If you have a garage that was built before 1999, there is a possibility that it will contain asbestos somewhere in the building materials. Asbestos was widely used in a number of different areas of construction due to its versatility and range of benefits, but the substance was banned completely from use in the UK in 1999 due to the fact that it can present a number of health hazards.
So if you do have a garage that contains asbestos, it makes sense that you would want to know as soon as possible. Many homeowners worry that having asbestos on their property means that they are in immediate danger, but it is important to stress that this is not the case. Even if your garage does contain asbestos, it will not normally pose a threat to your health to unless it is in poor condition or gets disturbed. You should not assume that if you have asbestos in your garage that you should attempt to get rid of it as soon as possible.
It is important to take a measured approach. If you have noticed any materials that look like asbestos you need to take steps to ensure you are safe. Firstly, you need to establish whether it actually is asbestos or not. This is necessary because many materials that look like asbestos can actually be harmless, and asbestos can be hidden and ‘invisible’ within other materials such as cement. To do so you will need to get in contact with asbestos professionals who will be able to carry out an asbestos survey.
After your asbestos survey, your asbestos specialists will be able to recommend a course of action, which may well be leaving the asbestos in place. Alternatively, you may need to have the asbestos removed by professionals. Do not assume that you can simply remove the offending asbestos yourself. If you are not experienced in working with asbestos you will almost certainly be putting yourself in more danger by attempting to move it.
Asbestos can be found anywhere from roofing and gutters to cement and sprayed coatings, so even if it’s not obvious that you have asbestos it could be the case that it’s there. It is best practice to have a survey carried out to be safe.