Spring has arrived at last! However, you should have inspected and maintained your gutters and roof by the end of winter. But, if you haven’t, you better do so now! They may be clogged with leaves, debris and dust.
Gather up your ladder, a plastic bag, your hosepipe and get busy. If you don’t, the timbers supporting your gutters may soon look like this!
If your roof does not have gutters installed, the roof structure probably has damage to the feet of the roof trusses. Check under the eaves of the roof for moisture damage before it’s too late.
Consider installing gutters before the roof timbers rot and fail. If they have rotted the repairs will be extensive and expensive!
Check your roof and gutters
Cut back trees and branches that deposit leaves and dead wood on the roof. Remove any debris from your roof. If you can’t do it yourself, hire a good roofing contractor to get the job done. This should be a priority. Debris prevent the free flow of rainwater off the roof! Roof tiling and roof sheeting are not 100% waterproof. These roofs are water-shedding systems rather than waterproofing systems.
Debris and dust on roof sheeting retain moisture which eventually results in the deterioration and corrosion of the roof.
Tiled roofs
Check your tiled roof while you’re up cleaning your gutters! Check for broken or cracked roof tiles, dislodged tiles and cracked mortar on the ridges and hips.
If the hips and ridges of your tiled roof look like this you need to have your roof inspected and repaired!
Foot traffic easily damages the tiles on your roof. If you walk on your tiled roof you will probably cause some damage. Also, consider the safety aspect! A fall from your roof can result in serious injuries and even death. Roofing specialists should repair any defective or broken tiling
A great many products and materials are still used around our homes such as asbestos cement roof tiles, shingles, flowerpots, garden ornaments, artificial ashes and embers in gas-fired fireplaces, asbestos cement roof sheeting, flues and ventilation systems. None of these should be cut, drilled or sawn without you using the correct protective equipment.
I often receive calls and emails from homeowners who are concerned about the possibility of asbestos cement products in their homes. Usually, the building materials of concern are ceiling boards. However, be aware that homes built before 2008 may have panelling, fascia boards, barge boards and window sills that contain asbestos.
Because of the health hazardthat asbestos and asbestos cement products pose, South Africa hasbanned mining and use of asbestos since 2008.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral made up of long, thin fibrous crystals. Its heat resistance, its sound insulation properties and also its strength made it useful in construction. Therefore, many houses and buildings constructed before 2008 may contain asbestos.
Where would you find it?
A great many products and materials used in buildings contain asbestos. The assumption is that buildings constructed pre 1950 are asbestos-free, but it would be wrong not to check. Older buildings will have had maintenance, repairs and possibly renovations done to them, which may have included asbestos materials.
Asbestos products in use in South Africa until mid-2008 include:
Asbestos cement roof tiles, shingles, flowerpots and garden ornaments.
Textured paint and patching compounds were used on wall and ceiling joints.
Artificial ashes and embers are used in gas-fired fireplaces.
Older stove-top pads may have some asbestos compounds.
Asbestos cement boards to protect walls and floors around wood-burning stoves.
Some vinyl floor tiles and the backing of vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
An asbestos blanket or tape is used to wrap hot water and steam pipes in the older houses.
Asbestos cement roof sheeting, flues and ventilation systems.
Oil and coal furnaces, electric panel heaters and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.
Asbestos cement boards in partition walls, fire-proofing panels, ceiling boards, ceiling tiles and panels below windows.
Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have loose-fill asbestos as insulation between cavity walls and under floorboards.
Asbestos in carpet underfelt, in fuse boxes and in metal cladding.
Window cills, barge boards and fascia boards made of asbestos cement.
Some waterproofing products also contained asbestos.
Should you go looking for it?
Undisturbed asbestos products usually pose no problems. Therefore, don’t look for itunless you believe it may have perished, or is unsafe. Furthermore, it is often difficult to tell the difference between asbestos materials and non-asbestos materials. We are often not aware of any exposure to asbestos.
How do you protect yourself?
Do not work on an item you suspect may contain asbestos! In addition, protective equipment is imperative when working with asbestos. This includes a suitable face mask, disposable overall etc. Moreover, you should wash your hands and face regularly and never sand, drill or saw asbestos materials! Be sure to clean up and vacuum the area where any work with asbestos has taken place on a daily basis!
How should you dispose of asbestos–cement products?
Always remove and dispose of asbestos cement ceiling boards and other asbestos products in a responsible and safe manner! Therefore, never just chuck it in a skip. Instead, make sure you double bag it and dispose of it properly at a municipal tip.
Lastly, the South African Department of Labour’s Asbestos Regulations governs the removal and disposal of larger quantities of asbestos-containing products. As a result, only approved asbestos disposal contractors can carry out the disposal of large quantities of asbestos and asbestos materials.
