Technically: Before roofing your dream house, consider this - ITREALMS

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It's alarming that despite the health implications of asbestos roofing sheets, many house builders in Nigeria still consider it fashionable against zinc, which is much cheaper. REMMY NWEKE in this piece compared the technology of asbestos and zinc roofing sheets, x-raying the pros and cons, as we enter 2025 in an attempt to reduce housing deficit in Nigeria.

Graduating from a higher institution in the North West Nigeria, Amin, 23, journeyed to the South-West in search of a job and better life. He settled down at Okokomaiko and was able to acquire land in nearby Agbara, few years later.

Amin, who is now married, was tinkering on how to cut down on his expenses now children are of school age and responsibility continue to rise, including school fees and at the same time he wanted a good life for his family.

He struggled to erect a three bedroom flat over the years but kept postponing the roofing since COVID-19 savaged the world. Amin luckily survived the COVID-19 with his family but the cost of living has risen and is not looking as if it's getting any better soon.

With the little he saved, Amin has been making efforts to roof the building to avoid any other associated environmental damages including the use of the property for criminal purposes. So, he gathered strength after inquiries to visit his local banking institution to assist with a loan and was able to secure N1 million naira. This money as the only available major fund for the proposed roofing, Amin began to search for what is good and affordable. 

Around the Agbara axis where his building is located, there are many fine looking roofs and when he inquired, was informed they are Asbestos sheets or slates, so he got the quotation, which was well above his fund and in efforts, sought a second opinion for an ‘ordinary’ zinc.

Still he was not convinced, so decided to consult Meta AI, which is a company owned by Meta, formerly known as Facebook; that develops artificial intelligence, augmented and artificial reality technologies. What he saw was to say the least, alarming after searching on his Android phone.

Here is a comparison of Asbestos and Zinc roofing sheets that Amin got:

Merits of Asbestos Roofing Sheets:

1. Fire-resistant: Asbestos is non-combustible, making it an excellent choice for buildings in high-fire-risk areas.

2. Durable: Asbestos roofing sheets can last for 20-30 years or more with proper maintenance.

3. Weather-resistant: Asbestos is resistant to weathering,   Ultraviolet (UV) rays, and extreme temperatures.

4. Low maintenance: Asbestos roofing sheets require minimal maintenance.

Demerits of Asbestos Roofing Sheets:

1. *Health risks*: Asbestos contains carcinogenic fibers that can cause respiratory diseases and cancer.

2. *Expensive removal*: Asbestos removal can be costly and requires specialized professionals.

3. Environmental concerns: Asbestos can contaminate soil and water if not disposed of properly.

Merits of Zinc Roofing Sheets;

1. Corrosion-resistant: Zinc roofing sheets have a natural, protective oxide layer that prevents corrosion.

2. Durable: Zinc roofing sheets can last for 30-50 years or more with proper maintenance.

3. Recyclable: Zinc is 100% recyclable, making it an eco-friendly option.

4. Low maintenance: Zinc roofing sheets require minimal maintenance.

Merits of Zinc Roofing Sheets:

1. Higher upfront cost: Zinc roofing sheets are more expensive than asbestos sheets.

2. Noise: Zinc roofing sheets can be noisy during rainfall.

3. Scratches and dents: Zinc roofing sheets can be prone to scratches and dents.

Key Differences

1. Material composition: Asbestos is a mineral-based material, while zinc is a metal.

2. Health and environmental concerns: Asbestos poses significant health risks, while zinc is generally considered safe.

3. Cost: Zinc roofing sheets are more expensive upfront, but asbestos removal costs can be higher in the long run.

4. Maintenance: Both materials require minimal maintenance, but asbestos may need more frequent inspections.

Ultimately, zinc roofing sheets are a safer, more eco-friendly, and durable option, despite the higher upfront cost. Asbestos roofing sheets, while durable, pose significant health risks and environmental concerns.

Additional findings:

The aforementioned showed that damaging the asbestos could release small fibres into the air. Breathing in these asbestos fibres can damage your lung tissue. Over time this may cause lung disease, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Your risk of lung cancer from breathing in asbestos fibres is also greater if you smoke. 

Whereas, asbestos does not burn easily, the fire-resistant property comes naturally to asbestos, which makes before now an ideal solution for roofing, flooring, and thermal insulations. Also, asbestos is known for resistance to electricity, which makes it perfect for installing near electrical outlets.

What is UV rays?

For specifics, Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a type of non-ionizing radiation that comes from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. UV rays are invisible to humans and have a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than visible light.  

According to Generative AI, UV rays could have both benefits and risks for humans: Summarily, the benefits of UV rays include that it helps the body produce vitamin D. While the risks largely showed that UV rays can cause skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer. They can also damage the eyes and immune system.

Nigeria needs list of Asbestos experts:

Earnestly, Nigeria as the most populated country of black race where housing is a major issue, and currently indulges in using asbestos roofing sheets as fashion, needs a list of asbestos experts.

Noteworthy is that in 2021, the World Bank estimated Nigeria's housing deficit to be at 15.56 million units, and in 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria put the housing deficit statistics at 28 million units with an estimated funding need of N21 trillion. This, building experts say, is a 100% rise from 2010, when the deficit was 14 million units. 

Therefore, the housing deficit in Nigeria is a significant concern for the nation's socio-economic development, as may be comparable to other developing nations. Thus, some facts worthy of note about Nigeria's housing deficit were that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) estimated that only 10% of Nigerians who want to own a home can afford to do so. 

Others include that the cost of building materials is a major factor in the housing deficit, with over 60% of housing construction costs going to imported materials; The number of abandoned real estate projects is increasing, with developers sometimes stopping construction due to high building material costs; The real estate sector has contributed over 10% to Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the past eight years. Just as some schools of thought said that increasing investment in the real estate sector could help reduce the housing deficit and contribute to the country's GDP. 

Banned 25 years ago, fashionable in Nigeria:

Whereas occupational safety and health experts in Southampton, England at HCS Safety, had declared “Yes, asbestos roofing was banned in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1999,” they stated further that the ban was on all types of asbestos as at November 1999, which included the import, export, sale, and purchase of any materials that contained asbestos. 

Unfortunately, Nigeria is the opposite of this in obvious ignorance of the ban thereby turning and preparing her cities into future asbestos explosions. 

As the year 2024 marked the 25th year since Asbestos roofing was banned in UK, the likes of nine others have since joined the ban including some three African countries of Djibouti in 1999, Egypt in 2005 and Gabon: Gabon between 2002 and 2004, while the European Union (EU) comprising some 28 federated countries banned all forms of asbestos in 2005.

It was gathered that asbestos, a material once proclaimed for its durability and fire-resistant properties, was banned in countries like the UK to prevent exposure to a substance that could cause severe health conditions, such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma for the citizenry.

Don’t blame it on village people:

Although, experts believed that it is only 10 per cent of those who desire owning a home in Nigeria that could afford it, either by way of purchase or personal construction.

Also, in Nigeria, there is no clear cut guidelines or regulation on Asbestos usage, especially for roofing fashion, it's crucial to note that breathing in these asbestos fibres could damage one’s lung tissue and in a short-while, may cause lung disease, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The risk of lung cancer from breathing in asbestos fibres is also greater if one is a smoker.

Generally one needs to be around high levels of asbestos for a long time to get these health problems, according to experts and takes about 20 to 30 years for symptoms of these diseases to show after it was first encountered with asbestos.

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH), Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), and Occupational Standards professionals to name a few stakeholders, are called upon to impress it on the Federal Government to develop a framework towards enlisting of experts locally in Nigeria to offer professional services and advice on use of such materials.

It is imperative whilst creating more awareness on and around asbestos technology and related risks; before the likes of Amin falls a victim or began to blame it on his ‘village people’ who are coming after him because he now owns a house, not knowing he may have actually purchased what endangered his life and family, moreso, if he is asthmatic or a smoker.

So, before roofing your dream house, consider the above asbestos technology pros and cons, even though from our findings, zinc roofing sheets are far cheaper in Nigeria to use than asbestos. 

For instance, Asbestos sheet or slate cost between N2000 and N3000 per meter, depending on the make, the gauge, thickness, and quality, a bundle of zinc roofing sheet cost between N45,000 and N60,000 as at the time of filing this report; A bundle of zinc contains 20 pieces of sheets.

In Nigeria, when will a stitch in time save nine?