, having dealt with numerous cases of asbestos. Through our professional experience, we have gained a unique insight into the proper procedures and methods of asbestos recognition and removal. Here is our advice for what to do next. DO NOT TOUCH IT ASBESTOS THAT IS NOT DAMAGED OR FRACTURED IS NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE ANY IMMEDIATE THREAT TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE IN ITS VICINITY. THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO NOT TOUCH THE AREA AND DEFINITELY DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE ANY OF THE SHEETING. SAWING OR CUTTING THE ASBESTOS WILL MAKE THE FIBRES AIRBORNE, LEADING TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY BREAK ASBESTOS? If you do accidentally shatter any of the asbestos, releasing fibres into the air, the safest way to deal with it is by wiping up any dust with a damp paper towel or cloth, place it in an isolated garbage bag and throw it in your bin. Please do not use a normal vacuum cleaner when cleaning up any debris. CALL AN EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL We do not advise anyone who has found asbestos to try to remove it themselves. This job should be left to a licensed professional who has experience in prudent asbestos removal practices. This is a point that we cannot stress enough. Instead of attempting removal, call professional asbestos removalists. They will properly assess the area and devise a plan for removal and replacement. Ideal Roofing has been dealing with roofing asbestos removal in Sydney for well over a decade, having successfully managed numerous clients through this difficult period. Our experienced team is always more than willing to guide you through every necessary step and provide the services you need. ASBESTOS IN PUBLIC AREAS If you have found asbestos in a public area, you have a civic responsibility to report your findings to the appropriate bodies. In New South Wales, it is commonplace to contact the necessary State and Local Government bodies to alert them to the problem. We suggest looking up the Environmental Health Officer of your council as a first port of call. If you have found asbestos in a workplace, the best course of action is to management and their work cover if nothing is done. Contact Ideal Roofing for further enquiries and assistance regarding asbestos removal in Sydney.
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 4 THINGS THAT CAN INDICATE ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME Asbestos – the word alone conjures negative associations that range from property damage to chronic sickness, and with good reason. The harmful mineral was used for decades as a source of insulation for properties all over the globe, without any knowledge of how deadly prolonged inhalation can be for the human body. Fatal diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestos are often the result of anyone who comes into frequent, prolonged contact with asbestos fibres. In the 21st century, it is illegal to use asbestos for any means, but many homes and warehouses still contain asbestos from construction of years past. To become informed, read about the 4 things that can indicate asbestos in your home. SMALL WHITE FIBRES Asbestos can be found all throughout a home. This can include floor tiles, water tanks, pipe insulation, roofs and gutters, just to name a small sample of places. When looking in one of these many places throughout your property, you should look for unusual white fibres around the edges of the material in question. Asbestos fibres clump together and tend to look furry and fluffy in appearance. Always exercise extreme caution when looking for asbestos. The material is least dangerous when it is left undisturbed, so you should never go to great lengths to try and uncover it. ASBESTOS JOINERY 40 x 6 mm wooden battens were commonly used in the past to cover the joints used on external corners, internal corners and flat wall pieces. These strips of joinery are often concealing harmful fibres and have traditionally signaled that the material initially used was asbestos. Please be aware that plastic joiners were also used in the early 1980’s when asbestos was still used in building and construction. If you have these joiners in your home, contact a professional to organize an examination and removal. LOOK FOR BLUNT NAILS Asbestos sheeting becomes dangerous whenever it is shattered and fractured, causing irreversible respiratory damage to anyone who comes into contact with the material. However, instead of using an alternative material, contractors would use special nails to fix asbestos to the wall more effectively. These nails are characterized by their blunt, flat end. Instead of being hammered into the sheeting they would be punched in using special instruments, and hence would not have the usual point like other nails. Finding these blunt nails is a potential sign that your property may have been built using asbestos. LOOK FOR MARKINGS THAT INDICATE ASBESTOS Asbestos products that were manufactured in the 70’s and 80’s will often have markings that will identify the material as asbestos. The label will be marked with a message that simply reads “Contains asbestos”. Finding potential asbestos in your home is a serious matter. If you are concerned about potential asbestos in your property, contact the professionals at Ideal Roofing for guidance, advice and testing. We are fully certified, trained and licensed asbestos contractors. |
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November 2019
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