14 Sep Asbestos Awareness & The Importance of Protecting Your Building and Your Business
There are tens of thousands of garages, warehouses and workshops that have perfectly water tight asbestos cement sheet roofs across London and the South East. Despite the fact that asbestos containing materials are no longer being used for new construction projects, the legacy of asbestos lives on.
Now if you’re a commercial property owner or you run a business from inside a building that has an asbestos roof then there are some key maintenance issues that you should know about.
We’re not just talking about the passing of time, or the battering that can come from our seasonal weather here in the UK. Oh no. We’re talking about lichen, moss, algae and other signs of life that can turn a sound roof into a leaky and damaged covering that needs urgent attention.
Do asbestos roofs need extra care?
When it comes to asbestos roofing, maintenance is not just about avoiding risk and protecting what’s beneath the roof. It’s also about fulfilling your duty of care under UK health and safety regulations.
Asbestos is durable and long lasting, but when it comes to maintenance, it just isn’t like modern roofing materials. You can’t jump up on a roof with a pressure washer and blast it clean because you risk damaging the sheets and releasing harmful fibres. Any roof cleaning work needs to be done with care, and always with safety in mind.
What happens if you leave it?
We often see roofs where maintenance has been put off for years. The problems are usually the same:
- Moss and lichen trap water, slowly weakening the cement.
- Sheets crack or deteriorate, leading to leaks and water ingress.
- Fibres can be released if the roof breaks down.
- Properties look neglected, which doesn’t inspire confidence from tenants, buyers, or insurers.
What is the right way to look after an asbestos roof
With the right approach, asbestos roofs can be cleaned and maintained safely. At 19PFM, we take a careful, step-by-step method:
We carry out a full risk assessment before starting. This can be done by drone or accessed via MEWPs or scaffold – we never want to start walking across fragile sheets though.
When it’s time to clean we use low-pressure softwashing with specialist biocides that are very good at killing moss and algae. All waste and runoff is contained and disposed of responsibly, and, if needed, we can apply protective coatings to extend the roof’s lifespan.
We always go for the most straightforward approach that gets results without putting our people, your people, or the property at risk.
Why it makes business sense to use a specialist asbestos roof cleaning company
Looking after your asbestos roof isn’t just about compliance – it’s about good business. Choosing the right asbestos roof cleaning company can extend the life of your roof (which is definitely a good thing when compared with paying for a costly roof replacement). We’re also able to catch leaks and repairs which can nip problems in the bud before they become issues.
Our professional asbestos roof cleaning services also help give the right impression by showing that your building is cared for and keeping on top of health and safety responsibilities.
At 19PFM, we help property owners and businesses across London and within the M25 keep their asbestos roofs in good condition.
