Removing Asbestos

[azzrock]

hi every one. my bathroom has a pink fiber sheet tile backing im guessing its asbestos.
because its a 70's house.
could someone please suggest a safe method of removing this sheeting. i was thinking of wetting it down and prying it of the wall. placing it in plastic bags and then cleaning the bathroom. as well as wearing some disposable clothes and dust mask.
is this crazy?
aaron

[Big Shed]

Hi Aaron, hope you are well.

Your question re asbestos removal is probably better asked on our sister forum, the Renovators forum, there is a link on the front page here.

[jimbur]

hi every one. my bathroom has a pink fiber sheet tile backing im guessing its asbestos.
because its a 70's house.
could someone please suggest a safe method of removing this sheeting. i was thinking of wetting it down and prying it of the wall. placing it in plastic bags and then cleaning the bathroom. as well as wearing some disposable clothes and dust mask.
is this crazy?
aaron
What you're suggesting might be safer but might not be safe.
If it is asbestos there is still the problem of disposal.
For peace of mind and everyone's health call in an expert.
Cheers,
Jim

[corbs]

I'm still amazed that anyone would even consider removing asbestos themselves with all the information about it and what it can do to you. There are also legal requirements regarding its disposal where I'm pretty sure the bags are to be labelled as containing asbestos and it's to be double bagged as well. Answer is simple for me, find out if it is asbestos and if it is call in professionals.

[azzrock]

Hi Aaron, hope you are well.

Your question re asbestos removal is probably better asked on our sister forum, the Renovators forum, there is a link on the front page here.

hi fred how have you been thanks for the tip. sometimes i feel a bit slack joining a forum a and hitting them up for answers to my questions. i will have a look.
just wondering how may posts do you read a day.
any way have a great weekend
aaron

[azzrock]

hi guys. i just have a feeling they will just send a young laborer around to do
just what im going to do. I think you guys are on the money but i like dealing with my
problems
aaron


I'm still amazed that anyone would even consider removing asbestos themselves with all the information about it and what it can do to you. There are also legal requirements regarding its disposal where I'm pretty sure the bags are to be labelled as containing asbestos and it's to be double bagged as well. Answer is simple for me, find out if it is asbestos and if it is call in professionals.

[azzrock]

find out how?

I'm still amazed that anyone would even consider removing asbestos themselves with all the information about it and what it can do to you. There are also legal requirements regarding its disposal where I'm pretty sure the bags are to be labelled as containing asbestos and it's to be double bagged as well. Answer is simple for me, find out if it is asbestos and if it is call in professionals.

[jredburn]

Aaron,
People have died from breathing that stuff. It breaks up into particles so fine that they will float in the air and you cannot see them. That means they will spread throughout the entire house. Even a small amount will enter your lungs and stay there forever . Even one small particle in your lungs can cause a cancer that will kill you in a year or two. \Don't let your sense of Macho cause you to do something stupid,
Regards
Joe
PS:
I've been trained as a professional in handling that stuff.

[azzrock]

hi joe thanks for your reply. i understand the danger. thanks for your advise. how much do you think it would cost to remove. say square meters of he stuff. how would you know if it is asbestos.
aaron

[corbs]

A quick search of google found this (http://www.safeenvironments.com.au/asbestos-testing/) and this (http://www.asbestosnetwork.com/exposure/ex_homes.htm). The first says how to take a sample and the second says get someone else to do it :rolleyes:

Yellowpages will probably give you some contacts too.

[artme]

Take note of what Corbs has said!!!!

[azzrock]

ok thanks

[Enfield Guy]

$36 to $40 a square metre is about what you would expect to pay.

Cheers

[robgran]

While removing asbestos is risky -no argument there- the more info you have, the smarter decision you can make.

Here are a few thoughts for you to consider:

There is the option of leaving the existing sheeting in place and sealing/covering it.
My bathroom has large areas of tiles stuck on to (probably) asbestos -cement sheet. The shower needs renovating, so I am planning to attach a new waterproof lining of Corian over the existing tiles in the shower area only. Replacing the taps might expose some edges of asbestos, so wetting down and taking all safety precautions would be needed.
Does this option suit your project?

There are many, many homes with asbestos in walls, eave linings, floor coverings etc. The advice usually given is to coat it with a sealer but otherwise leave it undisturbed if possible.

You should get a quote from a reputable company for prof.removal, to be sure that they will not only protect themselves, but leave your home safe after the job.

To dispose of asbestos yourself, you must wrap it with thick plastic, in liftable bundles, Tape all joins with duct tape. Than wrap and tape again with a second layer. You must then take it to a licensed disposal site. There are only 2 in Melbourne, at Bulla and Wollert, near Epping. From memory the cost is $60 for up to 500kg.

If you Google asbestos you will get some useful info.

You can buy disposable overalls and asbestos respirators at hardware outlets.

If you remove asbestos yourself you will need a method of ensuring that you don't spread particles through your home.

Rob

[azzrock]

ive been thinking about this for the last few day wondering how muck my 2 or3 square meters will cost to remove. ive been in and out of a fair few boiler rooms in the past maybe the damage is all ready done.

[rod1949]

If its pink then its not asbestos and is quite safe to remove yourself without all the scare mongering that has been said here. To back this up, I started my chippy's apprenticeship in 1966 (I was 16) and not long after the pink fibro sheets came on the market and I used and installed heeps of it. I also worked with a lot of the old grey/blue asbestos sheeting with out any protection what so ever. I'm now 62 years old (thats 46 years) and have no health issues what so ever.

[Handyjack]

It is not what you see but what you don't.

The side effects don't happen now but in 10 - 20 years time.

I spent 16 + years working in boiler houses where the boilers and pipes and flues were lagged with asbestos. Time will tell if I suffer any side effects.

When the professionals remove asbestos material they generally try to seal the area (or room) so particles do not escape. They may also have the area with a slight negative pressure so any loose particles get picked up by filter medium in their air extractor.

If you have asbestos product that needs to be removed - get a licensed contractor. Yes it does cost money but it is better than you or some one you know suffering a lung disorder for many years.

[rrobor]

In Australia today it is estimated that about 600 people die each year due to asbestos. Now it can take up to 40 years before you get caught.
When I was young garages blew out brake drums with an air hose, most of that muck was asbestos. We drilled the stuff, sat hot pots on mats of it and my aunts pantry roof was that, and Im sure bits floated into the food.
Now I dont know anybody who has died of asbestos related diseases, and I bet the majority here are like me.
So let us not get this out of proportion it is not common and it is not likely. I should suspect most of us have been exposed at one time or other so lets stop the panic
Asbestos should be respected as the hazzard it is, and extreme care taken to be rid of it. But panic and hysterics is not warranted. Cars on Australian roads kill many more than asbestos and there is no panic about that.

[azzrock]

i work in an industry that has had a lot of expositor to asbestos .Story's of eating your lunch sitting on bales of stuff. or sweeping the last remnants of it from a ships hull so i know its a real problem thats why i asked in this place. what people tough of my plans.
ive received great solution's to other problems i have had on here so i thought id ask about this one. so thanks every one. for your input. still haven't really made up my mind.
aaron


In Australia today it is estimated that about 600 people die each year due to asbestos. Now it can take up to 40 years before you get caught.
When I was young garages blew out brake drums with an air hose, most of that muck was asbestos. We drilled the stuff, sat hot pots on mats of it and my aunts pantry roof was that, and Im sure bits floated into the food.
Now I dont know anybody who has died of asbestos related diseases, and I bet the majority here are like me.
So let us not get this out of proportion it is not common and it is not likely. I should suspect most of us have been exposed at one time or other so lets stop the panic
Asbestos should be respected as the hazzard it is, and extreme care taken to be rid of it. But panic and hysterics is not warranted. Cars on Australian roads kill many more than asbestos and there is no panic about that.

[azzrock]

If its pink then its not asbestos and is quite safe to remove yourself without all the scare mongering that has been said here. To back this up, I started my chippy's apprenticeship in 1966 (I was 16) and not long after the pink fibro sheets came on the market and I used and installed heeps of it. I also worked with a lot of the old grey/blue asbestos sheeting with out any protection what so ever. I'm now 62 years old (thats 46 years) and have no health issues what so ever.

hi rod how are you? my house is about 35 to 40 years old. im not shore when the pink sheets where fitted. you would of seen of seen a few changed in your trade over the years. do you think that the pink non asbestos sheets fit in with the age of my house?

[nrb]

There must be thousands of us that drilled,sawed, broke up asbestos long before we were aware of the danger,but who knows when and if it will come and bite us on bum.
Now we know leave it alone or get help!:no:

[Poppa]

SWMBO's company has just had sheets of corrugated asbestos removed from a place she is converting into a market. Big job, and we got professionals in to do it all, as safely as possible. Didn't cost as much as we thought it might. I'd get professionals in to do it for you...

[azzrock]

There must be thousands of us that drilled,sawed, broke up asbestos long before we were aware of the danger,but who knows when and if it will come and bite us on bum.
Now we know leave it alone or get help!:no:

you know good advise . i have a feeling from what i know genetics may pay a fair it to do with this.

[hughie]

If its pink then its not asbestos and is quite safe to remove yourself without all the scare mongering that has been said here. To back this up, I started my chippy's apprenticeship in 1966 (I was 16) and not long after the pink fibro sheets came on the market and I used and installed heeps of it. I also worked with a lot of the old grey/blue asbestos sheeting with out any protection what so ever. I'm now 62 years old (thats 46 years) and have no health issues what so ever.

[/QUOTE]

Rod it wasnt until the early 80's that James Hardie phased out all the azzy. The fact you have no signs of asbestosis does not mean you did not come into contact with it. It may well mean your one of the lucky ones who do not react to it, not every one who comes in contact has an adverse effect. I can think of two cases on tradies who worked with azzy in manufacture with absolutely no ill effects, dying well into thier 80's, plus my own personal experience.

http://asbestosremovalguide.com/446/how-to-identify-asbestos-fibro-cladding/

[hughie]

[ my house is about 35 to 40 years old. im not shore when the pink sheets where fitted. you would of seen of seen a few changed in your trade over the years. do you think that the pink non asbestos sheets fit in with the age of my house


You can pretty well presume your house is made with azzy, see my previous post.

[hughie]

work in an industry that has had a lot of expositor to asbestos .Story's of eating your lunch sitting on bales of stuff. or sweeping the last remnants of it from a ships hull so i know its a real problem thats why i asked in this place. what people tough of my plans.
ive received great solution's to other problems i have had on here so i thought id ask about this one. so thanks every one. for your input. still haven't really made up my mind.
]



Aaron, the bottom line is if you get wrong you may die. Also those around you who may have the same susceptibility will also be at risk.
http://www.asbestosresource.com/asbestosis/

If in doubt get it done properly, in fact many local councils will not let the home owner remove suspected azzy and if caught face a fine.

[Ironwood]

My house was built in 1983 and has fibro sheets in the garage, and both bathrooms.
They contain asbestos. How do I know ?
They have a sticker on the back of the sheets stating they contain asbestos.

[azzrock]

thanks for the advise guys. its pink hardi flex sheeting. im going to assume its asbestos because i don't know the age of it.

[jimbur]

There's a relevant piece in the news today about the actor Harold Hopkins who has just died at the age of 67. I quote from the ABC:

His family said he contracted the cancer in his first job after high school, when he worked with asbestos sheeting as an apprentice carpenter in south-east Queensland in the early 1960s.

Cheers,
Jim

[Bushmiller]

I believe that even amongst asbestos there are some types that are worse than others. My memory is that "Blue" asbestos is amongst the worst, but they are all insidious: Silent killers: Up there with cigarettes and syphillis in that it lurks dormant for years in the body before manifesting itself in the most hideous manner.

Interesting (but almost beyond belief) to note that both asbestos production and cigarette production are alive and well (actually rampant) in India. Neither are seen as a particular health risk and both are openly marketed and sold.:((

This same responsible country is now about to buy our uranium (and the uranium from others) to use in a responsible manner:?. Ummmm...

Regards
Paul

[Christos]

There are companies that test for asbestos. What they require is a piece that has broken off. I gave them two samples one from the garage and one from the laundry.

These companies are independent of any asbestos removal companies.

Both test positive.

I am sorry but I can not find the name of the company. I found them in the phone book. They supplied me the bags to place the samples on my first visit to their office.