Many older buildings in Kenya, from homes to schools and factories, still have asbestos roofing sheets. Owners often ask us the same question: is my roof dangerous right now?
When asbestos becomes a risk
Asbestos is most dangerous when it is broken, cut, drilled or crumbling, because tiny fibres are released into the air. These fibres can cause serious lung diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer, often many years after exposure. Sheets that are intact and undamaged are much lower risk.
Signs to look for, from the ground
Never climb onto an asbestos roof: old sheets can break under a person’s weight. Look from the ground, or from a window, for:
- cracked, broken or missing sheets;
- edges or corners that are crumbling;
- a rough, worn surface on old sheets;
- moss or growth on the sheets;
- leaks inside the building after rain;
- dust or broken pieces in gutters or on the ground below the roof.
If you see any of these, keep people away from the area below and ask for an inspection.
Things that disturb asbestos
Even a sound roof becomes a risk when someone works on it. Before anyone drills, cuts, repairs, paints or replaces part of the roof, or fits a water tank, solar panels or a satellite dish, ask for an inspection first. Do not let anyone use power tools or high-pressure water on the sheets.
Not sure if it is asbestos?
You cannot always tell by looking, and you should never break off a piece to check. Our free site inspection tells you what you have, what condition it is in, and what we recommend.
What we do if the roof needs to go
If the roof should be removed, we plan the job in writing, close off the work area, take the sheets down whole, wrap them, carry them to our NEMA-licensed disposal site in Kaloleni, Kilifi County, and give you a tracking document and a completion certificate. We can then fit your new roof as part of the same job.
Book a free site inspection
Request a quote online, call us or send a WhatsApp message. The site inspection and quote are free, and we reply within 24 hours.
