In the year 2000, the UK banned the use of asbestos in buildings, materials and construction. However, older buildings still contain asbestos-containing materials. This is a huge problem, but that is where Clearaway Asbestos come in to help with your asbestos removal in Epsom. Asbestos is a natural substance that can have serious health consequences over time. In the early 20th century, reports showed that asbestos exposure resulted in many health problems, including lung diseases and cancer. It was found that individuals exposed to asbestos died at an unusually young age. It can take at least ten years for the diseases caused by asbestos to come to light, and it is often too late by then. This is why it is crucial you get your home checked for asbestos. This blog will help to explain how to identify asbestos in your roofing, what steps you can take to protect your household from the asbestos risk and help you learn more about asbestos removal in Epsom.
Always check the age of the building
If a building has been built before 2000, there is a risk that the roofing may contain asbestos. Since asbestos is an excellent and fire-resistant material, it was used a lot as a roofing material in older homes. Apart from the roofs, the walls and areas around fireplaces may also contain asbestos-containing material because of its good heat and fire resistance properties. Clearaway specialises in asbestos removal in Epsom to remove the asbestos from these roofs, making them safe.
Look at the colour of the asbestos
Another way to identify the asbestos risk is to look at the colour of the damaged roofing. Asbestos is greyish, whitish, or blue in colour. A lot of garage roofs also have a risk of containing asbestos. Those containing asbestos, such as flat or corrugated cement sheets, may feature small dimples or slight craters on their surface. This is due to how asbestos was woven throughout the material. Originally this was a side effect that demonstrated the material’s excellent fire resistance and longevity, but it is now a helpful way to detect asbestos.
If you suspect that your damaged roofing is made of asbestos, you should immediately call us for safe disposal of it.
Send samples to the lab for testing
If asbestos is detected and you call us to come and inspect it, we will take samples and then take them to the lab. Asbestos removal specialists take great care when taking the sample. You should not try to take a sample yourself as it might result in asbestos exposure. Water prevents the fibres from becoming airborne when the roofing material is cut to take the sample, so they will make sure to spray the area with water before taking it. We will analyse the collected sample in the lab using a microscope. If the test comes out positive, we will do further testing to determine the asbestos exposure risk.
Why is it important to remove damaged asbestos roofing?
Damaged asbestos roofing poses a significant threat to whoever lives in the property. If it is not removed immediately, the asbestos fibres can be released from the roofing, exposing them to the air and nearby surroundings. Clearaway are experienced asbestos removal experts, and we will safely remove the threat of asbestos from the house. We will use safety equipment and wear protective clothing to remove and dispose of asbestos-containing material from your home safely.
With asbestos being such a dangerous material, it is essential that we work hard to remove it. We have an expert, specially trained team to help work on removing your asbestos contained roofing. Contact us today for your asbestos removal in Epsom.
