Is My Garage Roof Asbestos?
How to Tell if Your Garage Roof is Asbestos
In fact, if you laid asbestos and cement fibre roof panels side-by-side, they would look identical.
To protect your family’s health, it is paramount you understand the differences and can spot the signs of an asbestos garage roof.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to tell if your garage roof is asbestos and what to do if you suspect asbestos in your garage:
- Tell-tale signs of an asbestos garage roof
- Is my garage roof asbestos?
- What to do if your garage roof is asbestos
- Removing an asbestos garage roof
The Tell-Tale Signs of an Asbestos Garage Roof
Confirmation by a professional is always required to determine whether there is asbestos present.
However, there are a few indications which could suggest your garage roof is asbestos:
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Corrugated roofing panels
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Your garage was built pre-1999
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Fragility of the panels
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Batch codes on underside of the roof
1. Corrugated Roofing Panels
Asbestos garage roofs, much like cement fibre, use corrugated roofing panels for greater strength.
In fact, the differences between asbestos and cement fibre are close to zero. To the untrained eye, it is almost impossible to tell which is which.
Let’s have a look at two images that show how similar they really are:
Asbestos
Cement Fibre
As you can see, these corrugated roofing panels are almost identical.
For example, you will see that both suffer from the growth of green, mossy fungi called ‘lichen’ inbetween the roofs corrugations.
Lichen grows when concrete is exposed to sunlight. Since both asbestos and cement fibre are concrete, both will experience lichen growth over the years.
Asbestos panels may experience larger amounts, as seen above, but only because they may have been in place for a longer period of time.
If your roof panels are corrugated and filled with lichen – it may be asbestos.
2. Your Garage Was Built Pre-1999
Asbestos is very low cost AND easy to install. It lasts for decades and even stands up to weather damage.
If you were a tradesman back in the 60s, 70s & 80s, why wouldn‘t you opt for asbestos?
Well, that’s just what they did. Throughout the rapid construction era of the 20th century, most residential garages were built with an asbestos roof.
It wasn’t until the turn of the 90’s where we discovered the long term effects and damage it caused. Unfortunately, most asbestos garage roofs still remain – and they’re starting to show their age.
If you garage was built before 1999, chances are, your garage roof is made of asbestos.
3. Fragility of the Garage Roofing Panels
Old asbestos roofing panels will be fragile and cement fibre even more so. If you were to handle a small piece of cement fibre, it will be brittle and crumble apart in your hands with enough force.
Asbestos will more likely snap than crumble.
So if your garage roof is suffering from cracks, scaling or is breaking apart, that could be a warning sign of asbestos.
If you spot any cracks in your roof, do NOT try and break apart the panels or handle anything yourself.
Leave that to the experts.
4. Batch Codes on the Underside of the Roof
Back in the days of asbestos it was common for manufacturers to print batch codes on the underside of the garage roofing panels.
For asbestos, manufacturers printed ‘AC‘ whereas cement fibre were printed as ‘CE‘ or ‘C‘.
Not all manufacturers printed this information though and it is also likely that the batch codes have deteriorated over time.
Do You Have an Asbestos Garage Roof?
Get a quote to replace your old asbestos garage roof with a 100% watertight roofing system.
Is Your Garage Roof Asbestos?
Without an expert, it is impossible to tell whether your garage roof is asbestos or cement fibre.
Although there are subtle signs, there’s a reason experts are trained to identify and handle asbestos properly.
As a rule of thumb, if it looks like asbestos, treat it like asbestos. Do not try and diagnose the presence of asbestos yourself.
Signs of a Deteriorating Asbestos Garage Roof
An asbestos garage roof, for the most part, does not cause a significant health risk until damaged. However, once the old asbestos panels start to deteriorate, this risk starts to increase as it becomes easier for the harmful fibres to release into the air.
That is why it’s important to know the signs of a deteriorating asbestos garage roof so that you can take action quickly.
The most obvious sign of a deteriorating asbestos roof would be cracks, scaling – or even holes – in the panels themselves. An increase in dust or debris inside the garage would also be an indicator of the asbestos panels starting to breakdown, particularly if it seems to be coming from the roof.
If you notice either of these signs, it may be time to follow our advice below.
What to do if Your Garage Roof Contains Asbestos
If you suspect that your garage roof is asbestos, the first thing to do is contact a qualified asbestos surveyor. Or, you can find a company that specialises in asbestos garage roof replacements.
In the meantime, asbestos still poses a threat to your long-term health.
It is important you do not disturb the roof panels and release the harmful asbestos fibres into the air. It is these tiny, microscopic fibres that cause long-term damage to your lungs.
To keep the panels intact, make sure to take the following precautions:
1. Access Your Garage Carefully
Opening your garage door or garage side door too fast can cause a rapid change in air pressure inside the garage.
This creates a ‘vacuum effect’ that can circulate the harmful asbestos fibres within the roof panels.
Wait for the air to settle and take care when opening the doors to your garage.
2. Avoid Using Your Garage in Bad Weather
Bad weather including winds or storms can also cause the vacuum effect.
3. Take Care When Moving Your Belongings
When moving any contents within your garage, be careful not to bump the walls or the roof. This will cause vibrations in the roofing panels and release asbestos fibres into the air.
We also advise not parking your car in your garage for the same reason.
How Much Does it Cost to Remove or Replace an Asbestos Garage Roof?
The cost of an asbestos garage roof replacement will depend upon the size of the roof and the material used to replace it.
Also, make sure the contractor you are dealing with is licensed under the Hazardous Waste Regulations of 2005.
At Danmarque Garages we are fully licensed for asbestos removal and provide free, no-hassle quotations. We provide a quote without coming to inspect your garage by using our in-house mapping software.
If you are suspicious that you garage roof contains asbestos, give us a call or fill out a contact form below.
Do I Need an Asbestos Survey to Replace My Garage Roof?
Although you do not need an asbestos survey to replace your garage roof, the rule to follow is if it looks like asbestos, treat it like asbestos.
That’s why it’s important to know how to tell if your garage roof is asbestos so that you can take the right precautions until it is removed safely by an asbestos professional.
Our surveyors are trained to identify asbestos in your garage roof and determine the correct instructions for installation.
DIY asbestos testing kits can also be sourced online for a safe and cost effective way of identifying asbestos material in your garage, should you need the peace of mind.
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