In my old house from the late 1800s, there is fiber cement board behind the electrical panel. I have known this for a long time and it feels uncomfortable because the electrical panel is right outside the door to my daughter's room. In connection with a painter painting the wall, he applied a thin layer of regular water-based wall paint. Not even fully covered in certain areas.
I have also noticed in my bedroom ceiling and in another corner of a ceiling, both directly at the chimney, that there are smaller thin boards. Since these were already painted, with regular water-based ceiling paint, before I even thought of these, I have only now realized that this could also be fiber cement. Perhaps installed in the ceilings for fire protection against the chimney.
How would you act? Any tips on how I can find out if the white painted boards are fiber cement? I've tapped them, but find it hard to judge by the sound. I would prefer not to begin removing paint, to see. Because then I might damage the board...
Would you make sure to have a decontaminator remove the boards if they are fiber cement? And how on earth do they do it? I mean, do they set up air barriers, etc., to take down small fiber cement tiles? Or how does it work? Can they somehow seal around the board itself while they're working? I have an open plan on one floor, and it doesn't feel great if they have to encapsulate the whole floor.
And now the presumed fiber cement boards are painted with regular wall/ceiling paint. This paint doesn't have the ability to bind asbestos fibers properly, does it? Could I possibly repaint the boards, on top of the current paint, and bind the fibers better? I've heard there is paint suitable for this, also some kind of spray paint. Does anyone know the name/brand of this?
And most importantly, would you make sure to get rid of the fiber cement boards? It doesn't feel pleasant to sleep with them in the ceiling or have them above the dining table in the living room.
Does anyone know if fiber cement boards were also used on floors directly adjacent to old chimneys, stoves, etc.? So that there's not one lying under the parquet and unknowingly being walked over and broken.
I would appreciate good advice from those who can provide me with factual knowledge. In other questions about asbestos, I unfortunately have been met by people who instead think I should "seek help." I would appreciate it if I could avoid such comments this time. I am asking for help with the actual issue.
Thankful for good advice!
I have also noticed in my bedroom ceiling and in another corner of a ceiling, both directly at the chimney, that there are smaller thin boards. Since these were already painted, with regular water-based ceiling paint, before I even thought of these, I have only now realized that this could also be fiber cement. Perhaps installed in the ceilings for fire protection against the chimney.
How would you act? Any tips on how I can find out if the white painted boards are fiber cement? I've tapped them, but find it hard to judge by the sound. I would prefer not to begin removing paint, to see. Because then I might damage the board...
Would you make sure to have a decontaminator remove the boards if they are fiber cement? And how on earth do they do it? I mean, do they set up air barriers, etc., to take down small fiber cement tiles? Or how does it work? Can they somehow seal around the board itself while they're working? I have an open plan on one floor, and it doesn't feel great if they have to encapsulate the whole floor.
And now the presumed fiber cement boards are painted with regular wall/ceiling paint. This paint doesn't have the ability to bind asbestos fibers properly, does it? Could I possibly repaint the boards, on top of the current paint, and bind the fibers better? I've heard there is paint suitable for this, also some kind of spray paint. Does anyone know the name/brand of this?
And most importantly, would you make sure to get rid of the fiber cement boards? It doesn't feel pleasant to sleep with them in the ceiling or have them above the dining table in the living room.
Does anyone know if fiber cement boards were also used on floors directly adjacent to old chimneys, stoves, etc.? So that there's not one lying under the parquet and unknowingly being walked over and broken.
I would appreciate good advice from those who can provide me with factual knowledge. In other questions about asbestos, I unfortunately have been met by people who instead think I should "seek help." I would appreciate it if I could avoid such comments this time. I am asking for help with the actual issue.
Thankful for good advice!
If they are painted, there is no danger
I wonder if it's not pure asbestos, at least the board behind the electrical panel.
Fireproof and good
Fireproof and good
Today, it is also used as protection against heat if you have flammable parts near the chimney. I myself had to replace part of my wooden roof with eternit on the chimney sweep's orders. I cut the piece in the garden with an angle grinder, wearing a face mask for safety.
Now that it's in place, I'm not going to do anything with it, since it is intact and completely harmless.
Now that it's in place, I'm not going to do anything with it, since it is intact and completely harmless.
What do you mean by pure asbestos behind the electrical panel KnockOnWood?
Isn't Eternit always asbestos mixed with cement?
Does anyone know the right paint to use?
And if I can paint on an already painted water-based surface?
Isn't Eternit always asbestos mixed with cement?
Does anyone know the right paint to use?
And if I can paint on an already painted water-based surface?
All boards that resemble asbestos boards do not necessarily contain asbestos. There are, for example, cement-based boards.
Since you have many questions about asbestos in various threads here on BH, it is advisable to publish pictures of suspected material to get a reasonably fair assessment. Otherwise, we are groping in the dark.
To be really sure, a sample analysis is required = costs money.
Since you have many questions about asbestos in various threads here on BH, it is advisable to publish pictures of suspected material to get a reasonably fair assessment. Otherwise, we are groping in the dark.
To be really sure, a sample analysis is required = costs money.
There must be a misunderstanding. Asbestos has been banned from sale for many years. You have probably installed some fiber cement board containing glass or cellulose fibers.stake said:
From Wiki:
Yes, you are right roland53. Clearly, it's difficult to determine without pictures. But since these boards are painted white, I think no one would be any wiser if I sent a picture. What was the most common thickness for this type of board? 4 mm?
Speaking of boards that resemble eternit boards but do not contain asbestos. What are cement-based boards, roland53, and how can you tell the difference between one of those and an eternit board? When and for what purpose were these cement-based boards used?
By the way, isn't an eternit board just a cement-based board? That is, mainly cement but a certain percentage of asbestos fibers? Getting a bit confused now..
KnockOnWood, what did you mean by saying the board behind the electrical panel is likely pure asbestos? If it's a hard board, shouldn't the asbestos here also be mixed with cement? Grateful for responses!
Speaking of boards that resemble eternit boards but do not contain asbestos. What are cement-based boards, roland53, and how can you tell the difference between one of those and an eternit board? When and for what purpose were these cement-based boards used?
By the way, isn't an eternit board just a cement-based board? That is, mainly cement but a certain percentage of asbestos fibers? Getting a bit confused now..
KnockOnWood, what did you mean by saying the board behind the electrical panel is likely pure asbestos? If it's a hard board, shouldn't the asbestos here also be mixed with cement? Grateful for responses!
It cannot be a board if it is pure asbestos. Asbestos is soft fibers, and mats were woven from it and used, among others, for exhaust pipes on ship engines.Stina71 said:
It is absolutely correct that what was called Eternit (from Lomma) was cement boards mixed with asbestos.
When asbestos was banned (possibly also competitive companies? during the 50s/60s?), the production of e.g. roof tiles began with other contents but resembled the classic eternity tile, so you could supplement old roofs, for example.
Earlier in the thread, Minerit and other filling materials were mentioned. Since these were to replace asbestos boards, the form/appearance was/is in many cases impossible to distinguish for a layman.
It is not advisable to nail into these old or new cement boards as you asked before. They crack. You have to pre-drill.
As mentioned in previous threads, if you leave the asbestos cement where it is, it does no harm at all. Whether it's painted or not. There's no need to paint asbestos cement to bind fibers. Nothing is released until you break the boards into pieces.
If you're not renovating these spaces, just leave the boards as they are. In your case, it might be best to hire a company and remediate the entire house - you seem more than reasonably worried about this material, and you and your family will certainly feel worse about it than breaking an asbestos cement board into two pieces.
If you're not renovating these spaces, just leave the boards as they are. In your case, it might be best to hire a company and remediate the entire house - you seem more than reasonably worried about this material, and you and your family will certainly feel worse about it than breaking an asbestos cement board into two pieces.
Thank you roland53 for your clear response! Appreciated!
Now that the panels are painted white with water-based paint, it's impossible even for an expert to determine what type of panel it is. Right?
MathiasS, I am fully aware that my worry is bothersome, but it still feels good to gain more knowledge on the subject to handle this in the best way possible.
Even though it's not necessary to paint fiber cement boards, I am interested to know what paint is most suitable if I choose to do this. If anyone knows, grateful for thoughts on this!
Now that the panels are painted white with water-based paint, it's impossible even for an expert to determine what type of panel it is. Right?
MathiasS, I am fully aware that my worry is bothersome, but it still feels good to gain more knowledge on the subject to handle this in the best way possible.
Even though it's not necessary to paint fiber cement boards, I am interested to know what paint is most suitable if I choose to do this. If anyone knows, grateful for thoughts on this!
Reg. question 1. I'm not an expert, but I assume an expert could at least give you advice by scraping off a little paint to access the material. Testing, remediation, or no hazard.Stina71 said:
Reg. question 2. It is/was not entirely uncommon to clean eternit roofs and then paint them.
This applied outdoors, but consult a paint dealer. I don't think there should be much difference in painting these panels compared to other hard materials.
Yes! How would the asbestos fibers start moving around and penetrate the paint? It would be different if we were talking about volatile substances, like solvents.Stina71 said:
I'm not an asbestos expert but work with environmental issues and have, among other things, surveyed buildings for asbestos. I can guarantee you that a remediation spreads more asbestos fibers in your indoor environment than if you leave them untouched and overpainted, no matter how careful the remediation company is.