If you think there is asbestos in your home, contact the Council immediately.
Common locations of asbestos:
- Asbestos cement on garage or shed roofs
- Asbestos cement shed and garage wall panels
- Asbestos cement drain pipes
- Asbestos cement or insulation board soffit, infill panels, and partitions
- Asbestos cement on the side of bath panels
Residents who rent their property should also contact their landlord about potential locations of asbestos.
What to do with asbestos
- Always leave asbestos alone
- Paint indoor materials with an alkali-resistant paint such as PVA emulsion
- Never sand, drill, or saw asbestos materials
Safe asbestos cement removal
Asbestos lagging, spray coatings or large areas of Insulation Board can only be safely removed by a licensed contractor.
Always seek advice before removing asbestos and follow these basic rules:
- Prepare the work area by removing any unnecessary items and covering the floor and surfaces with disposable polythene sheeting
- Wear protective clothing, including disposable overalls with a hood, a disposable paper face mask (for use with asbestos), and rubber or disposable gloves
- Use a plant sprayer or hosepipe to damp down the area, but don't soak as this will make cleaning up more difficult
- Remove the asbestos without breaking it up, wrap it in polythene sheeting or bags, and seal it with tape
- Inspect the area and clear up any debris by hand, wiping down with disposable and damp clothes. Never use a vacuum cleaner, as this will just spread dust around
- Dispose of the asbestos, polythene sheeting, and protective clothing all as asbestos waste
- Wash your hands and face after the job is completed
Disposing of asbestos
You can read about how to dispose of asbestos on the Recycle for Greater Manchester website.