replacing asbestos cement soffits

[Del-inquent]

We are having all the soffits on our Chalet Bungalow taken out shortly as they're asbestos cement and the window installers want it gone first. 
 

I'm just not sure about how to replace them, never done any on a roof structure like this before. There is nothing at all supporting the soffits at the moment, they're just sat upon the external leaf and held in place by a groove on the back of the fascia panel, nothing to attach any replacement to at all. The facia's may well be replaced as well, will have a look at the condition of them once the soffits are down as they're currently capped with UPVC (badly). Soffits are 380mm from wall to fascia. 

I wanted to replace them with UPVC, cheap and cheerful and as little fuss as possible and if the fascia's do need replacing (pretty likely) I'll use 18mm UPVC ones.

How would you approach it?

[saveasteading]

Fix a triangular batten under the rafter against the fascia, and screw up into it?

[Del-inquent]

  On 24/10/2024 at 08:58, saveasteading said:

Fix a triangular batten under the rafter against the fascia, and screw up into it?

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Would you bother with any additional support for the soffit - like ply run underneath the batten before the soffit goes on, or just straight up with some soffit?

 

[saveasteading]

Depends on the soffit. Is it stiff and can pan that distance? You will have to fix it at the wall side too. A batten on the wall.

[Del-inquent]

  On 24/10/2024 at 10:51, saveasteading said:

Depends on the soffit. Is it stiff and can pan that distance? You will have to fix it at the wall side too. A batten on the wall.

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I guess as it'll be sitting on top of the wall and pinned every 400mm (or thereabouts) plus supported by the fascia, probably should be okay. Can't put a batten on the wall as the wall stops just below soffit height lol

[Gone West]

  On 24/10/2024 at 08:40, Del-inquent said:

they're just sat upon the external leaf and held in place by a groove on the back of the fascia panel

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Ours are fitted like that where the 1970s cavity wall alterations were made. Apparently our uPVC soffits replaced asbestos ones as well.

[Del-inquent]

  On 24/10/2024 at 15:35, Gone West said:

Ours are fitted like that where the 1970s cavity wall alterations were made. Apparently our uPVC soffits replaced asbestos ones as well.

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No additional fixings used on yours either?!

[Gone West]

  On 24/10/2024 at 19:31, Del-inquent said:

 

No additional fixings used on yours either?!

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Nope, makes it easy to remove though. 😀

[saveasteading]

  On 25/10/2024 at 07:05, Gone West said:

makes it easy to remove though.

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That's my concern too. Will it displace if you hose it, brush it, ir with the wind? Will gaps fill with insects?

[Russell griffiths]

 

far easier to find you a pick than try and explain. 

[Gone West]

  On 25/10/2024 at 09:21, saveasteading said:

Will it displace if you hose it, brush it, ir with the wind? Will gaps fill with insects?

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The wind has never moved it. I've not tried hosing it because I didn't want water going in the vent slots. I have brushed it with a broom and it was ok. To a degree it is held in place by the slot in the fascia. I won't be altering it for the time being.

[Del-inquent]

  On 25/10/2024 at 09:46, Russell griffiths said:

 

far easier to find you a pick than try and explain. 

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Interesting, I’d never have thought that would be sufficient on the width but I do have a habit of over-engineering everything.

[Russell griffiths]

  On 25/10/2024 at 22:37, Del-inquent said:

Interesting, I’d never have thought that would be sufficient on the width but I do have a habit of over-engineering everything.

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Run the horizontal batten the full way around the house, not just little bits, you can add a batten front to back as well. 

[Conor]

  On 24/10/2024 at 08:40, Del-inquent said:

We are having all the soffits on our Chalet Bungalow taken out shortly as they're asbestos cement and the window installers want it gone first. 
 

I'm just not sure about how to replace them, never done any on a roof structure like this before. There is nothing at all supporting the soffits at the moment, they're just sat upon the external leaf and held in place by a groove on the back of the fascia panel, nothing to attach any replacement to at all. The facia's may well be replaced as well, will have a look at the condition of them once the soffits are down as they're currently capped with UPVC (badly). Soffits are 380mm from wall to fascia. 

I wanted to replace them with UPVC, cheap and cheerful and as little fuss as possible and if the fascia's do need replacing (pretty likely) I'll use 18mm UPVC ones.

How would you approach it?

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Why are you removing them? The best practice for asbestos is to leave it be.  Will the window installers work involve them cutting/drilling in to the soffits? 

[Del-inquent]

  On 26/10/2024 at 08:47, Conor said:

 

Why are you removing them? The best practice for asbestos is to leave it be.  Will the window installers work involve them cutting/drilling in to the soffits? 

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They’re in a bad way as is the facia on one end, so work is needed regardless, plus the soffit sit on top of the window frames and have been sealed to it in the past. Ideally I wouldn’t have touched it but it has to be done  

[TommoUK]

If it's AIB (asbestos insulation board) its nasty stuff and notifiable work. Get someone licenced to remove it and ask them for a post completion report so you can show what has been done should you sell.

[Del-inquent]

  On 27/10/2024 at 12:49, TommoUK said:

If it's AIB (asbestos insulation board) its nasty stuff and notifiable work. Get someone licenced to remove it and ask them for a post completion report so you can show what has been done should you sell.

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Had it tested a couple of weeks back, it’s not AIB just asbestos cement board, non licensed, however I am still getting someone in to do it as I don’t want to. Some things are best left to the pros.

[scottishjohn]

when you expose the  rafters i would look carefully that they are not rotted at the 4 corners of the roof  where the barge boards affix 

i had to cut them out and graft in bits when i was replacing my plywood soffits .

 iwas lucky in some ways as the actual soffits were T+g boards ,so icould nail everything to the plywood and old soffit boards 

 

very common when only single battons are used as they collect crap behind them and make sonewhere for water to sit 

single battons to me should never be used as there is no direct path vor water to exit ,just makes dams

 especially as htis is anold roof using roofing felt ,it gets hard and can disintergrate where its not supported 

[Del-inquent]

  On 28/10/2024 at 09:16, scottishjohn said:

when you expose the  rafters i would look carefully that they are not rotted at the 4 corners of the roof  where the barge boards affix 

i had to cut them out and graft in bits when i was replacing my plywood soffits .

 iwas lucky in some ways as the actual soffits were T+g boards ,so icould nail everything to the plywood and old soffit boards 

 

very common when only single battons are used as they collect crap behind them and make sonewhere for water to sit 

single battons to me should never be used as there is no direct path vor water to exit ,just makes dams

 especially as htis is anold roof using roofing felt ,it gets hard and can disintergrate where its not supported 

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with the budget in its current form I intend to close my eyes and wave the hammer around blindfolded, I can’t afford to find any more problems 😂

[scottishjohn]

  On 28/10/2024 at 20:32, Del-inquent said:

with the budget in its current form I intend to close my eyes and wave the hammer around blindfolded, I can’t afford to find any more problems 😂

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on your head  then 

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