Asbestos Slate Roof

[poohbear]

I've received a call from a curious seller and realtor, wondering if a house has an asbestos slate roof and a buyer wants to go with an FHA loan, what will the appraiser say about that?

I thought that was an excellent question. What WOULD an appraiser say about that? I haven't run into this on any previous reports, and can't seem to locate any information on it. They are having a house inspection done (but it hasn't been completed yet). It has never leaked and per the owner, it has a few cracking tiles on the lowest area (near the gutter), from footballs hitting it over and over. Probably would be impossible to get replacement tile or anything that matched. Have any of you had a situation like this?

 

[CigarDad]

First off you will not know with any degree of certainty that the roof shingles contain asbestos without a test from a lab.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITH ASBESTOS MATERIAL IN GOOD CONDITION IS TO LEAVE IT ALONE!

Disturbing it may create a health hazard where none existed before.

Asbestos cement roofing, shingles and siding products are not likely to release asbestos fibers unless sawed, dilled, or cut.

If the asbestos material is in good shape and will not be disturbed, do nothing!

If it is a problem, there are two types of corrections: repair and removal.

If the roof is not friable there is no hazard.

NOTE: Friable means the material has been crumbled, pulverized, reduced to powder, or has otherwise deteriorated so that the asbestos is no longer likely to be bound within its matrix.

***Did you know that according to roofing industry over 70% of all composition shingle roofs before 1970 contained asbestos. Do you/did you handle this any differently in an appraisal?***

 

[Don Clark]

First off you will not know with any degree of certainty that the roof shingles contain asbestos without a test from a lab.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITH ASBESTOS MATERIAL IN GOOD CONDITION IS TO LEAVE IT ALONE!

Disturbing it may create a health hazard where none existed before.

Asbestos cement roofing, shingles and siding products are not likely to release asbestos fibers unless sawed, dilled, or cut.

If the asbestos material is in good shape and will not be disturbed, do nothing!

If it is a problem, there are two types of corrections: repair and removal.

If the roof is not friable there is no hazard.

NOTE: Friable means the material has been crumbled, pulverized, reduced to powder, or has otherwise deteriorated so that the asbestos is no longer likely to be bound within its matrix.

***Did you know that according to roofing industry over 70% of all composition shingle roofs before 1970 contained asbestos. Do you/did you handle this any differently in an appraisal?***

As one who has taught courses in Environmental Hazards and Conditions, and had been on the E-50 Committee for 8 years, of the ASTM that wrote the standards of practice for a Phase I, Phase II, and an Environmental Screening, this is the BEST ADVICE I have ever read from an appraiser.

 

[Mr Rex]

FWIW, most "popcorn" textured ceilings installed before the mid 80's contain asbestos.

 

[Mountain Man]

Yes, you can still find the tiles. At the very least, you could use the concrete "Hardi Plank" kind of shingles. They won't match perfectly, but as long as it's not a multi-million $$ place... so what? They'll be close enough and it won't hurt marketability all that much, if at all. I've sold flipper houses where the door knobs didn't match perfectly, but they were round like the rest and the buyers didn't care.

 

[Mike Boyd]

By the way, slate is slate. It is stone. Asbestos is a composite.

 

[poohbear]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I hadn't thought of it in terms of the other items mentioned that had asbestos in earlier years, and you are right, we don't bring them to attention in reports if they are in good condition, so why would this be any different. I appreciate the feedback.