I need to get up on the roof of my garage to remove the moss. I don't have a feel for how much imposed weight I can put on a typical asbestos garage roof before I crack the panels. The panels are supported on wood beams about every 5 feet.
If I put up a couple of planks to spread my weight across two beams would that be enough do you think?
I weigh 100kg clothed.
Robert
Get a platform (three-way convert-a-ladder - great things and well worth Aldi's 60 quid) and stand alongside with a long rake.
No way will I use crawling boards on a small-corrugation asbestos roof. The stuff is brittle as anything, and even if you don't go through it, there's a risk of cracking it and resultant leaks.
Thanks, it was cracking I was worried about. I hadn't even though about falling through!
The corrugations are about 6" apart and about 2" deep.
Robert
No chance. Not only is asbestos cement weak and brittle, but there is the danger from asbestos fibres when it breaks, as it surely will with any weight on it.
Instead, use a ladder or staging to get into a position where you can remove the moss with a pressure washer. Otherwise, don't bother.
If you insist on going ahead with your plank idea, you should call the ambulance before starting work.
oh no! not the "asbestos cement DANGER DANGER" thread again I hope Bruce?!
from wiki - to save the bandwidth:-
"Asbestos exposure becomes a health concern when high concentrations of asbestos fibers are inhaled over a long time period.[23] People who become ill from inhaling asbestos are often those who are exposed on a day-to-day basis in a job where they worked directly with the material. As a person's exposure to fibers increases, because of being exposed to higher concentrations of fibers and/or by being exposed for a longer time, then that person's risk of disease also increases. Disease is very unlikely to result from a single, high-level exposure, or from a short period of exposure to lower levels.[23] Smoking combined with asbestos exposure may increase the health risk dramatically"
Cheers JimK
Cant you just use a long stick to get the moss off? Copper wire run along the ridge may stop it regrowing.
NT
It depends on which fibres were used, which depends on when the roof panels were made and by whom. In other words, it depends. And it is extremely unlikely that any records are available, or remain.
My health and safety advisers take the view that *all* asbestos cement products should be left alone or removed by a specialist contractor.
But I can understand people thinking that they can take a chance, and that they will probably get away with it to save a few £s. The world is full of chancers.
As above; very little danger if any, just because it is asbestos. Cracking, leaks, falling through/injury yes. Don't get onto it at all! Pressure wash or scrape from the sides, also one could make a shaped scraper to fit the grooves on a longish handle! But why is it necessary to remove the moss? PS. Have cut asbestos with hand saw, and on one or two occasions with a hand held electric circular saw, during the last 55 years. Always outside and making sure to keep everything damp to avoid inhaling fibres. And am still around!
One of the worst things you can do with an asbestos roof is to pressure wash it. Now that really does loosen the fibres up!
Personally I leave mine and its moss well alone. I fix it where it needs it, otherwise we live in blissful mutual ignoring of each other.
This is roofing board. Just how much fibre variation was there?
I used to walk all over my dad's garage roof which was very rusty metal by always putting my foot on a nail, cos under the nails were rafters.
[g]
I think the point is there is a lack of sound evidence that taking white asbestos sheet down twice per lifetime was in any way chancey.
NT
No surprise there then.....
matched in equal number by over zealous "career" H&S "professhunals" who see "risk" of any size as an opportunity to make a lot of $ out of "mugs" too scared by the propaganda or too thick to assess the "risk" themselves - there's one born every minute! (luckily for the H&S gang and specialist contractors....)
NB this is UK DIY not uk.corporate.responsibility :>)
Cheers JimK
Agreed (& succinctly put :>) JimK
Did the roof of my house from a ladder, with standoff, using a long-handled dutch hoe.
On my shed's roof, the moss had slightly pushed up the overlaps so that rain was blown under by strong winds from the wrong direction.
I found a site that had paint for asbestos roofing. The instructions for Preparation included scrubbing the asbestos - but no mention of having a steady stream of water on to it!
In message , RobertL writes
Crikey. That's more than I weigh!
Use a long handled garden draw hoe. One of your allotment holding neighbours is bound to have one.
regards
One fibre can kill. Painful death from mesothelioma. I used to read the medical reports when handling insurance claims. Not a nice part f the job. Cement asbestos is however pretty safe. Clean breaks are unlikely to release fibres but do not drill or file (or angle grind) it. My corrugated asbestos cement garage roof is gaining moss and it will stay that way. Waiting for the tree above to drop a branch so the insurance company will replace it. Just as long as they can afford to continue to pay my pension. Largest general insurer in Chile.
In message , RobertL writes
Lardy bugger
Put your planks on the screws / bolts that hold the sheets on, that way you are loading the beams directly. Asbestos sheets crack very easily when they get old
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