What the bliddy hell is this?!

Discussion in 'Builders' Talk' started by BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 26, 2017.

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  1. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    I started a thread the other day about damp in a Victorian house and had some great responses.

    Done a bit more "digging" and found a strip of some sort of fibre board around the wall at skirting board level.

    As with the rest of that bit of wall it's soaking wet...

    Anyone know what it is or what it's for?!

    It's like the fibreboard you put down under laminate floors, only denser...
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 26, 2017
    #1
  2. gadget man

    gadget man Screwfix Select

    A pic would help.
     
    gadget man, Feb 26, 2017
    #2
  3. chippie244

    chippie244 Super Member

    Photo please.
     
    chippie244, Feb 26, 2017
    #3
  4. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    Trying to upload one, but can't from phone!

    Hang on, will get laptop!
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 26, 2017
    #4
  5. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    Here's a close up, you can see it in the second photo between the gas meter and the curtains
     

    Attached Files:

    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 26, 2017
    #5
  6. PaulBlackpool

    PaulBlackpool Screwfix Select

    I am no expert but I would not be surprised if that was asbestos.:eek::eek::eek::eek:
    Hopefully someone else will confirm it.
    Do not disturb it any more. Do not touch it in case you disturb it but cover it with a sheet of say polythene or an supermarket bag, Do not breath in any of the particles as one is lethal.
    Then get it checked out by an asbestos expert. It might be partly asbestos and cement but it is still dangerous.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2017
    PaulBlackpool, Feb 27, 2017
    #6
    BiancoTheGiraffe and KIAB like this.
  7. stevie22

    stevie22 Screwfix Select

    Looks like asbestos to me too.
     
    stevie22, Feb 27, 2017
    #7
    BiancoTheGiraffe likes this.
  8. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    Abestos I say.
     
    KIAB, Feb 27, 2017
    #8
    BiancoTheGiraffe likes this.
  9. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    Oh great...

    This stuff is absolutely sodden and can be pulled apart by hand (not that I'll be doing that again).

    I'd always thought asbestos was tougher than that, but it's not something I've ever touched for obvious reasons!
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 27, 2017
    #9
  10. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    Wear a mask, & with that board being wet, it will reduce fibres being blown around.

    Once you sort out that drain pipe, wall, etc will dry out, might take a while depends how soaked things are.

    Could also remove some of the wettest soil or clear back in corner to help it to dry.
     
    KIAB, Feb 27, 2017
    #10
    BiancoTheGiraffe likes this.
  11. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    I've got a decent painters mask so will use that...

    I'll bag up the loose bits and see if I can find someone to identify them.
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 27, 2017
    #11
  12. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    If google asbestos testing kits, they are about £30 you will now for sure
     
    sospan, Feb 27, 2017
    #12
    BiancoTheGiraffe and KIAB like this.
  13. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    KIAB, Feb 27, 2017
    #13
    BiancoTheGiraffe and P. Gee like this.
  14. Deleted member 33931

    Deleted member 33931 Guest

    Any bits you handle, keep it damp - use a hand spray or summat.
     
    Deleted member 33931, Feb 27, 2017
    #14
    BiancoTheGiraffe likes this.
  15. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    Cheers guys, I'll get one of those kits ordered.
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 27, 2017
    #15
  16. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    If the tests come back as positive for asbestos, how would be best to dispose of it without using a specialist?

    I've got the obvious disposible overalls, gloves, filtered mask (I assume P3 is enough, please correct me if I'm wrong!)

    If I sealed the room, bagged everything up wearing PPE and then thoroughly vacuumed, bagging the vacuum waste separately too, would that be enough?

    Obviously I'm not going to stick it in the wheelie bin so will have to pay for proper disposal, but it would be handy to save on the cost of specialist removal
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 27, 2017
    #16
  17. PaulBlackpool

    PaulBlackpool Screwfix Select

    A few years back I took off some tiles from my outhouse. These contained a high percentage of cement but also contained asbestos. I got several free sealable pink polythene bags from my local council disposal centre. I put them in these and they put them in a sealed container. There was no charge but this may have changed and may vary between councils. I personally am not paranoid about handling asbestos but maybe I should be. These roof tiles almost fell off so it depends on how easy it is to extract the asbestos from your property. I appreciate that you do not want to spend a fortune on this and it may be that you take a chance on doing it yourself but I must emphasise it is your call.
     
    PaulBlackpool, Feb 27, 2017
    #17
  18. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    A lot of local recycling centres will take it, if it's double bagged, my council allows you to take a piece 6'x3' max size, but you need to check with your council.
    When I dug up sheets of asbestos here, council actually came & bagged it, & removed it free, might have just been lucky with that.:eek:
     
    KIAB, Feb 27, 2017
    #18
  19. BiancoTheGiraffe

    BiancoTheGiraffe Screwfix Select

    Sadly in this case I'm dealing with Newcastle Unde Lyme borough council...

    They charge for disposing of pretty much anything...

    Absolute joke, they want £4 for dumping half a sheet of plasterboard!
     
    BiancoTheGiraffe, Feb 27, 2017
    #19
  20. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    £4 for dumping plasterboard:eek:, it's free here in Bath, all recycling centres have skips for plaster & plasterboard.
     
    KIAB, Feb 27, 2017
    #20
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