ASBESTOS: TO MOVE, OR NOT TO MOVE? Encapsulation is often the better, safer option

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are currently are living with asbestosis, an inflammatory lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos. Many other cancers and serious conditions have been linked to exposure.1

Asbestos exposure occurs when someone inhales or swallows asbestos fibres. Just about everyone breathes in asbestos from the outside air, but these trace amounts rarely cause health problems. While no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, most asbestos-related illnesses arise after heavy, repeated exposures.

Harmful exposures happen in a wide range of occupational settings. Construction work and home renovations can be especially hazardous because many common building materials contain asbestos. When asbestos products start to deteriorate or are disturbed … microscopic fibres enter the air…. asbestos fibres released are no longer confined to the affected area but are released in the atmosphere where they can possibly be inhaled by individuals elsewhere in the general vicinity.

Fibres can remain airborne for hours, placing anyone nearby in danger. Once inhaled, they become trapped in the respiratory tract and lungs, where they may stay for life.

Workers exposed to asbestos fibres can unwittingly bring them “home” in their bodies, clothing and equipment. Fibres can become embedded in couches, chairs, carpets, beds and other pieces of furniture around the home, thus exposing their spouses and children to an unseen, unsuspected hazard.

Over time, asbestos fibres accumulate in the lungs and cause scarring and inflammation. This makes breathing increasingly difficult, and can even lead to cancer and other illnesses. Symptoms of these diseases may not appear until 10 to 50 years after the initial exposure occurred.

ASBESTOS FIBRES

If asbestos materials are removed from a home or structure, there is a high risk of exposure to airborne fibres if proper abatement procedures are not followed. It is important to adhere to federal safety regulations regarding the removal and disposal of the materials to minimize health risks.

Asbestos removal, the biggest environmental clean-up project in U.S. history, costs an estimated $2.5 billion per year. It has forced schools to lay off teachers, caused owners to abandon buildings and added considerably to the cost of remodelling many houses.

For each life saved, asbestos removal costs $100 million to $500 million.

Yet asbestos removal continues on a large scale when there is concrete proof of no danger.2

In 1985, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) published the Purple Book, which emphasized "managing asbestos" rather than removing it.

In 1990, the EPA issued the Green Book, which said asbestos in schools and offices presented a low risk. It noted that improper asbestos removal could increase exposure by stirring up dust unnecessarily, and a study for the European Commission reviewed the risks and reached a similar conclusion:

"There does not appear to be sufficient risk to the health of general building occupants to justify arbitrarily removing intact asbestos-containing materials which are in a good state of repair," the report said.2

“[Asbestos] should not be disturbed... and it is illegal to dispose of the material unless you have a licence with a registered disposal facility. Deciding what to do will depend on the level of risk and cost. Both depend on what type of material is present and where it is. In some cases asbestos may be retained – so long as it is sealed and clearly identified as a hazard to prevent future disturbance or risk.”3

HOUSEHOLDQUOTES.CO.UK offers the following advice

Identifying Asbestos

First you need a professional surveyor to accurately assess presence, quantity and risks. This stage is mandatory and prepares you for the following stages.

A basic appraisal of materials ￡50+ An extensive survey of the entire ￡200+

An extensive survey is recommended to provide detailed information and safely choose option 1 or 2. 

Asbestos Encapsulation (Option 1)

If your extensive survey highlights encapsulation as an option you may choose this. It works by applying a protective adhesive to all asbestos material, preventing the release of harmful dust.

– Cost of Asbestos Encapsulation is around ￡8+ per square metre

Encapsulation of both sides of an asbestos roof using WeatherStopTM from Multishield Protection can be achieved for as little as €4.80 per square metre (materials only). ***

Asbestos Removal (Option 2)

If encapsulation is not a viable option you will need to consider full asbestos removal, performed by licensed professionals. You can get quotes from qualified tradesmen by filling in the form on the sidebar.

– The cost of removing asbestos is around ￡50+ per square metre

Average Asbestos Removal Costs

Smaller areas can cost less than ￡1000 in total. For example, a domestic water tank can be removed and disposed of for ￡200.

For larger areas such as an asbestos garage removal, the costs can travel up to ￡2500+.

If you plan on staying in your home long-term and raising a family, you can’t put a price on their health.

How Much to Remove Asbestos Garage Sections?

Asbestos garage removal costs can be broken down by size and sections:

– The cost of removing an asbestos garage roof starts at ￡380 or ￡680 if including sides.

– The cost of removing a double garage roof starts from ￡750 or ￡1800 if including sides.

– The cost of removing asbestos garage insulation ceiling boards starts at ￡1350.4

(This does not include the cost of replacing with a new roof)

*** WeatherStop is an environmentally friendly liquid silicone sealant which will adhere to and encapsulate asbestos sheeting, panels, pipes, flues, etc. It can be safely applied by brush, roller or airless spray-gun.

More information on WeatherStop can be found at

1. Mesothelioma Cancer Advice  2. USA Today 3. Irish Times  4. HouseholdQuotes.co.uk