Repair steps for addressing asbestos in roofs
Asbestos was a popular construction material prior to the 1970s. It was used in many different parts of the home to provide insulation, sound proofing and reinforcement. As the hazardous health effects of asbestos have been uncovered over the years, the importance of properly managing asbestos in the home cannot be overstated.
Roofing materials in older homes are a hot spot for asbestos content. Therefore, when replacing these roofs, it is important for proper precautions to be followed along every step of the way. In most cases, building owners are responsible for ensuring that their roofs are not releasing asbestos fibres into the atmosphere.
Why asbestos is present in roofing materials
For the roof of any premises to be functional, it needs to provide excellent insulation and fire repelling capabilities. Asbestos was one of the most popular materials used to insulate roofs because it is a fire retardant and has excellent insulation properties. It is also cost-effective and homebuilders relied on it to install quality roofs in homes.
However, asbestos has been shown to cause various types of cancer and respiratory diseases. And because asbestos fibres can be inhaled for many years before symptoms show, it is even more important to carefully inspect roofing material for asbestos during roof repairs or replacement.
Understanding asbestos cement
When replacing an asbestos roof, high concentrations of the material are typically present in cement sheets. Cement sheets are contained in many roofing sheets such as asphalt shingles.
As the shingles deteriorate, the cement sheets can become brittle and break, releasing asbestos fibres into the atmosphere. Therefore, most asbestos roof replacement work involves the replacement of these cement sheets.
Safe removal of asbestos from roofs
Roofing materials that contain brittle sheets or exposed cement sheets are particular susceptible to asbestos content. Such roofs need to be replaced in a timely fashion to prevent building occupants from inhaling asbestos fibres.
During repair/replacement, the roof is first carefully inspected to identify the location of the brittle sheets. The repair process will need to be done during times when the building is not in use because slight disturbance of the roofing material can lead to the release of harmful fibres. The roof replacement is best done in sections, where highly concentrated asbestos-containing sections are isolated first for replacement.
In cases where the cement sheets are not damaged, the roof replacement can be done by applying a new layer on top of the existing roof. This technique is referred to as over-roofing, and it results in the asbestos becoming sealed/trapped within the roofing material. As long as there is no way for fibres to be released into the atmosphere, the roof replacement can be considered a success.
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