Asbestos Roof

[Matheous-2]

We have a corrugated asbestos garage roof which now leaks water to the inside....Is there any sort of bitumous coating that can be applied to the inside of the roof to seal it?

Thanks for any advice or suggestions...

[The Builder]

First off, do check to see if it's wind-driven rainwater that's running along the underside of the sheets.
If not, then a common thing is for the sheets to crack with age.

It's rarely a good idea to apply coatings on the inside. It's rather like dealing with the problem "after the event". Even if you can get a sealant to stick well, further water will eventually force it off.

If you do need a quick inside repair, just go for general purpose silicone sealant squirted from a frame-gun.

For outside, any of the "Ruberoid" mastic products smeared on with a simple wallpaper type scraper. One of these on this page (some are ok for external as well)...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/isoflex-liquid-rubber-2-1l/36010

If you want to further, you could even use the messy old "Turnerising" system the used to be applied to roofs to stop slates from slipping.
A coat of this first..............

http://www.screwfix.com/p/cementone-aquaprufe-5ltr/36405?_requestid=31077

Then lay glassfibre netting over the whole (possibly a garden centre if it's still available ......)
Or this maybe ..............

http://www.screwfix.com/p/scaffold-netting/95543;jsessionId=BMFnRFvPkfFnByn2TtnDS7lvMT11ZB1yg1v3wz9dHnPJFKLVl7KV!-905979492!1359294383619#

Then a couple more coats of Aquaprufe.

The net is just for reinforcing. You may well think it unnecessary in your case.

[Old_Geezer]

Wasn't that long ago when my asbestos garage roof leaked. I go there so rarely I didn't notice until the beam was rotted sufficiently it needed to be replaced. I looked upon it as an opportunity to get rid of the hazardous material. Not saying it was in that bad a state but I didn't really feel comfortable having it around. I'd suspect it can't help when one comes to sell.

[Matheous-2]

Being a single average sized garage- what sort of cost would be involved to replace its roof and possibly more importantly....would it have to be emptied??
- The roof timbers seem to still be quite sound.....

[The Builder]

What would you want to replace it with Matt?

Corrugated galvanised
"Onduline" (corrugated bituminous type - looks good - easy to work with)
Powder-coated metal "box-profile" (used on Industrial buildings, farms etc)

Can't think of others at the moment.

[Matheous-2]

Thanks Builder....I think cost would be a choice factor....

[The Builder]

Not much in it Math. Onduline easiest to work with, and available at DIY sheds and Builders'Merchants. Can't say that anyone particularly likes the look of galvanised. Box profile would possibly have to be ordered from a stockist who would charge delivery. The Merchants wouldn't.

http://www.onduline.co.uk/products/onduline/

Say, £250 for the materials. A day's work for a decent handyman. That should also allow him time to take the old ones to the tip (probably a tipping charge here as well.)

Some builders might tend to make a meal of it. Local handyman would be fine. £100-150 for a day?

Extra for any timberwork.
Extra if he has to empty the garage.
That depends on what valuables you have in there. Removal involves kneeling on a scaffold board and pulling out the fixings with a nailbar. Some breakage of the sheets is inevitable. Bits WILL fall onto the contents.

These sheets are NON notifiable. No special training needed. They are only (officially) minmumly hazardous, with a little care.

[Matheous-2]

Thanks a million Builder.....if I could tip you - I would for that!!

[The Builder]

Haha. A pleasure.

Do come back and tell me if I have it wrong :o)