Jump to content

Urgent Question - Asbestos


Recommended Posts

Message posted on behalf of Maureen:

I am about to sign compromis have spent ages looking at the site but can find no info on whether its O K to buy a house with lead and asbestos! I only have a bit of everite asbestos on outside porch and the lead paint is all over. Will I have trouble reselling or is there always lead and asbestos present and should I ignore it? Sorry but nowhere else to turn to! Regards and hopeful of quick reply! Maureen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lead,asbestos,rot and termites etc have all become a stigma here in the last few years,hence the reason why there has to be a report done by the seller so the purchaser is aware of any problems and can decide to pull out or continue. There is not lead and asbestos and other nasties in every single building in France, I have none of these at all and so have many thousands of others. If it really bothers you,get a professional in to assess the problem and remember real asbestos where iffy will cost you a lot of money to have removed by a licenced specialist firm. Lead paint again,can be done yourself with protective gear but get a quote. No one on here can see the property to make a definate response so if you are worried,make some enquiries and not go by what the seller is saying as after all,why are they selling it anyway? and you may end up with it as unsaleable too.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for your reply. However, what I really want to know is how many of you have bought a house with a bit of asbestos over a balcony and lead paint in house? Would this put you off as a a buyer? Come on help an old lady on her own! Please! Am about to sign compromis tomorrow, didnt dare mention they also found termites as I believe this is good news as they now have to give the house protection and a warranty for 10 years so am happy about that!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do not be too concerned abouit your lead paint and asbestos, at least you know that you have it and where it is.

Both are relatively harmless if treated with respect and care.

Lead was present in many paints up until a few years ago and provided that you take proper precautions should you wish to strip it, it will pose no immediate problem unless you have children who intend to lick it!

With the asbestos, if it is in concrete,  it is relatively harmless unless you smash it up, if it is sheeeting, it is  best left alone if it is in good condition, it poses little risk unless you drill into it or break it up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i agree that lead paint is not as big a problem as most are lead to believe(no pun intended).If you do not sand it down or use burners to try and remove it then o.k.INFACT IT IS THE BEST PROTECTIVE EVER FOUND FOR WOOD AND METAL.

CHILDREN DONOT CHEW WOOD ETC. APART FROM BABIES IN CRIBS.IF YOU SEAL IT THEN IT WILL FUNCTION AS AN EXCELLENT PRIMER.

ASBESTOS IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM AND IS BEST REMOVED BY SPECIALISTS --THE ASBESTOS USED IN LOOSE FORM AS INSULATION IS NATURALLY DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN INHALE SMALL AMOUNTS WHICH WILLSTAY IN YOUR LUNGS.THIS CAN GIVE PROBLEMS IN LATER LIFE AS ASBESTOSIS .

ASBESTOS CEMENT PANELS IS NOT AS BAD AS MADE FROM LESS DANGEROUS FORM OF ASBESTOS IN RECENT YEARS AND WEARING MASKS WHEN DRILLING BOLT HOLES NECESSARY.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We bought our house knowing there was asbestos sheets on the side roof, and believe it poses no danger if left in situ. As for the termites - make sure that there is a clause in the compromis to say you won't complete the sale unless you are satisfied that the problem has been cleared up. It might be an idea to get your own independent expert to check it out.  Perhaps it's too late, but you might get a reduction in price with these faults. Pat.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi,

we got quite a shock when we got our asbestos report, it nearly put us off, I started to do a lot of searches, but came to the conclusion that most older houses in France have it. If the report say's it's okay if left alone then do just that. Our main concern was the re-sale at some point, our buyer will feel the same, shock, horror, and start doing the same as we did, read up about, then shrug there shoulders. Unless you buy new build, you probably won't avoid asbestos, enjoy your buy if you go ahead, we have.

Barnabebear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote]i agree that lead paint is not as big a problem as most are lead to believe(no pun intended).If you do not sand it down or use burners to try and remove it then o.k.INFACT IT IS THE BEST PROTECTIVE EV...[/quote]

ASBESTOS IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM AND IS BEST REMOVED BY SPECIALISTS  - Absolutely,  BUT,   only if it needs removal.

ASBESTOS CEMENT PANELS ARE NOT AS BAD AS MADE FROM LESS DANGEROUS FORM OF ASBESTOS IN RECENT YEARS AND WEARING MASKS WHEN DRILLING BOLT HOLES NECESSARY. 

Some forms of asbestos are more dangerous than others due to their particle sizes and the fact that unlike dust they stick to your lung linings and cannot be coughed out.  However,  drilling, sanding or cutting ANY form of asbestos is not a great idea, even if you wear the right grade of mask there is no guarantee that the dust will not get onto your tools, clothes and shoes and be transported into the house to be inhaled by others without masks.

This is not scaremongering,  in my last job,  I oversaw the removal of many tons of contaminated material from a large building in London and the contractors would not let me or anyone else near the place without a space suit on, even when they were not working!

YOU CAN INHALE SMALL AMOUNTS WHICH WILL STAY IN YOUR LUNGS.THIS CAN GIVE PROBLEMS IN LATER LIFE AS ASBESTOSIS......  In time, it will kill you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The abri-voiture on this house had an asbestos roof, we asked the seller to replace it, which he duly did, no problem at all.

The question of future buyers - well yes, they might just shrug their shoulders, but on the other hand public awareness of asbestos might have changed by then, you never know.

As someone said, asbestos can kill, horribly, even decades after you've used it.

I'm glad to be shot of it!   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my father in law died of asbestos related cancer, having worked with asbestos and it is truly a dreadful way to go.  I would never move into a house without having  any asbestos removed, and I think people in France are becoming more and more aware of its dangers.  I know it is only the dust that is realy dangerous, but any asbestos would certainly make me think twice about buying.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
I have fibro cement (asbestos) plates in the roof of my small village house in the Var. I would like these removed when the roof is redone this year but my builder thinks that I will require a specialist company to carry this out. Is he correct and if so does anyone know what such a company would charge?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Torchet - part of the problem is disposal of the sheets once they've been taken off. Eddie (husband) asked at the dechetterie if they would take sheets same as yours and they said they would to the end of this year but not after that. Sorry can't say cost of removal. I read in a french magazine that one way round the problem is to put the new roof on top of the sheets, as long as they're not damaged. Try asking at your local DIY store eg Gedimat -  they gave me the name of a firm that would do the job of removal and disposal but we haven't approached them yet. Pat.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...