Is It Safe to Live Next to Houses with Ancient Asbestos Roofs?

ForkSnorter on 19/10/2022 - 08:48
Last edited 19/10/2022 - 10:09 by 1 other user

Currently it is not legally required to replace old or decaying asbestos roofs, even though these may pose a health risk to the occupant and their neighbours.

What do you think about living next door to a house with an old asbestos roof?

I've noticed some areas have a high concentration of asbestos roofs, and sometimes houses are cheaper if they are next door to, or surrounded by houses with asbestos roofs. How high is the risk of living there? Is there anything that can be done to reduce the risk? Would you buy a house with an asbestos roof, or next door to one?

Should the government mandate removal of asbestos roofs?

Poll Options expired

  • 64
    Living under or next door to an asbestos roof is completely safe
  • 10
    The health risk from asbestos roofs is low
  • 2
    The health risk from asbestos roofs is fairly high
  • 7
    I would never live under, or next door to, an asbestos roof
  • 8
    The government should legally require replacement of all asbestos roofs
Home & Garden

Comments

  • avoidfullprice on 19/10/2022 - 09:13
    +2

    I think it is a problem to you when they get knocked down.

    • upended on 19/10/2022 - 10:18
      +3

      Not when it is removed and disposed off safely.

      • Quantumcat on 19/10/2022 - 10:41
        -1

        The problem is if it is your neighbours you have no control over how it is done

        • Mechz on 19/10/2022 - 16:09
          +2

          The EPA/H&S laws control that.

          • Quantumcat on 19/10/2022 - 16:09
            +3

            @Mechz: Laws provide punishment retrospectively. Too late if you were already negatively affected.

          • LFO on 20/10/2022 - 11:34
            +1

            @Mechz: LOL

            And who controls EPA/H&S laws???

  • Porker on 19/10/2022 - 09:17

    I doubt living next to an asbestos house (ie. old houses) or a few actually brings the price down on houses. There are requirements to safely remove the asbestos when the house is being demolished. Surrounding properties are generally notified of this.

    You'll probably find that many old houses have a few issues that may impact health, but only arise when renovating/demolition etc. Asbestos (as you've identified), lead in paint, brittle window glass, etc.

  • djones145 on 19/10/2022 - 09:20
    +6

    stuff asbestos roof, does ur Neighbour drive a diesel

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/730985

  • altomic on 19/10/2022 - 10:01
    +1

    move to QLD and every second house has an asbestos roof (ok, slight exaggeration but asbestos roofing is more common the tile roofing)

    • Mechz on 19/10/2022 - 16:11
      +1

      Yet I bet 80% would be corrugated/colourbond iron.

  • ForkSnorter on 19/10/2022 - 10:16
    -4

    I'm curious about the number of people who answered "completely safe".

    According to government data, "It is estimated that 4,000 Australians die each year from asbestos related diseases. That’s more than twice as many deaths as the national road toll."

    Where were these people exposed to asbestos, if not old asbestos houses?

    According to a survey of Mesothelioma patients conducted between 2010 and 2019:

    "Undertaking home renovations accounted for the possible exposure of 43% of patients
    Living in a house undergoing renovations accounted for the possible exposure of 39% of patients
    Living in a house made of fibro built between 1947 and 1987 accounted for the possible exposure of 10% of patients
    Living in the same home as someone with a job where they were exposed to asbestos and who came home dusty, accounted for the possible exposure of 14% of patients"

    https://asbestosawareness.com.au/dangers-of-asbestos/asbesto…

    Keep in mind, this is only one of the diseases caused by asbestos exposure.

    • donga100 on 19/10/2022 - 10:24
      +9

      Where were these people exposed to asbestos, if not old asbestos houses?

      Most likely worked with asbestos in an unsafe manner before the dangers were known. Now they are slowly dropping dead from it years later.

    • avoidfullprice on 19/10/2022 - 17:32

      How many patients surveyed got cancer by just living next door to a house with asbestos?

      Your poll options are leading, and misleading you.

      • ForkSnorter on 20/10/2022 - 07:20
        -2

        Yeah but this survey only concerned one of the diseases caused by asbestos, and it obviously did not include the question "Did you live next to a house with an asbestos roof?" as one of the options.

    • LFO on 20/10/2022 - 11:41

      I'm curious about the number of people who answered "completely safe".

      Funny thing this … when people died after getting "the unpronounceable vaccine" we will invariable hear the "death attributed to other causes".

      Yet asbestos seems to be more effective/deadly than being shot in the head. Twice. And then decapitated. And then cremated. Dead dead.

      • donga100 on 20/10/2022 - 12:07

        You should look into whether birds are real or not.

        • LFO on 21/10/2022 - 16:37

          "Don't look up" that's the key.

          Just ask how high will the jump be.

  • Caped Baldy on 19/10/2022 - 10:20
    +5

    Asbestos is fine if left undisturbed ie broken and fibrous/friable. People are significantly more likely to die from other causes. There's a bit of news bias like how people are more scared of airline travel but more people die in car accidents.

    People are allowed to DIY remove up to 10 sqm so it's not like it's radioactive.

    But look, if you're uncomfortable just don't move in next door.

    • Porker on 19/10/2022 - 10:28
      +1

      @Caped Baldy "..But look, if you're uncomfortable just don't move in next door.."

      I think OP wants to, but wants the neighbour's house to be fixed prior.

  • AndyC1 on 19/10/2022 - 10:30
    +1

    Asbestos roofs eventually start to shed fibers if they are not painted when they have deteriorated to the point you can see that the roof is made up of fibres, but luckily this occurs after a very very long time and in allot of cases by the time it happens that majority of roofs have been demolished along with the building.

    • Caped Baldy on 19/10/2022 - 11:16

      Gotta love the negs without reasoning. Anyway, is there a source on the deterioration of the tiles or is it just assuming that there's some with rain and wind weathering? Painting is a legit way to encapsulate hazardous materials.

      • AndyC1 on 19/10/2022 - 11:38

        I have only seen asbestos sheeting like the old gal tin roofing.

        You are correct in that asbestos sheeting deteriorates with sun and dirt and weathering just like paint does if left out in direct sun & weather.

        Painting holds the fibres together and bonds to the sheet, but again when the paint starts to fail then it is not easy to fix properly and is only a stop gap measure.

    • AndyC1 on 19/10/2022 - 11:40

      For the negative clickers check out the following and have a look and read as it may save you in 20 to 40 years from Mesothelioma:

      https://www.asbestos.nsw.gov.au/corrugated-cement-sheet-and-…

  • shaybisc on 19/10/2022 - 10:31
    +1

    Not according to this? Disintegrates into dust. Blows over to your place. Flee.

    https://www.airsafe.net.au/news/asbestos-roofs-know-the-risk…

  • CurlCurl on 19/10/2022 - 10:35
    +1

    "Undertaking home renovations accounted for the possible exposure of 43% of patients
    Living in a house undergoing renovations accounted for the possible exposure of 39% of patients
    Living in a house made of fibro built between 1947 and 1987 accounted for the possible exposure of 10% of patients
    Living in the same home as someone with a job where they were exposed to asbestos and who came home dusty, accounted for the possible exposure of 14% of patients"

    Note how many times the words possible exposure is used.

    • No on 19/10/2022 - 11:27
      +1

      That is because they have no way to know for sure.

      They ask the patients have you renovated a house? 43% say yes so it is assumed that is where the exposure came from.

  • ultravanilla on 19/10/2022 - 10:40

    As far as mandating removal… good luck. The cost and who would wear it would mean it would be very unlikely to get any sort of backing. ACT had a loose fill asbestos buyback scheme for a while but that has been wound-up so onus is now on owners to sort it out if they find any loose fill in their homes.

    I don't think the risk is zero, but provided the material is in reasonable condition, the risk is low. Exposure issues are around the dust and broken up particles getting into airways and the rest of the body. As long as you're not getting water off the asbestos roof, exposure would be pretty low.

    If you're living in any housing older than about 30 years, there's a likely chance there is asbestos material somewhere in the building. As long as your neighbours aren't doing DIY renovations without proper asbestos remediation, you should be OK.

  • shaybisc on 19/10/2022 - 10:47

    James Hardie certainly knew of deadly link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1966. Or 1935 if they had looked at the science, which they probably did.

    Mr Rush tendered dozens of internal memos and reports showing the extent of James Hardie's knowledge, including communications between company chairman John Reid and personnel manager ET Pysden about adverse publicity in the United Kingdom.

    The documents, dated early in 1966, discussed an article in Britain's Sunday Times newspaper about the deadly link between asbestos and mesothelioma.

    Mr Pysden wrote: "The article is not new, it's merely one of many reports and world studies which have been conducted since 1935".

    "Ignore the publicity, dust is a fact."

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/james-hardie-bosses-knew-as…

  • Benoffie on 19/10/2022 - 11:02
    +1

    There does need to be a scheme for roof replacement. They should also be mandatory replacement upon change of ownership. Asbestos removal isnt as expensive as it used to be but that doesnt seem to have got out to the gen pop yet.

  • Drakesy on 19/10/2022 - 12:40
    +3

    If it's not friable there isn't really an issue.
    It's only if it's flaking and shedding that you may be at risk.

    Asbestos is actually a very stable and weatherproof material if sealed properly (I've dealt with 50-60 year old + asbestos roofs that are still structurally sound and not flaking, whereas tin roofs of this age will all be rusted through and cooked).
    Honestly there's a lot of overreaction over asbestos.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/10/2022 - 12:45

      tin roofs

      Nasty ……. why was this ever an option in Aus?

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 19/10/2022 - 13:51
    +1

    How high is the risk of living there? - i would imagine 'quite low' however i wouldn't want to be around if there is a fire

    Is there anything that can be done to reduce the risk? you got no control over your neighbours house - short of offering to pay for it to be removed

    Would you buy a house with an asbestos roof, or next door to one? probably not but i would 'rent one' if it wasn't a long term thing i wouldnt have an issue but to live next to a house with that level of risk for a long term i'd probably look elsewhere

    this is just my opinion and it 100% depends on your personal situation

  • payless69 on 19/10/2022 - 15:39

    Blue asbestos in your lungs is bad, no doubts here.
    All other forms of asbestos like endless fences are a small risk.
    Smoking one cigarette a week is worse than working in an asbestos mine.
    Combustion vehicles with bad maintenance like smoking diesels are covering your lungs with soot.
    Our town even got asbestos water mains. I ensure my water is properly filtered!

  • Euphemistic on 19/10/2022 - 19:36
    +2

    Spread the word: You’ll die if you live near one!
    (Prepares to purchase investment properties cheap)

  • kiitos on 20/10/2022 - 07:33

    sometimes houses are cheaper if they are next door to, or surrounded by houses with asbestos roofs

    Really? Where has this happened?

    • ForkSnorter on 20/10/2022 - 08:06

      If you look carefully at a particular suburb or area, the newish streets in that area with quality houses built since the 1990s are often super-expensive, the popular streets where old houses have all been renovated and the asbestos replaced are also super-expensive. The streets with decaying asbestos roofs are cheaper. I don't have data to back this up, just my personal experience looking at real estate prices.

      • Euphemistic on 20/10/2022 - 09:13
        +2

        That’s more related to the overall condition of the house than any asbestos within it. Newer or renovated houses will get more in any street regardless of the roofing material.

        • ForkSnorter on 20/10/2022 - 10:20

          Nearly all the renovated houses have replaced the asbestos roofs, in my experience.

          • Euphemistic on 20/10/2022 - 11:17
            +1

            @ForkSnorter: But it’s the same effect in areas with tile or metal roofing. Old house in need of work: cheap. New/renovated house ready to go: expensive

  • 2esc on 20/10/2022 - 18:30

    Houses in those areas are not cheaper because of the asbestos. Its purely the location a more affluent area will have more money available to renovate and also people with more money would not look at those areas in the first place.

    Asbestos roof material is supposedly safe its when you cut it with say a cut off disc in a angle grinder the danger is increased.

    Absolutely no to government mandate to remove all asbestos the cost to the house owner could bankrupt many.

    • Euphemistic on 21/10/2022 - 05:52

      With the exception of mandating removal of houses with Mr Fluffy loose asbestos insulation. That stuff is incredibly dangerous.

  • ShannonN on 21/10/2022 - 03:42

    If you are thinking of moving into the area near asbestos roofed houses go for a walk past them say hi to neighbours frequent local cafe etc and see if they cough like they have emphysema

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