Suitable Replacements for Asbestos

 
 

Finding out that your home, appliance, or another possession you own contains asbestos can be devastating. Knowing that friable asbestos can be hazardous for your health, you might be eager to replace the asbestos-containing materials with something far safer.

However, asbestos was chosen for its many desirable properties, which means you might not immediately know what you can use instead of your asbestos-containing product. While your chosen asbestos removal company can provide helpful advice, you might also gain valuable insight into the many different alternative materials below.

Super Six Roofing

Super Six is the trade name for an asbestos-cement sheet roofing product that was once preferred for its many desirable properties. It was easy to mould into corrugated sheets, fire-resistant, easy to install, strong, and affordable. Essentially, it was everything homeowners and builders could want.

Except that it could be deadly.

With time, wear and tear, and damage, Super Six roofing could release deadly asbestos fibres into the air that put people at risk of illnesses like cancer and asbestosis when breathed in. If your home has Super Six roofing, it’s likely reaching the end of its safe life and might soon require replacement.

In that case, what are your options? Fortunately, you have many, and most roofing companies will be happy to discuss roofing materials to suit your budgetary and aesthetic needs, such as:

  • Corrugated/long-run steel

  • Asphalt shingles

  • Clay tiles

  • Concrete tiles

  • Membrane and slate shingles  

By working with an asbestos removal company and a roofing business, it might not be long before you’ve seen the back of your hazardous Super Six roof and have something far safer in place. 

Asbestos Cement Flat Sheets

You don’t have to travel too far to find homes in New Zealand with asbestos cement flat sheets. They were used in the partitions, ceilings, and facades of many houses and were valued for their customization options and affordability.

However, we now know that asbestos cement flat sheets can be a health hazard when they’re damaged, cut, or altered in any way. If the time has come to begin exploring asbestos-free alternatives for your ceiling, partitions, or facades, you have an abundance of options at your disposal.

Talk to your local asbestos removal team about safer alternatives like gypsum ceiling boards, aluminium cladding, and galvanised plasterboard frames. You’re bound to find a cost-effective, safe, and aesthetically-pleasing product that’s right for your unique needs.  

Asbestos Insulation

If your house was built between 1930 and 1950, there’s a chance it might contain asbestos insulation. In that case, finding suitable non-asbestos alternatives can be important for protecting the health of your family and future home occupants.

Cellulose fibres are a respectable insulation alternative while also being desirable for a wide range of other products and materials. Cellulose fibre consists of newsprint papers shredded into small pieces, dried, and chemically treated to increase its thermal resistance for fire-proofing.

Asbestos Tile Adhesive

Homeowners should be wary about lifting or damaging old tiles in homes built before 2000. There’s a chance the adhesive materials used to secure those tiles to substrates contain asbestos.

Fortunately, you’ll have no trouble using an asbestos-free tile adhesive product when the time comes to lay new flooring. Most of the best tile adhesive products on the market contain safe components like cement, sand, gelatin powder, and cellulose ether.

If you’re unsure whether your flooring materials, be it lino, vinyl, tiles, or something else, contain asbestos, contact an asbestos testing company to find out before renovation work gets underway.

Super Six Fencing

It’s easy to assume that if your property contains any asbestos-containing materials, they’ll be safely contained within your home. However, that’s not always the case. Super Six asbestos sheets have been used for fencing, which can pose a health risk for homeowners, their neighbors, and passers-by when it’s in poor condition.

Putting steps in place to remove your Super Six fencing can put you in a desirable position to choose a more suitable and safer fence that enhances the appeal of your property. Talk to your local fencing contractor, and you’ll be surprised by how many options you have, such as:

  • Wood

  • Vinyl

  • Glass

  • Composite

  • Stone

  • Brick

  • Aluminium

  • Chainlink

Once you’ve worked with asbestos removalists for the safe removal and disposal of your Super Six fence, you can enlist the services of a fencing contractor to construct a fence that suits your unique needs.

Start Looking At Asbestos Replacements Today

If your home or business contains asbestos in any shape or form, your knowledge puts you in a strong position. By being aware of where the asbestos is, you can start exploring suitable alternative products to create a safer and more comfortable property for your family or employees.

Need help with testing and removal? Contact Chemcare today to find out how easy it can be to replace asbestos-containing materials with far safer alternatives.

Karan Kikani