Asbestos On My Guttering

[phleb]

I do not want to replace it as it is the old style heavy guttering. My initial thought was to have it repainted glass black as always has been the case. Builder climbed up to look and said it is asbestos. He only went to replace a few tiles on roof and i asked him to look at that aswell.

My question is:

What is asbestos? Does it kill? Is it harmful for the children? If someone was to wear a mask and rub the guttering down and repaint it, would that be ok or dangerous?

many thanks x

[Baldric]

Asbestos is dangerous when fibres are released. Even minor damage can produce many fibres eg drilling a hole to hang a picture. Damage can also be done by wall scrapers, or rubbing down asbestos panels or artex with sandpaper. Cutting asbestos with electrical tools and smashing asbestos products with a hammer are extremely dangerous and must be avoided at all costs.

[hc4361]

The guttering cannot be rubbed down even with a mask. It should either be left as it is or properly removed.
All explained here:

http://www.basildon.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4039&;p=0

[craft1948]

My neighbour at my old house died due to exposure to asbestos from when he worked at British Rail carriageworks...

[hc4361]

Not because of guttering on his house, though, craft.

[craft1948]

Well possibly not hc :-)

[Old_Geezer]

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material. Used for fire resistance and insulation. It can cause problems if the fibres are breathed in; although I think there is much hype about how dangerous it is given that some folk worked with it for years and didn't have affects. Some colours are more perilous than others. But it is not approved of for such use these days.

Best take no chances though. If it's in good condition probably best leave it alone. I suspect one could cover it in something, paint or whatever.

You sure as heck do not want to go rubbing it down and producing clouds of fibres to breathe in.

Or you can go the whole hog and pay someone to replace it with a modern material and take away the asbestos as per today's regulations.

You can do it yourself, keep it damp, don't break it. You need approved wrapping/sacks, and an agreement from your local tip to bring it there. But if you are going to replace I think I'd advise leaving it to the experts. Preferably not ones like I had replace my garage roof and after which I found numerous small bits left in the garden !

[yogi-bear]

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material which was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s. It is still found today in many buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals. If disturbed, it can be a killer.

It most certainly can kill.....yes

It
It will be harmful to kids .....if not treated by a professional asbestos is very dangerous


I wouldnt, put it that way

I would not want asbestos anywhere near and would get it taken down by a professional and changed

[yogi-bear]

P.S I like the word ' it ' today

[phleb]

umhh, i don't know what to do. Can't really paint it without a rub down.

[phleb]

Might have to get it pro removed and go for new plastic black guttering. thanks