Cutting asbestos sheets!!!

[Deluks]

Right, I know I'll get loads of flak for this and probably start another asbestos debate, nevertheless, here we go...


My garage roof is a prefab 70's type with corrugated asbestos roof, I've recently been given 4 sheets of same, to replace some damaged areas.

The damage occurred years ago (80's) and the broken sheets were replaced with cheapo pvc which is now cracked and broken and will have to be replaced as I am turning the garage into a music rehearsal space. I need the roof to be made from one single material, otherwise I will have 'weak spots' in my soundproofing (don't worry, this will be more than just a corrugated roof).

I've enquired at local roofing suppliers at the cost of eternit sheets and have been quoted £38 each, so the choice of spending £150+ to fix the roof or using free materials is a no brainer.

The sheets I've been given were stored in an outbuilding, under cover and are as new, they haven't been used at all and are in good condition. The only problem is that they are 10ft long, whereas the existing roof is made from 8ft sheets.

So the tricky part is that I have to cut 2ft from the end of each sheet.

My plan is to take them out to the alley behind the house. Wear suit, gloves and mask, and cut them by hand. I will paint one side with bitumen paint before cutting and will wet the other side. Afterwards I will paint the cut ends and bag everything up for disposal: cut-offs, tools, mask, gloves, the lot.

So far so good, but the questions I need answered are:

Whats the best tool for the job? Maybe someone on here used to use these years ago, whats the best way to cut it? Hacksaw?

Which type of mask to use? Will a 28 day disposable MDF mask suffice for the job? http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/cat.jsp?cId=A331070&ts=00510

Constructive answers please, not a load of repetition about airlocks and needing £8,000,000 insurance etc...

Cheers

 

[Softus]

Right, I know I'll get loads of flak for this and probably start another asbestos debate, nevertheless, here we go...

Since I'm unaware of the previous debate, is it OK to cover what might be old ground? I hope so...

So the tricky part is that I have to cut 2ft from the end of each sheet.

My plan is to take them out to the alley behind the house. Wear suit, gloves and mask, and cut them by hand. I will paint one side with bitumen paint before cutting and will wet the other side. Afterwards I will paint the cut ends and bag everything up for disposal: cut-offs, tools, mask, gloves, the lot.

So far so good

Please could you define "good" in this context, because it seems to contradict my previous use of the word.

...but the questions I need answered are:

Whats the best tool for the job? Maybe someone on here used to use these years ago, whats the best way to cut it? Hacksaw?

Surely with a specialist? Is this a trick question?

Which type of mask to use? Will a 28 day disposable MDF mask suffice for the job?

Only if you're outside the sealed room where the cutting is taking place, and if it's big enough to be worn by everyone else in the vicinity.

Constructive answers please, not a load of repetition about airlocks and needing £8,000,000 insurance etc...

I constructively suggest that you use an airlock and seek public liability insurance to the value of, ooh, roughly £8m, give or take.

 

[big-all]

wouldnt suggest you do it

but if the inevitable was[is to happen]
i would suggest as well as the precautions you suggested dust sheet a hoover and tape up the joints both sides[cut through the tape]
suggest you try somthing like a slate or metal blade

what you do with the off cuts and contaminated material [hoover bag and filters dust sheet tape ect] i dont know

 

[Softus]

...what you do with the off cuts and contaminated material [hoover bag and filters dust sheet tape ect] i dont know

He might as well take them straight to the police station and save everyone a lot of time.

 

[Nige F]

Ask these guys........ www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk

 

[Mw Roofline]

From what I have read, you seem to be taking every precaution that you can think of which is a good start. Loads of roofers I know are so ignorant these days.

All I could add is mark up all your sheets and cut them all in one go, it sounds daft but if you can do it in the rain then that will heavily reduce the amount of airbourne fibres. A Jigsaw will take ages (and not too great in the rain, lol)

Just a new sharp jacksaw (hand saw) is fine. Just make sure your on your own with no one watching

Good luck!

 

[Mantamad]

When cutting (with a hand saw) use something like a garden pressure sprayer, set to spray a fine water mist and spray this over the cut line, this should help minimise the fine dust.

 

[Lower]

In all seriousness, are you sure this is something you want to try? Asbestos used to be cut in a woodshop on circular saws. I used to use a pair of carpenters who were brothers and both apprenticed in the company at the same time. They both worked in the saw shop at the same time and used to cut asbestos sheet day in day out. One now has asbestosis and is dying a slow, painful death. The other is fine.

Is it worth risking asbestosis for £150?

If you did choose to cut it, a had saw would be the best bet as it would generate the least dust. I would use a hoover at the same time for extraction and wear the best dustmask i could find, and then hoover all my clothes before i took off the dust mask. I would also wet both sides of the boards.

But not a good idea in my book. What are you then going to do with the broken sheets? They probably release dust when you remove them. Secondly, if the garage is going to be a studio you'll probably have big speakers in there and generate bass frequencies which vibrate the asbestos roof causing further dust to fall.

 

[Deluks]

Thanks for the post Lower, I realised from the start that this will be frowned upon here, but I thought best to get some useful tips before starting the job, despite the flak.

I certainly think it's worth it for £150, money is always tight this time of year and not only that, I lost my job just before christmas, so I can't even afford the replacement sheets at the moment anyway. Asbestos sheets contain white asbestos, by no means safe but certainly the safest of the three types. I will be wearing full overalls with hood, goggles and mask, I am also planning to do this on a rainy day, or at least a day that isn't windy. I will certainly wet the sheets before cutting, and will also keep a bucket of water handy to wash the sheets off immediately after cutting. I shall dig a small hole on the waste ground at the back of our house and do the cutting over that to collect the dust. I'm certainly not clogging up the Dyson with asbestos fibres!

I will double bag all the waste materials afterwards and store them outdoors until I figure out what to do with them. My local council does do an asbestos collection service for up to 6 full sheets, I will probably phone them up and see if I can drop them off at their waste depot, I can't see them saying no to a few 2' square offcuts.

The garage roof will be lined with expanding foam and mdf, then there will be a layer of loft insulation followed by more mdf and finally plasterboard. I have also painted the inside of the existing asbestos roof with bitumen paint, it's very dark in there at present!

Can anyone recommend a good mask for this job that isn't too expensive?

 

[salem2000]

Hi

To attempt a repair using Asbestos cement panels is madness, and I cant believe that you are even thinking about it.

One point to note. Asbestos Cement has now been Banned in the UK, therefore ANY repairs using Asbestos Cement is illegal in the UK.

Do you really want to risk your health, the health of others and the possibility of several thousand pounds in fines and/or imprisonment just to save a few quid.

 

[Deluks]

Hi

To attempt a repair using Asbestos cement panels is madness, and I cant believe that you are even thinking about it.

One point to note. Asbestos Cement has now been Banned in the UK, therefore ANY repairs using Asbestos Cement is illegal in the UK.

Do you really want to risk your health, the health of others and the possibility of several thousand pounds in fines and/or imprisonment just to save a few quid.

Seems straightforward to me, the existing roof is asbestos already, I'm just gonna be swapping out the plastic sheets that let the light in. I think the healthrisks to myself will be minimised by the precautions I'll be taking, I have already bought an asbestos grade particle filter mask and the other bits needed. Next rainy day we get I'll get onto the job.
The saving to me is huge, £150 may be a few quid to you (are you a plumber by any chance? ) but it's not money I can afford to spend willy-nilly. Regarding the legal aspect does anyone know of such a case where someone has been prosecuted for doing up their garage roof with asbestos? I doubt any fine would reach £1000, let alone a prison sentence!

 

[Softus]

Seems straightforward to me, the existing roof is asbestos already, I'm just gonna be swapping out the plastic sheets that let the light in.

It is indeed very straighforward - what you're planning to do is illegal.

I think the healthrisks to myself will be minimised by the precautions I'll be taking, I have already bought an asbestos grade particle filter mask and the other bits needed.

Yup - the reason for the law is precisely because people like you think only of themselves.

Regarding the legal aspect does anyone know of such a case where someone has been prosecuted for doing up their garage roof with asbestos? I doubt any fine would reach £1000, let alone a prison sentence!

Regarding the legal aspect, you're about to become a criminal.

 

[Mw Roofline]

Softus, you need to get out more. the guy is taking every precaution he can to do the job as safe as possible.

If you really feel that concearned about him then you pay for it to be removed.

Were you the guy in the Astra I was stuck behind last night doing 29mph for 5 miles?

 

[Thermo]

whilst i understand why hes doing it, hes not taking every precaution possible to make it safe. The rules for dealing with it are laid down, because that is what makes dealing with it safe. Unfortunatley it comes down to money and to do it properly costs a money because of the number of precautions needed. Why because of the risk!

 

[Softus]

Softus, you need to get out more.

FYI, I was out today between 9am and 9am, working, constantly, so you're not a very good judge of character

...the guy is taking every precaution he can to do the job as safe as possible.

No. He isn't. The safest way is to find a licensed and competent contractor to remove the asbestos, and to book them to arrive on a damp winter's day.

If you really feel that concearned about him then you pay for it to be removed.

I had thought the nature of my concern was obvious - it's for the neighbours and animals who haven't the faintest idea that a criminal is about to take a risk with their health without consulting them. Since he's decided to go ahead with this, I haven't one iota of concern for his health.

Were you the guy in the Astra I was stuck behind last night doing 29mph for 5 miles?

It seems unlikely, since I've never driven as Astra. It's far more likely that I was that grinning motorcyclist who overtook both the bloke in the Astra and the idiot tailgating him. Are you one of those drivers who believes that going 1mph faster will save them enough seconds that they can do something useful with that time when they get to their destination?