It's common for property owners to worry about the soffits on their property. You may wonder whether or not the asbestos-ridden soffits might become a safety hazard over the long-term.
Asbestos Soffit Removal Guidance
This is a reasonable thought to have and it all comes down to understanding what your options are. If you don't take the time to assess the soffit, inspect the asbestos composition, and find a safe way to remove the soffit, you are not going to see appropriate results nor will it be safe.
This guide will take a look at how to remove asbestos soffits and what to consider during the process.
Removing Asbestos Soffits
It is essential to start with the inspection to learn more about whether or not there is asbestos along the exterior of your property. It is common for several elements of older properties to have a bit of asbestos in them including shingles, siding, and of course soffits.
If you assume only the soffits have asbestos in them then that is the wrong mindset to have. Older properties were often jam-packed with asbestos content because it kept the properties dry from the outside.
While this is not a real danger as long as the structural integrity of the material doesn't break down, you are still required to inspect the soffit. It is the only way to determine whether or not a complete removal is needed heading into the future.
So, what do you do about it?
Start with the inspection and take a look at whether or not asbestos is present. If it is present, you will have to start looking at safely removing the entire soffit.
Please note, you have to be very careful during this process. There have been cases in the past where asbestos filtered through the ducts back into the house after the soffits were ripped out. This has to do with the fibres releasing into the air and doing quite a bit of damage to inhabitants.
If you don't take the time to analyse where the asbestos content is, you could be endangering everyone in the house.
Cover the Surrounding Materials
The first thing you are going to do is begin covering the surrounding materials. It is unfortunate but the asbestos fibres can spread through the air and land on the surrounding elements of your property increasing the risk of exposure.
This is something that has happened in the past and it is an essential detail to think about beforehand.
If you cover it with plastic and/or a robust sheet, it is safer for everyone. Please remember, you should also be protected during the DIY project to make sure the exposure isn't harmful to your body. Breathing in the fibres can lead to significant health issues both in the short and long-term.
Reduce Exposure
You will have to account for the asbestos fibres being exposed to everything including yourself.
To take care of this, you will target the soffit and only remove it gently. This will ensure everything doesn't spread and you can get it out of the way as soon as you need to.
Neatly Remove the Soffit
Once the soffit is loose, you will want to take it out and make sure the removal is done safely using appropriate protective materials. The soffit will have to be tossed out with relative care to make sure it doesn't get exposed to anything else in the environment.
If you do this safely, you will see good results.
Tips for Removing Asbestos Soffits
Inspect Everything
Start by inspecting everything in and outside the house.
A lot of property owners will only think about the exterior of the house when it comes to removing soffits. Yes, the exterior should be inspected multiple times, but so should the interior.
Fibres can spread through the air and it is important to keep tabs on the air quality at all times.
Speak to a Professional
This can be done as a DIY project but it is not recommended to try it on your own without the necessary materials/tools in hand.
You could end up getting exposed to asbestos fibres, which is something that can lead to serious health repercussions.
It is always better to get professionals to handle the asbestos removal.
Test Asbestos Content Post-Process Too
You should always take the time to go back and test each element of the property including the siding, shingles, and/or interior walls to see whether or not fibres have been released into the air nearby.
As mentioned before, this can be a source of concern and has been in the past.
If you refuse to inspect every part of the house after the soffit has been removed, it is possible to see a long list of issues pop up during the process.
It is in your best interest to make sure everything is safe and the exposure has been nullified immediately.
For more information visit https://precisionasbestosremoval.co.uk