THE PRICE OF AN ASBESTOS ROOF REPLACEMENT...

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE AN ASBESTOS ROOF?

Worried about the asbestos in your roof? There might be a cheaper, equally safe option to replace your asbestos roof…

How much does an asbestos survey cost?

The cost of an asbestos survey depends on multiple factors, from the size to the age of the building. Costs should also account for laboratory testing of samples, as well as the level of PPE used. If you own a commercial property, you should expect some downtime in that area if staff needed to be removed or regions need to be sealed off. 

For small retail outlet prices ranging from £220 to £350 are expected depending on the location. For larger commercial premises, a price range from £1,800 to £4,000 is expected. However, for refurbishment or demolition surveys, the costs can be notably higher. 

This is highly variable and depends upon several different factors. Often, asbestos roofing materials are removed by the kilogram, with many contractors charging £15 per kg, whilst others may charge £30 to £50 per square meter, depending on the complexity of the project.  That said, some other costs must be accounted for relating to the setup, which may include scaffolding, sealing off certain areas, etc

One way to reduce the cost of your survey centres on keeping a good track record of the building, any previous surveys and any modifications performed.

REPLACING AN EXISTING ASBESTOS ROOF

Whether your roof is comprised of asbestos concrete cladding, asbestos tiles or you don’t know, the cost could vary. As a company we prioritise safety at all times, preferring to air on the side of caution with asbestos, but recognise that cost is a major factor too. 

To assess a roof for asbestos, you should assess the overall state of the roof, generate risk assessments involved, current and future maintenance work, and abatement and how the owner or property maintenance contractor should proceed. 

asbestos ad (sidebar)

The following guidelines and considerations should be made to replace the roof:

– close proximity to public, workers or owners
– material frailty: prone to flakes and cracks
– asbestos fibre exposure
– crumbling, cracks or detachment
– close proximity to drainage systems
– asbestos stalactite formation
– excessive biological (fungal, plants) that accelerate breakage and decay
– high-risk areas: (hospitals, schools, homes, etc).
– independent testing has identified asbestos fibres in the surrounding air that are in excess of the acceptable limit
– recommended by HSE advisor or consultant

Land Remediation Relief

The UK Government provides details on how asbestos roof replacement can be used to generate tax savings and lower the costs associated with such works.

Land Remediation Relief is a relief from corporation tax only. It provides a deduction of 100%, plus an additional deduction of 50%, for qualifying expenditure incurred by companies in cleaning up land acquired from a third party in a contaminated state.”

HM Revenue & Customs

This means that the cost of replacing an asbestos roof – and associated land that is contaminated, can be reduced. Accordingly,

“Qualifying expenditure includes the cost of establishing the level of contamination, removing the contamination or containing it so that the possibility of relevant harm is removed. There is, however no relief if the remediation work is not carried out.”

HM Revenue & Customs

WHEN AND HOW TO INSPECT AN ASBESTOS ROOF

Guidelines if you have an asbestos roof, concerning regulations and surveys, are provided. We recommend inspections are performed when the roof is dry to maximise visibility.

To arrange an inspection, contact us on 01633 250652 or contact us.

In general, there are two proven options when dealing with an asbestos roof:

1. FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT

Defined as the replacement of the underlying deck or support structure and complete removal of the asbestos structure:

– replacement of the roof itself (cladding, concrete asbestos) is desired for a long-term solution

– up to 25% or more of the roof is compromised (brittle, flakes easily, holes)

– the support structure (timber decking, concrete, metal) has been contaminated or compromised via water seepage

– total elimination is required (e.g. schools, hospitals, etc) to mitigate all asbestos risk

 – Required by HSE

– Risk of contaminating the surrounding area

For flat roofing replacements, we recommend fibreglass. Regardless, the overall cost depends on the desired material to replace it with (metal cladding, glass fibre, single ply, etc), as well as dealing with the asbestos and the setup of the scaffolding. 

2. ENCAPSULATION

Defined as the application of a water-proof and chemically-resistant coating with significant structural integrity. Simply lining the asbestos structure would cost £70/m2 (per square meter), but this does not account for the possible scaffolding and waste removal. However, coating an asbestos roof can be a fraction of the cost of a full replacement and can benefit from the huge structural integrity of a fibreglass lining system.

WE RECOMMEND ENCAPSULATION WHEN:

– the underlying support structure has not degraded
– a safe, cost-effective solution is preferred
– the roofing structure (e.g. timber decking, concrete or metal) is still maintained – degradation is negligible
– a long-term preventative solution is preferred – our fibreglass roofing systems have proven lifetimes in excess of 30+ years

HOW TO SELECT AN ASBESTOS ROOF ENCAPSULATION SYSTEM

Fibreglass

With glass fibre encapsulation, the resin is in a liquid form and is able to saturate the surface of the roof and penetrate deep into the pores, cracks and small holes. As the resin hardens or cures, it becomes one with the asbestos roofing structure. A glass fibre mat (strands of fine glass fibre fragments) saturated in the resin are used as a backbone to provide structural support to the asbestos roofing structure. This composite is widely recognised by the construction industry as a highly effective, one-time only solution with an expected lifetime exceeding 30 years. Fibreglass composites are highly effective for lining and coating multiple surfaces and for creating a flat roof.

Single Ply

When encapsulating a flat roof, single ply is simply glued to the roof using an adhesive, which ultimately risks peeling off over time. These types of adhesives are largely superficial and do not penetrate the asbestos structure in the way that glass fibre resins do. What is more, no standard test exists to determine the effectiveness of the asbestos-adhesive-single ply bond, since asbestos surfaces are highly variable and standardised laboratory tests do not account for this variability.

Spray-on resins

Like single ply, spray on systems do not provide adequate protection in our opinion, meaning that impact to the roof could again expose the underlying asbestos. 

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN DEALING WITH AN ASBESTOS ROOF

Whether you have an asbestos roof on your factory, shed or property, any project to encapsulate or replace an asbestos roof should need to budget for 4 main areas:

– Scaffolding: to allow roofing access in high-risk or hazardous areas

– Materials: glass fibre etc., used to encapsulate or replace your flat roof

– Waste disposal: asbestos is hazardous and must be disposed of in a HSE-compliant manner

– Downtime: time to completion and possible business downtime to vacate areas at risk of exposure during repair work

To find out more about what to do if you have asbestos in your roof, see our guidelines

THINKING OF ARRANGING A SPECIALIST TO REMOVE ASBESTOS FROM YOUR ROOF?

If you think your roof or insulation contains asbestos, we recommend you contact a specialist to arrange a site visit.

As a business running since 1976, we specialise in flat and pitched roofing and asbestos removal. At Strandek® GRP Systems we’re able to perform site surveys and facilitate the safe removal of asbestos materials from your roof, as well as install asbestos-free insulation and roofing installation. 

Contact us today on 01633 250652 to speak to a technical specialist or send us an email.

Why Choose Strandek®?

Since 1976, Strandek has provided high-quality glass fibre and other resin-based coatings to a range of satisfied customers in industry, government, construction and residential sectors alike.

Performance

Our team have extensive experience and we pride ourselves on reliable workmanship and competitive pricing.

  • Unrivalled service
  • Exceptional quality
  • Unmatched speed

Health & Safety

A strong health & safety ethic is the core of our business. We strive to maintain this through:

  • Best practices
  • Transparency & accountability
  • Rigorous training