Hello All,
I looked at a roofing job yesterday. It has the old triangle style shingles on it. I suspect they contain asbestos. The guy that hauls them to the dump said”don’t ask don’t tell”. He claims there isn’t that much asbestos in them. I am having a hard time finding work here in Michigan and need the job. I can wear a mask on the roof while stripping them. How much risk is there?
John
Replies
Are these hard like slate or tile, or (in a former life) flexible like asphalt?
?Diamond, not triangular? Right?
With a copper pin at base?
Those are asbestos contained in cement. only risk is if crumbly. They are usually very hard and no dust.
I have torn off dozens of them with no mask and still living.
Normal recommendation is wear N-100 mask and keep them misted, but wet slates are very slick - more risk of fall than of asbestosis. Normal disposal is double bag in black plastic heavy duty bags.
My biggest concern would be do not wear your work clothes into the presence of children.
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It has the old triangle style shingles on it.
Diamond maybe?
He claims there isn't that much asbestos in them.
There's a fair amount of asbestos in them, but if they're not broken, the asbestos is not friable, meaning it's unlikely it will get airborne.
Disposal is the problem. Here, heavy fines could result for improper disposal or disposal without a permit. That being said, the asbestos goes into the same landfill, but prepared differently and at a higher charge.
I can wear a mask on the roof while stripping them.
The abatement crews I've hired for similar jobs did not wear any protective gear, but handled them carefully.
How much risk is there?
Don't know.
Side note: There is a small market for salvage of these shingles.
copper p0rn
I'll ditto Piffin.
The stuff isn't terribly dangerous, but:
Don't skip the misting, try to take them up in one piece (often not possible), and change your clothes before you get back in your truck.
AitchKay
Our County landfill charges three times the normal tip fee for asbestos roofing shingles and asbestos siding . . . toxic waste surcharge . . . then they dump it in the same trench as everything else.
Greg
I'm going to disagree with those saying 'it's contained in the cement, unlikely to get airborne, etc'
the back sides of the shingles will have significant dust - certainly some of that will be non-asbestos dust from 50 years of existence - but some of that dust will be from the shingle itself -
follow the precautions others have mentioned if you take the job -
my reading of risk, is that limited exposure of modest amounts of asbestos over a short time period carries minimal risk -
at least I hope that's the case....
Hello
Thank you for the responses. They are the diamond variety with an exposed staple at the bottom.They are I think 75 years old and brittle.. I called waste management and was told if I bring the shingles in myself everything is fine and I can just dump them. If I hire someone else that they would have to "go through special channels". I suppose that means some forms to fill out and a fee. I gave the customer a bid and am going to start next week.
John
In Texas the HO can dispose of his own ACM in double plastic bags, but contractors need a license."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I’m wondering if the person you talked to misunderstood, and thought that you were the homeowner.I’m in SE Michigan, where the rules are also as stated by FastEddie.I suspect they are the same where you live:Why would a contractor be able to dump that stuff free, but if he subs it out, the sub will have to pay? I don’t think so.If they’ll simply take you at your word that it came from your own house, you could try to get by with a white lie. But are they going to ask for an address to link the siding to? A driver’s license? Does your DL show an address that allows you to dump at that landfill?I’d call back and clarify. If I’m right, the worst-case scenario then would be that the HO would have to come along for the ride.AitchKay
I'm in NorCal and the transfer station will deliver a rollaway as long as you enclose the bottom, sides and top in a heavy plastic, wrapped like a burrito as the guy told me. The additional fee was less than $300 for the paperwork. It went to the dump like the rest of the trash. Total was $500-$700 for 33 squares
I had called acompany that does testing and abatement told me that to do it myself(i'm not licensed anymore due to injury). If he was to bid it, I wouldn't like the price. The material is considered non-friable
His recommendation was lay plastic around the perimeter to help with the cleanup. Tyvek suits not need and a good quailty mask.
He said that an homeowner or unlicensed contractor call do the removal, but a licensed contracto can't unless they have the certs($$$). Friends that are licensed can also remove it if they are friends and you don't pay them(if that makes sense)