1970s Soffits - Asbestos?

[TheScullster]

Hi all

Does anyone know whether the soffits in 1970s houses tended to contain asbestos? Our house is looking well-tatty as all the paint is flaking and falling off the soffits. They look suspiciously like asbestos boards. Our neighbours recently had all uPVC replacement stuff. When the company came to fit these they claimed that they would have to engage "specialists" to remove the soffits due to asbestos risk. The specialists arrived and, using nothing more than paper nose/mouth masks, proceeded to smash out the soffits with hammers! Surely, if the soffits were high-risk asbestos, a more professional method should be used. It certainly looked like the ideal way to release the maximum amount of fibre/debris into the surroundings! Any comments please?

TIA

Phil

[RubberBiker]

Lot of info on the regulations and recommended practices here:

[Geo]

Ours are similar (1969). The problem with painting them is getting a decent surface to start with. Removing the old flaky paint with sandpaper (above my head) did not a brilliant idea so minimal preparation with sugarsoap. The "new" paint has only lasted a few years and is flaking off again. I also wanted to fit some vents for the loft space but my experience in cutting a 100mm hole for an extractor fan has put me off. The damn stuff is almost imposible to drill or cut. Had to nibble away at the hole with a pair of electricians pliers. Still, they must have used asbestos cement boards for some reason so plastic/wood does not seem like a good replacement.

[dennis]

You can have a sample tested. If it is asbestos you have to enclose it before you start removal and take regular air samples to prove you are not releasing the stuff. It is an offence to release asbestos dust into the air these days so they were either cowboys or it wasn't asbestos.

[dennis]

I took some fibre cement board off cuts to the tip two weeks ago. I had to argue with four people before I found someone knowledgeable to know it wasn't asbestos and let me dump it.

[dennis]

It was cheap and appears to do the job.

[Tim S]

Invisible Man coughed up some electrons that declared:

Tunbridge Wells has an asbestos skip... It's next to the soil and clothes recycling points. Usual procedure is to phone them first, double bag it then take it down.

Cheers

Tim

[Peter Parry]

Not if it asbestos cement (which it probably is).

[geoff]

In message , "dennis@home" writes

Chapter and verse please ...?

[george (dicegeorge)]

i agree with whoever wrote that the reason was cheapness.

Wood is good.

[g]

[meow2222]

I thought fibgre cement was significantly more dough than timber. The advantages here are its very long lived and totally maintenance free.

NT

[meow2222]

Wonder what paint you used. Did you wire brush it first?

NT

[dennis]

Go and look at the court cases. You will find Marconi/GEC was fined £50,000 (IIRC) for removing asbestos without taking the samples even though they agreed that the method used would have prevented any stuff escaping.

[Invisible Man]

Surely not well preserved asbestos cement.

[dennis]

I don't know, I stayed out of that building while they did the work.

[Geo]

Did some fairly gentle wire brushing (by hand) on the worst bits but did not want to start scoring the surface. Bog standard white gloss (oil-based).

[geoff]

In message , "dennis@home" writes

Asbestos insulation

very different to asbestos cement as used in corrugated roofing, soffit boards etc

[Bettyboo]

replying to TheScullster, Bettyboo wrote: I recently had a quote from reputable up can Windows etc firm for replacements of soffits and facias down pipes and gutters. It was going to be £5300 for a detached 6x9 metre house with attached garage. They took a sample of soffits and came back to me saying that it would need to be removed professionally at a unmentioned extra cost.. I have cancelled the whole work. Now, knowing it is there how would this affect the sale of my house ? Would a surveyor know what was there by just looking round the house?

[newshound]

Loyal Usenet followers won't reply to this.

[tabbypurr]

Seems rather steep

If it's asbestos, do you need to replace them? It's long lasting & maintena nce free.

If a bungalow, yes, otherwise no.

Lots of houses are sold with asbestos in/on them.

Do youself a favour and get a sensible newsgroup client. This is news:uk.d- i-y.

NT