Do you suspect that your garage roof contains asbestos? If it was constructed before the year 2000, you may well be right! Asbestos was used widely in the UK construction industry from the early 20th century right up until 1999 when it was finally banned due to health and safety concerns.
Between the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of asbestos garage roofs were installed. Often, entire garages were constructed using asbestos cement panels and asbestos roof sheeting. Despite their strength and durability, they can be broken or deteriorate over time, becoming a health hazard. If your garage roof is in this condition, you may be at risk of asbestos exposure, and it's time to take action!
What you do next is crucial: asbestos carries serious health risks and must be handled with extreme caution.
As experienced professionals in asbestos management, Asbestos SOS offers advice to people in your situation, and removal is usually the wisest option. This blog deals with the asbestos garage roof removal cost, but you'll also find some other helpful facts here.
But first, let's jump right into our main topic: how much does it cost to have an asbestos garage roof removed?
If you ask any asbestos removal company, they'll usually quote a price per square metre. The average asbestos removal cost is somewhere between £60 and £170 per square metre, depending on the type of job and the type of asbestos involved (see below for more details about asbestos types).
To give you a better idea of the cost of asbestos garage roof removal, based on the smallest dimensions and lower end of the price scale, the average price would be somewhere in this region:
As garages come in all shapes and sizes, this price could rise significantly. However, older garages tended to be small - back in the 1960s, few families possessed more than one car, and any appliances like boilers were situated inside the house, so garages didn't need to be very big.
The same figures would apply to asbestos shed roof removal.
Take a look: Asbestos Roof Tile Removal Cost
It's best to check with your contractor as to what's included in the price when you ask for asbestos removal quotes. Any company worth using will provide a detailed breakdown in black and white that spells out the schedule clearly and tells you exactly what you are paying for. This is how we operate at Asbestos SOS, as we believe that transparency and integrity are the best policies.
The following guide gives you an idea of what is typically included in asbestos removal costs, although each company has its own specific program:
There's a more detailed breakdown of this process further along, that shows exactly what's involved in these stages.
When you call your contractor, ask them if they have an asbestos removal cost calculator, as this helps you to get a better idea of what's involved, what services are included, and where your money is being spent.
A major part of the asbestos garage roof removal cost goes towards the actual removal process itself, and this is because of the amount of work involved.
Take a look at this more detailed breakdown of this process to see exactly what takes place.
Clearance certificate - A licenced specialist will issue a clearance certificate confirming the safe removal and disposal of the asbestos. Under the current regulations, you are expected to keep this for 40 years.
In certain circumstances, an asbestos removal company may recommend asbestos encapsulation. This should only be an option if the ACMs are in very good condition and present minimal risk.
Encapsulating broken or friable asbestos is highly irresponsible, and no reputable asbestos specialist will ever suggest this method.
The main attractions of asbestos encapsulation are obvious: it is a cheaper option, coming in at between £8 and £25 per square metre, and you don't have to go through the hassle and expense of having your garage roof removed and replaced.
It's worth keeping in mind, though, that there are possible plans to set in place a program of complete asbestos removal within the next twenty years or so. If this comes to pass, there will be an intensive effort to remove the estimated 6,000,000 tonnes (yes, six million!) of asbestos materials still in use in UK buildings.
Because of this, it's likely that the asbestos removal process will become more expensive (as the service will be in high demand), so it may be better to book
Asbestos belongs to a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals that once had many uses in domestic, commercial, and industrial settings. With at least four thousand asbestos products in use from around 1930 to 1999, it's a safe bet that you'll find it in any house, factory, shop, office, or any other type of building constructed during this time.
However, it soon became apparent that inhaling asbestos fibres posed severe health risks, causing conditions like throat and lung cancer, as well as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Now labelled a harmful material, it has to be carefully managed, with removal being the most sensible option.
Of the six naturally occurring mineral types called asbestos, only three were used in the construction industry:
As homes and commercial or industrial buildings are likely to contain some of these materials, it's essential that you have an asbestos survey carried out at some point to determine the risk. Identifying asbestos is the first stage of the job, after which we can assess the situation.
No, this is never a good idea. Put this idea out of your head straight away! While it's technically possible, it's unlikely that you'll be able to account for every scenario and meet the requirements and regulations as stipulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Disturbing or breaking this material can release asbestos dust, and there's a real chance that you'll expose yourself and others to asbestos fibres, which could be a disaster.
Aside from the potential risks, you will not be able to dispose of the asbestos waste as you need a hazardous waste carriers licence to do so.
Some contractors offer a hazardous material collection service, which seems like a good solution for avoiding the asbestos garage removal cost, as you could conceivably tackle the job of asbestos removal yourself and get a licenced carrier to take it away.
This is unwise: any asbestos material is dangerous, and even one-time exposure to asbestos fibres can put you at risk. Removing asbestos safely requires skill, dedication, the correct PPE, and the ability to follow a strict safety regime. Only trained professionals with asbestos training should ever be allowed to handle this hazardous material!
So, how much does asbestos removal cost? The answer will vary depending on your location, the company you choose, the size of the project, and the type of material involved.
There's no straightforward answer, and you need to be aware of all the factors involved.
Basically, the two most important points are these: don't mess about with this hazardous substance yourself, and choose your asbestos removal company wisely!
Having asbestos removed is often the best choice, but the cost of removing asbestos can stop people from taking action. This is completely understandable, as many of us are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
However, the cost of contracting a potentially fatal condition from exposure to these hazardous fibres can't be measured in monetary terms.
If you have an asbestos garage roof that needs attention, get in touch with Asbestos SOS today, and we'll provide advice, support, and an effective plan to make your property safe again at a budget-friendly cost.
