While asbestos roof tiles were once a popular choice across Scotland, we now know of the extreme dangers that asbestos roofing and asbestos fibres can cause.

In 1999, Asbestos was banned in the UK after a number of lung-related diseases were diagnosed of those working in environments filled with asbestos.

No amount of asbestos exposure is considered safe and asbestos related diseases only truly develop years after exposure.

There are three types of Asbestos:

Before the risks of asbestos was known, it was a popular choice of roofing material. The name asbestos is used for naturally occurring mineral products that are resistant to chemical and thermal degradation, are fire resistant and electricity resistant while having strong fibres and can be woven and bound. It has been used for thousands of years in clothing, pottery, candle wicks and lots more. It is only when it became popular in the construction industry that asbestos became common place across the city. Asbestos sheeting was originally introduced as a lightweight alternative to slate and tile roofing.

In most cases – asbestos roof tiles pose no health hazards as long as the roof tiles are intact and the dangerous asbestos fibres are kept firmly in place by the cement that makes up the tile. Asbestos roof sheets are however fragile and can easily crack while loose causing fibres to enter into the air that we breath.

The fibres of Asbestos roofing tiles can cause the following fatal and serious diseases:
Mesothelioma – A cancer which affects the lining of the lungs.
Lung Cancer
Asbestosis – A scarring of the lung that normally occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos.
Pleural Thickening – Causes the thickening and swelling of the lung

Asbestos Roof Overcladding

Roof Overlay or cladding is an alternative to removing the existing roof and replacing it.  With Roof Overlay, we can add a new layer over the existing roof rather than replacing it. When overcladding an asbestos roof, we include a layer of insulation to meet current building regulations. We install a fixed framework to hold the metal sheets in place over the asbestos roofing material before then applying the insulation.  New weather sheeting is then fixed to the framework over the existing asbestos roofing meaning that the customer has a new roof but does not have to endure the cost of asbestos removal.

Asbestos overcladding is a cost effective solution that delivers an aesthetically pleasing look with watertight results. By leaving the existing asbestos roofing material in place, it eliminates the need to expensive removal actions while preventing asbestos exposure. Overcladding therefore causes minimal disruption to business activities while providing increase insulation and protection to your roofing construction.