roofing felt / roofing felt waste

Are you planning to cover your roof with new tiles or renovate the old gazebo? Then it is very likely that old roofing felt will fall into your hands. But watch out! Many old buildings in Germany still contain roofing felt with dangerous asbestos fibers. Therefore, utmost caution is required when handling and disposing of it.

In order to prevent the impending health hazard and to dispose of the hazardous material properly, you should have your roofing felt tested before starting construction work. A professional asbestos test can provide certainty here.

Frequently asked questions about roofing felt containing asbestos

Does roofing felt contain asbestos?

The production of asbestos-containing roofing felt was banned in 1993. Until 1994, the contaminated products were sold in the German trade. In 2020, the Brandenburg-Berlin hazardous waste company published a fact sheet because apparently contaminated cardboard is in circulation far more frequently than experts had previously assumed. Even today, old roofing felt with asbestos fibers is found during renovation work. Owners of older buildings should therefore play it safe. Asbestos is highly carcinogenic and must not simply be disposed of at the recycling center.

Is roofing felt always hazardous waste?

No, asbestos-free roofing felt with bitumen as the building material can be disposed of as normal waste at the recycling center. However, if the bitumen felt contains asbestos, it is considered hazardous waste. Another form of roofing felt is the so-called tar paper. This must always be treated as hazardous waste and must not be disposed of in household waste or as recyclable material. As a general rule, roofing felt must not be stored on private property.

What is the difference between roofing felt made of bitumen and tar?

Roofing felt is used in roofing as an insulating material and is intended primarily to protect against moisture. A still common form is bituminous roofing felt. For centuries, bitumen, which is derived from petroleum, has been used to seal materials against moisture. These materials are also known as bituminous roofing membranes, bituminous roofing membranes or bituminous felt. The material can be dropped off at the recycling center. However, there are bitumen membranes that contain asbestos. Therefore, bituminous felt should also be tested.

Another form of roofing felt is tar paper, which is banned nowadays. During production, the cardboard is soaked in pitch from coal for waterproofing, which is highly carcinogenic. In addition, in some cases asbestos was used in production. Therefore, a test is advisable.

Where was asbestos-containing roofing felt installed?

Roofing felt is often installed in the form of long sheets under roof tiles. Due to its resistance and ease of handling, the material is often used for roofing garden arbors or sheds. Despite its resistance, the material becomes brittle over time. However, since it is located under the roof tiles, its renovation is not easily possible. Before removing the felt from the roof, a test is advisable to rule out possible health risks for the workmen.

Why was asbestos used in the manufacture of roofing felt?

Asbestos is water-resistant and relatively insensitive to heat and fire. Therefore, it was preferred as an insulating material. It could get into roofing felt in two ways. Some paperboards were sprinkled with grit, which, undetected, contained natural residues of asbestos. In some cases, the manufacturer deliberately added asbestos fibers to the felt to make the material more robust.

How dangerous is roofing felt with asbestos?

Old roofing felt or tar paper usually contains asbestos as a solid material. The dangerous asbestos fibers are bound in the material and cannot escape or be released as long as the felt is not damaged. However, even a small crack is enough to release the tiny respirable fibers. Even inhaling small amounts of asbestos fibers increases the risk of cancer and can trigger the dangerous lung disease asbestosis. Experts therefore advise not to work on the cardboard with tools such as hammers or saws, not to remove moss or lichen, and not to clean the surface with a high-pressure cleaner. Damage can also occur due to weathering, which is why roof renovation is advisable.

How must roofing felt with asbestos be disposed of?

Before the roofing felt is demolished, an asbestos analysis is mandatory. This is because only bitumen roofing felt that is demonstrably free of asbestos may be disposed of at recycling centers. However, there are also recycling centers that accept small quantities of roofing felt from private individuals and then test it themselves.

The cardboard must not be stored on private property or construction sites for any length of time. For transport, roofing felt must be stored separately in a container and must not be mixed with other waste.

Materials containing asbestos must be stored in a Class III landfill or in Class II exceptions. Where the material may be stored must be decided on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the landfill operator. Depending on the level of asbestos content, landfills must meet certain requirements. Further information is available from the Saxony-Anhalt State Office, among others.

How much does the disposal of roofing felt with asbestos cost?

Small quantities of roofing felt containing asbestos are accepted by recycling centers in some cases even without an asbestos test. For example, the Berlin municipal cleaning services. There, acceptance costs 1.50 euros per kilogram. The costs vary greatly from region to region.

For larger quantities of more than five square meters, however, transport by container is necessary, which can cost between 2,000 and 1,500 euros, depending on size, including delivery and daily rental. Landfills charge 200 to 300 euros per cubic meter, depending on the level of asbestos contamination.

What are the penalties for illegal disposal of roofing felt containing asbestos?

Due to an increase in the number of cases of illegally disposed of roofing felt containing asbestos, several public utility departments have issued warnings against simply disposing of roofing felt illegally in forests and fields. Depending on the region, the penalties are sometimes hefty and can result in fines of up to 25,000 euros.

Other materials with asbestos hazard

A variety of old building materials hide hazardous materials. Asbestos is often found in wall or floor coverings in older buildings in the form of so-called floor flex panels or cushion vinyl.

Outdoors, asbestos can also be found on the facade in Eternit panels and fiber cement. On our materials page you will find more information and prices for the material analysis of building materials with suspected asbestos.