Although this is not a pressing problem in the Central Florida roofing area, there are still some homes that have asbestos on them. Many homeowners don't even realize that they have this potentially dangerous substance is on their homes.
Asbestos has been widely used in many building products because of its tensile strength and chemical and thermal resistance. It was used widely because many builders and manufacturers labeled it as a "fireproof" substance. The problem lies with handling this substance. It seems that the dust would get into the lungs of workers, and cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. There were several lawsuits against the manufacturers, which caused the demise of this particular business.
The problem is with handling this substance, because the dust and residues are the danger. Many times people have asbestos shingles on their roof, or as a siding on their house, and have never had a single problem. However, if this substance were to be removed by workers, the problem would rear its ugly head. The dust would contaminate the lungs of workers, family members, and even pets that aren't protected. It's best not to have asbestos removed by amateurs. Only those who are experienced in asbestos removal should be hired to remove this toxic substance. You will more than likely have to pay more to get this particular work done than say removing three tab asphalt shingles. When asbestos is taken to a dump, it must be buried. It is not just dropped on top of the other stuff that is out there. Some dumps require that the substance be wrapped in garbage bags. Imagine how much longer it would take for a roofing crew to be dressed in hazardous material suits, complete with breathing masks, to put the roof covering in plastic bags before setting it in the dumpster. Some homeowner's insurance policies may cover the cost of asbestos removal.
Source by Mark Orman