Hello!
I'm going to build a laundry room in the basement, and I've started some demolition. I'm also going to replace the ceiling. However, I'm wondering what material I have in the ceiling. Could it be asbestos cement boards?
Can I take them down myself?
Grateful for any help!
Regards, Zax
I'm going to build a laundry room in the basement, and I've started some demolition. I'm also going to replace the ceiling. However, I'm wondering what material I have in the ceiling. Could it be asbestos cement boards?
Can I take them down myself?
Grateful for any help!
Regards, Zax
Yes, that's asbestos cement.
You probably have it on the door as well if it hasn't been replaced....
You can and are allowed to take it down yourself. Take precautions.
1. Use a REAL respirator with the right filter (fine dust)
2. Try to remove the panels whole; it's the dust that occurs when they break that you don't want in your lungs.
3. Disposable coveralls are not entirely wrong.
4. Ventilate, but make sure the air flows OUT of the room you are working in and not into the house.....
You probably have it on the door as well if it hasn't been replaced....
You can and are allowed to take it down yourself. Take precautions.
1. Use a REAL respirator with the right filter (fine dust)
2. Try to remove the panels whole; it's the dust that occurs when they break that you don't want in your lungs.
3. Disposable coveralls are not entirely wrong.
4. Ventilate, but make sure the air flows OUT of the room you are working in and not into the house.....
Then you should pack the tiles securely. For example, double garbage bags. At least here in Stockholm, private individuals can dump limited amounts for free at certain recycling stations, check which ones accept eternit (apparently Lövsta does not).
Ugh! Now I've torn down almost 8 square meters.
It was the worst material I’ve encountered. COMPLETELY impossible to take down a tile whole. The nails were spaced 5 cm apart, all around the tile with 30 cm battens. Instead of the nail giving way, it was the tile that kept cracking. So now I have several bags of eternit dust in the basement.
Felt quite claustrophobic, I must say.
The clothes I was wearing are going out. What about my shop vacuum? Can I ever use it again for anything else, or should it be decontaminated and stuffed into a black garbage bag and hidden 800 meters underground?
It was the worst material I’ve encountered. COMPLETELY impossible to take down a tile whole. The nails were spaced 5 cm apart, all around the tile with 30 cm battens. Instead of the nail giving way, it was the tile that kept cracking. So now I have several bags of eternit dust in the basement.
Felt quite claustrophobic, I must say.
The clothes I was wearing are going out. What about my shop vacuum? Can I ever use it again for anything else, or should it be decontaminated and stuffed into a black garbage bag and hidden 800 meters underground?
Hmm...using the vacuum cleaner was dumb. None of the asbestos dust stays in the vacuum cleaner - you're just spraying it around even more...... 
If you live in Stockholm, you can drop off asbestos for free at Botkyrka/fittja's ÅVC. Without a plastic bag.
If you live in Stockholm, you can drop off asbestos for free at Botkyrka/fittja's ÅVC. Without a plastic bag.
It might not have been the best solution. I've been looking for good ways to suck up the dust (a little left). I think there should be P3-rated vacuum cleaner bags for Kärcher's industrial vacuum cleaners. But it seems to be a product no one has thought of yet (copyright ;D )
Otherwise, maybe the new vacuums with water filters will do the trick? (e.g. Kärcher DS 5500) There all the dust is bound in water, which even asbestos should get caught in. What do you think?
//Zax
Otherwise, maybe the new vacuums with water filters will do the trick? (e.g. Kärcher DS 5500) There all the dust is bound in water, which even asbestos should get caught in. What do you think?
//Zax
Now I can recommend a new discovery for me. It is possible to rent air purifier units from, for example, Cramo and other smaller companies. They have something called absolute filters which purify almost everything, including asbestos.
I consider it worthwhile to have one rolling in the basement for a few days to clean as much dust as possible.
I consider it worthwhile to have one rolling in the basement for a few days to clean as much dust as possible.
The best solution is to work in a different way. I have removed about 25 square meters of eternit from the roof and it hasn't dusted at all, basically. The plates have been nailed with stainless round nails every ten centimeters. I have been working with a small crowbar and pincers to remove the nails, one by one. I think taking more time for the work is better than having it dust. If you have the ability to spray water in the room, that could be a solution (then you can also use the Kärscher to vacuum). I assume that would be a "good" way to pick up the dust.
That miracle machine seems like a good idea too, thanks for the tip!
That miracle machine seems like a good idea too, thanks for the tip!
It must be, just as you say, the best solution. But my tiles are stuck like stone, as mentioned, and are impossible to remove whole.
After your warning about vacuum cleaners, I have now looked up some alternatives. Cramo has industrial vacuum cleaners for rent. All are equipped with HEPA filters (or microfilters/absolute filters). Quite an expensive piece to rent. Costs 160:- per day plus 420:- for the filter. They come in different sizes apparently.
I will consider water flushing. That should be an effective solution as well.
After your warning about vacuum cleaners, I have now looked up some alternatives. Cramo has industrial vacuum cleaners for rent. All are equipped with HEPA filters (or microfilters/absolute filters). Quite an expensive piece to rent. Costs 160:- per day plus 420:- for the filter. They come in different sizes apparently.
I will consider water flushing. That should be an effective solution as well.
I allow myself to interject with a question on the same topic. I have a rectangular ventilation duct in a 1930s house with dimensions approximately 20 x 20 cm. It is gray and has the typical asbestos pattern. It is simply asbestos. The duct is located between a pantry basement and the exterior wall, with a total length of 100 cm. There is already a ventilation hatch to the pantry basement. Additionally, the asbestos duct is located in the basement ceiling directly as you come down the basement stairs. It must therefore be removed. I didn't think it was recommended to do this myself? If I were to do it, I thought of cutting it flush with the exterior wall and flush with the wall into the pantry basement using an angle grinder. It would take 5 minutes. Or maybe break it apart? Then I thought of patching up both walls with mortar. Should I do it? How should I do it? What might it cost to bring in a remediation company for this small job?
At a similar job, I bought a special pre-filter for asbestos that I connected directly to the central vacuum. Worked very well but they cost around 1000. It is constructed in a separate container that can then be disposed of at a landfill. I think it held about 20-30 liters. I don't remember the brand but bought it at ABC central vacuum, possibly it was a Pullman filter. Another advantage is that the central vacuum evacuates the air outside the house. I also bought a second-hand hose for 400 SEK which I later threw away. Don't take any risks with asbestos.
It is not cheap to decontaminate. I don't even dare to think about what companies specialized in decontamination charge. Personally, the bill has been roughly as follows for about 14 sqm of eternit boards in the basement:
1. P3 half mask approximately 800:- with filter.
2. Disposable plastic overall from Beijer 4 pcs at 77:50 from Beijer bygg
3. Rental of industrial vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters 800:- (Dustcontrol from Cramo)
4. Rental of air purifier (RAB 1000 http://www.wind-box.com/luftren/rab1000.htm) 1000:-
5. Construction plastic, plastic bags, tape approximately 500:-
6. Trailer rental 270:-
7. A pair of lungs (priceless)
My municipality does not accept asbestos waste but refers to Södertälje. There, they charge 2000:-/ton for asbestos waste (if you're from another municipality). The minimum fee is about 650:-. They want the waste well-wrapped and taped. Check what applies in your municipality.
1. P3 half mask approximately 800:- with filter.
2. Disposable plastic overall from Beijer 4 pcs at 77:50 from Beijer bygg
3. Rental of industrial vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters 800:- (Dustcontrol from Cramo)
4. Rental of air purifier (RAB 1000 http://www.wind-box.com/luftren/rab1000.htm) 1000:-
5. Construction plastic, plastic bags, tape approximately 500:-
6. Trailer rental 270:-
7. A pair of lungs (priceless)
My municipality does not accept asbestos waste but refers to Södertälje. There, they charge 2000:-/ton for asbestos waste (if you're from another municipality). The minimum fee is about 650:-. They want the waste well-wrapped and taped. Check what applies in your municipality.
In my case, the channel sits flush between the outer wall and the wall into the pantry (brick) without bends or angles. So I have to cut it at both walls and patch up with mortar. If not an angle grinder - what? I'm leaning towards not doing it myself anyway. The lady has also forbidden me.
I don't quite understand how it's sitting (never mind that!), but if you have to separate it, I would rather soak it with water as much as possible (inside and out) and then break it apart with a hammer in some strategic spots. With an angle grinder, you'll spread the dust completely uncontrollably.synpunkter said: