What type of licence is required for removing an asbestos roof?
A licence is required by law to remove asbestos from your home. However, the home owner is allowed to remove and dump 10m2 or less. If doing so, it is advisable to follow the removal safety guidelines. Roofing companies must hold a B grade licence to remove roofing asbestos. All staff and all contractors that a company assigns the work to, must also hold a current B class licence. There is an A class licence that is required for more involved types of asbestos removal. This category of licence is not required for the removal of asbestos rooof

Is asbestos hazarduos to my health?
The unfortunate answer to this question is, yes. There is definitely an element of danger but we must keep things in perspective.

There is a lot of media attention and hype surrounding the subject. The result of all this hype certainly frighten a lot of people into make irrational decisions, like escaping overseas for 6 weeks while the removal process is taking place.

One must remember that asbestos is a raw substance that is mixed with other substances to create a product. There are lots of products that contain asbestos and some are more concentrated than others. For example, bonded roofing asbestos sheets contain a lot less asbestos than some types of asbestos guttering, or wall sheeting to name just a few. Most people who have contracted the disease (asbestosis) have had long term exposure to high density asbestos for 20 years plus. They have been working in factories in confined areas with no ventilation and no safety equipment. They would inhale asbestos fibres all day long and yet most of these people did not contract asbestosis.

The chances of contracting asbestosis from short term exposure to bonded roofing products that has low density asbestos is very slim. We inhale asbestos fibres in everyday if near areas that have asbestos roofs.

Asbestos readings in areas where asbestos is present often show the presence of asbestos in the air.

So if we are in such an area we will inevitably inhale it in just like we inhale carbon monoxide every time we walk up the street. If you have an asbestos roof or your neighbours have them, then every time you are in that area on a windy day, you will be inhaling in asbestos fibres because the surface of the asbestos roof sheeting is constantly being eroded away with exposure to the elements. This causes fine particles to sit on the roof. They will stay there until the next gust of wind sets them airborne blowing them across the neighbourhood. This process will repeat itself again and again. Studies reveal that even one asbestos fibre can be fatal. If this was true we would all have this dreadful disease as we have all been exposed to it at some point.

Fortunately the body has a remarkable ability to expel dangerous toxins inhaled on a daily basis within moderation. The problem is that the hype and controversy is so great that the public only need to hear the word asbestos and then we have a panic on our hands and everything gets blown out of proportion.

There are more deaths from lung diseases caused from carbon monoxide poisoning (fuel omissions from vehicles) than asbestosis caused from inhaling in asbestos fibres.

Conclusion ... even though bonded roofing asbestos is safer than what we think, it is better to be safe than sorry. Our advice is, just get rid of it, why take any risk at all?

What is the procedure for removing my old asbestos roof?
There are several ways of removing the roof. The nature of every job is different. Firstly, the job will be inspected to determine the safest and easiest way to remove it, causing the least amount of inconvenience to all involved.

The asbestos roof sheets are first removed from the roof and stacked in small piles near the roof edge. Usually only one small section of the roof is removed at a time, to avoid too much of the roof being open and exposed to the elements.

Depending on the height of the roof, the sheets are passed down by hand towards the ground. If the house is too high for this to be achieved safely, a platform will be erected at the halfway point, so that the sheets can be lowered onto the platform first and from there lowered onto the ground.

The area where the sheets are being removed will be covered with builders plastic to avoid loose fibres from coming in contact with the ground. Fibres that end up on the plastic will be rolled up and disposed of.

The asbestos sheets are laid on a double thickness of builders plastic. They are stacked approximately
25 - 30 sheets high depending on the size and weight of the sheets.

As asbestos sheets are being stacked they will be wet down with a fine spray of water to stop dust and particles from becoming airborne.

When the stack reaches the correct height, it is then wrapped taped and sealed. The asbestos stack is safe while it is sitting on your property until it is eventually craned onto a truck for delivery to a licenced asbestos tip.

This procedure will be repeated until all asbestos is removed.

Sometimes we will bypass this method and stack the sheets directly into a certified asbestos bin.

The process we choose is determined by a number of factors. Both methods are allowed.

This is a basic overview of the removal process. If you need more information you can contact our office. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.