Home›Asbestos Encapsulation Services
Permanently seal asbestos cement roofs — Enverge Nexseal LE closed-cell spray foam to the underside from inside, and closed-cell roofing foam over the top side from above. No removal, no strip-out and no disposal — the sheets stay in place, sealed, and the building keeps working.
Only need the roof waterproofed from above? See our Gaco asbestos roof waterproofing coating systems.
Encapsulation manages an asbestos cement roof by sealing the sheets where they are, rather than stripping them off. A closed-cell foam is bonded to the sheets so the fibres are locked in, the roof is protected and its life is extended — with no licensed removal, no disposal and minimal disruption.
It is the practical alternative to a full strip-out. Sound asbestos cement in reasonable condition can be managed in place under S.I. No. 386 of 2006 (as amended) in Ireland and the Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, so in most cases the building keeps working right through the job — no scaffolding-heavy removal, no skips of licensed waste and no weeks of closure.
We survey the roof first, confirm the sheets are suitable and specify the right route: Enverge Nexseal LE closed-cell spray foam to the underside, closed-cell roofing foam over the top side, or both together for complete cover. You get a fixed price from the survey and a full completion pack — records, dated photos, product data and warranty — for your asbestos register.
Every route is priced per project — a free survey confirms a fixed quote for your building.
| RECOMMENDEDRouteFully installed | Pricing | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Interior — Nexseal LE | Fixed price after survey | Enverge Nexseal LE closed-cell foam applied to the underside of the sheets. Final price depends on roof area, access and the condition of the sheets. |
| Exterior — closed-cell roofing foam | Fixed price after survey | Closed-cell roofing foam applied over the top side, finished with GacoFlex S42 silicone. Final price depends on roof area, access and the condition of the sheets. |
| Full removal & re-roof | Far higher per m² | For comparison only — plus licensed disposal fees and a 1–4 week closure. Encapsulation seals the sheets in place with the building still in use. |
The right route depends on access, the roof’s condition and whether waterproofing is the priority — we specify one or both from the survey.
Nexseal LE is a closed-cell spray polyurethane foam applied to the underside of asbestos cement sheets from inside the building. At a minimum application thickness of 25mm, it permanently bonds to and seals the interior face of every sheet, creating a rigid encapsulant layer that prevents asbestos fibre release while simultaneously insulating the building and controlling condensation.
Closed-cell roofing foam is a closed-cell polyurethane roofing foam system applied to the top surface of asbestos cement sheets from above. At a minimum application thickness of 25mm, it encapsulates the exterior face of every sheet, creates a seamless waterproof foam deck, and extends the service life of the roof by 20 years or more. A GacoFlex silicone or acrylic top coat provides UV resistance and weatherproofing.
A rigid polymer matrix permanently locks asbestos fibres in place. Unlike coatings, spray foam cannot peel, flake or crack over time — fibres are encapsulated for the life of the building.
Sheets stay exactly where they are. No licensed removal contractor, no disposal costs, no disruption to the building or its occupants. The foam goes on and the job is done.
Closed-cell foam bonds to and stiffens ageing asbestos cement sheets that have become brittle over decades. The composite of foam and sheet is far stronger than either alone.
At λ 0.027 W/m·K, Nexseal LE provides significant U-value improvement even at 25mm. Interior encapsulation at standard thickness can cut roof heat loss by 40–60%.
Interior closed-cell foam raises the surface temperature of the roof above the dew point and acts as an integral vapour barrier. Condensation dripping stops immediately.
Both interior and exterior systems extend the service life of asbestos cement roofing by 20 years or more from the date of application, deferring or eliminating full roof replacement.
Any non-domestic building with asbestos cement roof sheets — pick the closest match. Roofs only, top side or underside.
Distribution, storage and logistics units.
Book a survey →Working factories kept operational throughout.
Book a survey →Workshops, trade counters and light-industrial units.
Book a survey →Barns, stores and livestock housing.
View page →Schools, leisure and civic buildings.
Book a survey →Vehicle workshops, MOT bays and depot roofs.
Book a survey →Clear-span and large industrial roofs.
Book a survey →Exterior foam and Gaco silicone seal and waterproof.
View page →| What matters | RECOMMENDEDEncapsulationSheets sealed in place | Removal & re-roofingStrip-out and replace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | A fraction of removal — fixed price after survey | Removal + re-roof runs far higher per m² |
| Disruption | Minimal — building stays in use | High — scaffolding, exclusion, closures |
| Downtime | Days, building keeps operating | Weeks, the area is taken out of use |
| Asbestos disturbed? | No — sheets stay in place, sealed | Yes — sheets broken out and removed |
| Waste & licensing | No asbestos disposal or strip-out | Licensed disposal and consignment notes |
| Roof life | Extended by 20+ years | New roof, but at the highest cost |
Both interior and exterior systems extend the service life of asbestos cement roofing by 20 years or more from the date of application — deferring or eliminating the need for full roof replacement.
Interior encapsulation at standard thickness can cut roof heat loss by 40–60%, so the same job that seals the fibres also cuts the heating bill.
Interior Nexseal LE: 25-year manufacturer-backed material warranty. Exterior closed-cell roofing foam with GacoFlex silicone: 20-year manufacturer-backed product warranty.
The interior Enverge foam, the exterior closed-cell roofing foam and its GacoFlex S42 silicone top coat — specified to your roof and how the building is used.
The interior encapsulation system: a spray-applied closed-cell foam bonded to the underside of the asbestos sheets that seals the fibres, insulates and controls condensation. Can be overcoated (e.g. DC315) to a Euroclass B fire rating where required.
The exterior encapsulation system: a spray-applied roofing foam laid over the top side of the sheets that seals the outer face, fills laps, fixings and ridges into a seamless deck, and is finished with a GacoFlex silicone top coat.
The silicone waterproofing top coat applied over the closed-cell roofing foam. A seamless, UV-stable liquid silicone membrane that weatherproofs and protects the foam and keeps the encapsulated roof watertight for the long term. Silicone coating — not a foam.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 386 of 2006, as amended) in Ireland, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, the duty holder of a non-domestic building must manage asbestos-containing materials. Encapsulation is a recognised way to manage sound asbestos cement in situ.
Keep a written record of the asbestos-containing materials in the building — their location, type and condition — and keep it accessible to anyone who might disturb them.
Set out how those materials will be managed — monitored, encapsulated or removed — and review the plan whenever building, roof or maintenance work is planned on site.
Sound asbestos cement can remain in place provided it is monitored. Encapsulation is a recognised way to stabilise the sheets in situ and stop fibres being released.
Encapsulating asbestos cement must be survey-led and risk-assessed, with HSA notification and permit where required under the Exposure to Asbestos Regulations 2006–2025, and trained operatives in place.
Northern Ireland companies may be able to claim Land Remediation Relief (LRR) — a corporation-tax relief on qualifying costs of dealing with asbestos in a building or on land acquired in a contaminated state. Whether a project qualifies, and how much relief applies, depends on your circumstances and is confirmed with your tax adviser.
Send the building type, roof, location, area and photos.
We assess the sheets’ condition, access and which system suits.
Interior, exterior or both, with a fixed, fully installed price and RAMS.
Applied in place with the correct controls — no strip-out.
Completion pack, records and the applicable warranties.
Recent steel-building and industrial-roof projects — the same closed-cell spray foam approach used to encapsulate asbestos cement roofs.
Real encapsulation projects from industrial, agricultural and commercial buildings across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Send the building type, roof condition and a few photos and we’ll book your free site survey and confirm the right system — interior, exterior or both.
Straight answers on cost, the two systems, licensing, warranties and what happens after — before you book a survey. Can’t see yours? Ask us and we’ll come back the same working day.
The method in detail — how the sheets are sealed, top side or underside, and what gets specified.
Learn more →CostCost per m², what drives it, and how it compares with removal and re-roofing.
Learn more →WaterproofingEncapsulate and weatherproof asbestos-cement roofs with Gaco silicone — no intrusive removal.
Learn more →CoatingsGacoFlex silicone, acrylic and urethane systems for commercial and industrial roofs.
Learn more →IndustrialClosed-cell spray foam for metal-clad warehouse and industrial roofs.
Learn more →AgriculturalBarns, stores and livestock housing with asbestos-cement and metal roofs.
Learn more →Send your building details and a few photos. We confirm the right system — interior, exterior or both — and book your free survey.
Prefer to talk? Email info@duratite.ie — Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm.
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · info@duratite.ie
External encapsulation is two layers: closed-cell roofing foam sprayed over the cleaned sheets, then a liquid top coat that does the waterproofing. Duratite supplies all three top-coat chemistries — silicone, urethane and polyurea — and all three carry a 20-year manufacturer-backed product warranty. So the right asbestos roof coating is specified on substrate, exposure and foot traffic, never on warranty length.
Silicone
The usual choice of asbestos roof sealant on warehouse, factory and agricultural roofs. Seamless, UV-stable and untroubled by standing water. SF42 is fibre-reinforced; S42 is not. Both can be spray, brush or roller applied.
The 20-year term is film-build dependent — a heavier build earns the longer term — so we quote you the build, not just the number.
20-year manufacturer-backedUrethane
Specified where the roof takes regular foot traffic. U91 is a single-component moisture-curing polyurethane with higher abrasion resistance than silicone. U92 is a two-component heavy-duty urethane for plant rooms, walkways, industrial decks and podium structures, with excellent chemical resistance.
20-year manufacturer-backedPolyurea
A two-component polyurea top coat, applied by plural-component spray. It is a specialist application carried out by trained operatives, and it is specified over encapsulation foam where a heavy-duty seamless finish is wanted.
20-year manufacturer-backedAll three warranties are manufacturer-backed product warranties — never insurance-backed — issued by Duratite. The roofing foam beneath the coating is supplied as either Gaco or Purios, chosen per job.
Get a top-coat recommendationFree survey and fixed written specification in every county, installed through our approved installer network. Choose your area.
Tell us about your building and we’ll recommend the right system — foam, waterproofing or both — surveyed, specified and quoted at no cost.
