Non Asbestos Roof Slates

When removing asbestos siding or roofing from your home you must be properly covered head to toe with respirators properly worn to make sure no exposure is possible.

Non asbestos roof slates.

Asbestos containing roofing materials were a popular choice for the citizens of the u s. Thanks to its impressive durability and fire resistance the mineral was widely used in a variety of roofing slates. When the use of asbestos became forbidden manufacturers rushed to replace asbestos containing products with cement based products reinforced with non asbestos materials. This can release fibers into the air.

Before the 1980s most artificial roofing slate was made from asbestos cement a material that had a long track record of successful performance. The slates are pigmented during production and are fully compressed. The fire resistant properties of these roof tiles weren t the only reason they were so popular as asbestos is incredibly durable and strong. The asbestos content will vary on the manufacturer but the content will typically be 15 or less.

Asbestos roofing tiles are predominately comprised of cement. A number of these products promising a life of 50 years or longer were found to fail early in their life in the 1990s. Cembrit fibercement slates are manufactured using portland cement together with a non asbestos formulation of superior blended synthetic and cellulose fibres. Asbestos siding in particular however has a tendency to chip crack and break with normal wear and tear of family life.

Asbestos was banned in 1989 so as the buildings that incorporated it age their roofing and siding will fall into disrepair. They are finished with a high quality semi matt acrylic coloured coating to the top face and edges and a tinted or transparent high performance binder to the back face.