Asbestos in your garage
As more information comes to light about asbestos and associated health conditions, people begin to wonder whether their own properties contain this dangerous material. And, if they do, where will they find it?
For those who spend a lot of time in their garage, it may cross their mind that their garage could possibly contain asbestos. And, if it does, how do you know, and what comes next?
It’s not out of the question to assume that many New Zealanders are housing their cars, tools, and toys in a garage featuring asbestos. The very same asbestos that’s responsible for the deaths of more than 10,000 people yearly. But, before you become alarmed, know the facts. Read on to learn what asbestos in your garage could mean for you.
Could asbestos be in my garage?
Asbestos was a common building material that was used in many different construction processes during the 20th century – not only garaging. It would have been popular for garages as well due to its ability to resist heat, weathering, decay, and erosion. It was also affordable and reasonably lightweight too.
If your garage was built before 1987, then there’s every reason to assume it does contain asbestos. While New Zealand began regulating the use of asbestos in building materials in 1978, it didn't ban raw asbestos until 1984. Builders were still using construction materials containing it until 1987.
For garages built in that timeframe or before, there is a chance that the building materials, especially the corrugated roofing sheets and walls, could contain asbestos.
Am I at risk if my garage contains asbestos?
There’s no denying that asbestos is dangerous. It’s responsible for a range of different cancers, and malignant mesothelioma claims the lives of thousands every year. However, asbestos is only damaging to your health if the building materials it’s in are damaged or exposed.
If you damage or remove building materials, you are potentially releasing the fibres into the air to be inhaled. These fibres can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, among other diseases. The more worn, cracked, or broken building materials are, the more at risk you are if they contain asbestos.
How can i find out if my garaging has asbestos?
You can’t often tell that something has asbestos in it by looking. If you regularly work with it, however, then you’ll have a keen eye for the signs. If you want and need to find out, then it’s a good idea for an asbestos sampling and testing business to run the tests and provide you with an IANZ accredited report.
If the report comes back affirmative for asbestos, then you have two choices. You can leave it as it is, as long as it’s in good condition and is not posing a health risk. Or, you can set about removing the troublesome building materials.
Removing asbestos from my home
When you know that building materials in your home or garaging contain asbestos, and you’ve decided to remove it, you can’t just get to work ripping it out. In fact, that could put you and your family in great danger.
The best approach to asbestos removal is handing it over to an expert. Someone who is trained in its removal can take all the necessary steps to keep you and your neighbours safe. There are also plenty of materials online that help you work out the safest asbestos removal method.
The book, and others like it, are filled with helpful information such as:
Being asbestos-aware
Sealing off the work area to minimise exposure
Wearing disposable overalls and caps
Using a half facepiece respirator with P2/P3 filters for asbestos dust
Keeping asbestos-based materials damp
Cleaning up after each day of work
Homeowners shouldn't tackle garaging or home asbestos removal themselves, so consult an expert to see what they recommend.
How much does it cost to remove asbestos?
Anything to do with home renovation costs money, and asbestos removal is no different. Stringent health regulations and risks associated with removal mean the cost for this process can be higher than you might have thought.
A 40 square-metre ceiling with asbestos could cost as much as $7,000 to remove, while cladding can be in the tens of thousands. Those who would like to look at asbestos removal for their garage or home should ask for quotes from accredited and approved asbestos removal businesses in New Zealand.
What are you going to do?
If you’re worried about weak building materials in your garage containing asbestos, or you’d like to combat asbestos removal today, then it’s time to get the ball rolling. Conduct testing through an accredited business and then get the removal process through a professional service underway.
