Asbestos is a hot button issue no matter what industry you’re in. When it comes to roofing, many homeowners aren’t sure if it’s something they should be concerned with or not. In fact, most modern roofs in the last 25 years contain no asbestos, but if you try and find documentation that states that, you may be left scratching your head. Let’s look at whether your roof may contain asbestos and how you can handle this with a professional roofing company.
Asbestos Roof Removal Questions
Asbestos itself isn’t dangerous. It’s when it becomes part of the air by being disturbed and it’s inhaled it becomes dangerous. Many homeowners in the 1930s through 1970s had roofs that contained asbestos in some form or shape, such as in its insulation. If you had a new roof replaced after the 1970s, chances are your old roof was completely removed and replaced, eliminating the threat of asbestos.
Until a roofing company comes out and checks your roof, they can’t know for sure whether it was done with any sort of asbestos materials. Many home inspectors have come out and checked homes for asbestos as the material became illegal to be used due to the health issues surrounding it. If your home is old, and was built before 1975, and the roof has never been replaced, you may be looking at asbestos somewhere in the construction – not just the roof.
If you suspect asbestos might be an issue, contact a roofer and let them know. They may send someone out with special gear to check your roof and put together an estimate. They may also have to source out the estimated work for safety reasons because of how detrimental asbestos can be to a human’s health.
When dealing with asbestos removal, you may find the costs more expensive than you imagined. This has to do with the asbestos removal itself. Asbestos removal is a difficult process because once the asbestos becomes airborne, it becomes sickening. They may need you to stay in a hotel for some time as the process is undertaken. Then, there’s the roof replacement itself that’s factored into the cost.
Luckily for homeowners, if your home still contains asbestos in its roof, many insurance policies will cover a replacement, including the asbestos removal costs. The best place to start is with roofing companies who specialize with asbestos removal or partner with a hazardous waste company to get the job done right.
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