Anyone care to hazard a guess as to whether this is asbestos??....


Andy

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I don't think so, looks like fiborus (horsehair) plaster to me.

At a guess it doesn't appear so, but to be safe i posted a sample to a lab in adelaide. I rang up a week later and asked for the result over the phone and it didn't cost me a thing. Generally only costs money if a certificate is required.

I agree with Bloss... but then again i am not trained in this arena. Tests to be sure

Armers

That's funny - I agree with Bedford - maybe he was channeling me . . .

No doubt - it is plaster not asbestos. No need to waste money testing that!

__________________
Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.

i just had bloss on the mind! maybe i was channeling you !

Cheers
Armers

Thanks everyone,

Thats one less thing to worry about!
Craigoss, have you got the details of that lab? As I'm pretty sure we have asbestos on the outside...

Thanks again,

Andy

Put up few pics and tell us how old. Built before 1985 then will have asbestos in eave linings at least - if smooth flat sheet on outside with cover strips and prior to then will most likely be fibro cottage - so asbestos too. But read sticky - no need to worry just take care.

__________________
Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.

The cottage itself is around 100 years old, but it had the verandah partly enclosed at some point but hard to tell when. The only 'modernisation' is a slate tile floor in the main hallway and the plasterboard over the T&G panelling. I'm picking the slate tiles to be in the 80's as they were a bit of a fad then.

I took off a batten over the outside sheeting and it appears to be fibro. Its not that modern, as the enclosed part of the verandah has sunk as I'm guessing they never beefed up the sub floor etc to take the extra weight and there is rot in some of the timbers which is fine as its all coming down for a new extention, I was just hoping to avoid the cost of asbestos removal as its over the 10m2 limit.

Andy

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Yep, I'd say that is asbestos by the look of the pics.

Armers will be along soon to confirm Bloss is correct!!

Mine was tested through

Amdel

Amdel - Bureau Veritas Australia - Home

Rang my local lab in my city, and they told me they send them all direct to their SA lab for asbestos testing and mentioned i should just send it there to save the costs of them redirecting it.

35 Cormack Road
Wingfield SA 5013
Ph: +61 8 8440 7100
Fax: +61 8 8440 7199

I would ring them first and get the contact name, can't remember now as it was a year ago.

he he!

yep that's asbestos 'fibro' sheeting. So read the sticky and just be aware and take care.

__________________
Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.

The first 2 pictures at the top is definitely plaster with horse hair (or the like) through it. As an asbestos consultant, I wouldn’t take a sample for testing.

One another point mentioned in this thread, a piece of cautionary advice is the 10sqm rule. Even removing 10 sqm you are extremely likely to be exposed to asbestos.

The possible health effects with asbestos exposure is that the risk increased by the exposure x length of time since exposure and they are cumulative effects. That is many small exposures over a long time may be significantly higher risk of acquiring asbestos related health risks than being exposure once. This is even more critical for younger apprentices.....

We recommend that anyone thinking of removing asbestos either:
1. Contract someone else to do it and obtain clearance certificates; or
2. Undertake an asbestos removal course at TAFE. The cost is about $150 and well worth it.

Although I don’t remove asbestos, as a consultant i have the bonded removal licence to understand the procedures involved. Trust me after doing the course you would think twice about letting one of your friends removal asbestos less than 10 sqm.

Carl,

Reasonable advice although the risks are extremely low so IMO you overstate them. The forum has a series of stickies and a big READ THE RENOVATE FORUM ASBESTOS STICKIES
They Contain Important Safety Information reminder on the thread for all members to read them first. They have a range of discussions and some differing views, but also links to the official asbestos information sites for each jurisdiction. No one inquiring on here can say they didn't get access to good advice - mainly to take proper care.

And if I knew I had to remove asbestos, and my State allowed me to remove more than 10sqm and dispose of it properly, then I would happily do it with my mate, but using the same care, safety precautions and procedures that any professional would be required to use and advised by authorities. In fact because it was me, my home and my family and my mate I probably would take greater care!

The sorts of exposures you are referring to relates to the significant exposure to asbestos fibres such as occurred up to the mid 80s which caused the illness and deaths we are now seeing - that level of exposure is simply not possible to get in Australia now. Most of that exposure was direct with no safety gear at all in use and those who smoked were several times more likely to get ill and die.

So we need a cautious and careful approach - not a fearful one IMO.

__________________
Advice from me on this forum is general and for guidance based on information given by the member posing the question. Not to be used in place of professional advice from people appropriately qualified in the relevant field. All structural work must be approved and constructed to the BCA or other relevant standards by suitably licensed persons. The person doing the work and reading my advice accepts responsibility for ensuring the work done accords with the applicable law.