Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Could this be asbestos felt in my garden?

j_fleming03j_fleming03 Posts: 23
in Problem solving
Hi, I was digging up the gravel pathway in my garden and was a little surprised at the type of material of the membrane I found under the gravel. Does anyone think this might be asbestos felt??



Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would imagine it's just regular membrane to stop the weeds coming through. I don't personally know of any reason why anyone would have used asbestos in a garden. I believe it was mostly used for it's fire retardant and insulation properties.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    It’s more likely to be a geotextile such as Terram. Who occupied the house before you? If it was somebody with attention to detail who did things properly then it is likely to be a geotextile fit for such a purpose. But if it was a bodger who cut corners it could be something laden with asbestos but I do not know if that is necessarily harmful. Only certain types of asbestos, I believe, have to be treated with great caution.
    Rutland, England
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I agree with @Fire and think it's probably a very heavy duty non-woven geotextile, like this:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • j_fleming03j_fleming03 Posts: 23
    Thank you, as you say it's probably a geotextile...The house was built to a high spec, 30 years ago, so I don't think it's a bodge job, but then you never know...It's just the material and the fraying of the material looked odd to me..and I read online at asbestos.com that before asbestos became illegal sometimes builders used it as an underlay for gravel......Anyhow, thanks for putting my mind at ease :)
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    Asbestos fibres are a lot finer and very short hence usually used in shingles and boards. As already confirmed what you have is a geotextile nonwoven made from Polyester or Polypropylene. If you stick a match to it you'll find it will quickly burn & crumble like a piece of paper but not so much of a flame whereas asbestos is fireproof.
  • Adey.Adey. Posts: 25
    Fire said:
    I would imagine it's just regular membrane to stop the weeds coming through. I don't personally know of any reason why anyone would have used asbestos in a garden. I believe it was mostly used for it's fire retardant and insulation properties.
    As Fire says, but as someone in the building trade as i am, i am never surprised these days when and where it turns up. If you are unsure, my advice would be treat it as if it is Asbestos. Better safe than sorry.
    Where masks and gloves. If you are disposing of it - it may have to go to a licencsed tip and be bagged up and sealed.

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think it's good stuff, worth keeping and re-using.
Sign In or Register to comment.