Corrugated sheet roofs on garages, sheds and outbuildings are among the most common places asbestos is found around UK homes. HSE lists asbestos cement roofing among typical locations in buildings built or refurbished before 2000 (HSE).
How to tell
Asbestos cement sheets are usually grey, rigid and corrugated, and may have moss or lichen growing on them. Fibre cement sheets made after the 1999 ban look very similar. The only way to know is a sample test.
Is it dangerous?
Asbestos cement is a lower-risk material because the fibres are tightly bound. The risk comes from breaking, drilling, cutting, jet-washing or wire-brushing it, or from badly weathered and damaged sheets. Never walk on a fragile cement roof.
Your options
- Leave it if it's sound and you're not working on it.
- Remove it. Some work on asbestos cement can be non-licensed work following HSE's Asbestos Essentials guidance (HSE). Many homeowners use a professional because the sheets must be removed whole where possible, wrapped and disposed of as hazardous waste.
- Replace the roof once the sheets have been removed safely.
Disposal
Asbestos waste is hazardous waste. It must go to a site permitted to take it, using a registered waste carrier. Some councils accept small amounts from householders by arrangement, so check with yours first.