Asbestos ceilings used to be the most common type of ceiling used in Nigeria. Almost every home had them those days. Then came reports about hazards caused by these ceilings reducing their popularity drastically.
The good news is that asbestos ceilings are back and better after a lot of research and tweaks to the original design. Today, we have modern asbestos ceilings and they are made using cellulose materials extracted from plants. The cellulose is mixed with very little asbestos fibre.
Modern asbestos ceilings come with several amazing benefits. Before we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of asbestos ceilings, let’s first look at their prices in Nigeria.
Cost of Asbestos Ceilings in Nigeria
The old asbestos ceilings posed several threats to human life. According to reports, the particles from the ceilings found their way into the body through unconscious swallowing or inhalation. To curb the harmful effects of asbestos, there have been several tweaks to this building material.
Modern asbestos ceilings are manufactured with the safety of the users in mind. As such, they are safer and healthier to use for the construction of buildings. The cellulose present in the modern asbestos ceilings ensures that the asbestos particles are held together tightly. Because of this, it is almost impossible to get poisoned by these particles.
So how much do asbestos ceilings cost in Nigeria? This question is a little difficult to answer because several factors determine the prices of these materials. Here are some of the factors:
- Location
- Vendor
- Price of raw materials
- Transportation costs
- Government policies
We understand that going around to check the market for the cost of asbestos ceilings might be cumbersome. This is why we took it upon ourselves to carry out this research on your behalf. After our survey, we discovered that there are two main types of asbestos ceilings in Nigeria. Check the list below to find out their names and costs.
- High-grade asbestos ceiling (1200 mm by 1200 mm): N1,200 – N1,500 per sheet
- Low-grade asbestos ceiling (1200 mm by 1200 mm): N900 – N1,100 per sheet
Advantages of Asbestos Ceilings
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is used in construction. This means that they are used for several purposes asides from ceilings. So what are the benefits of investing in asbestos ceilings? Here are some of the advantages of asbestos ceilings:
Very affordable
One of the major factors that determine the kind of ceiling you invest in is the price. If you are running on a short budget, then you should consider a more affordable ceiling option. In this case, asbestos ceilings will be your best option. They are far more affordable than most suspended ceiling materials.
Lightweight
Asbestos is not just affordable, it is also very light. It is far lighter than the other materials used in making suspended ceilings. These days, people want to use light materials to build their homes. The heavier the materials, the higher the budget. Since asbestos is lightweight, it doesn’t require much support. As such, you’d be saving a lot more.
Easy installation
Asbestos ceiling sheets are light and long. As a result, the process of installing asbestos ceiling sheets is far easier than that of other materials like POP and PVC. Since the installation is easier, it means that it is also faster. The result of this is that you’d be saving a lot more cost when using asbestos ceilings.
Other advantages include:
- Highly durable.
- Weatherproof
- Resistant to termites.
- Fire-resistant.
- Thermal insulation.
- It helps to increase the energy efficiency of a building.
Disadvantages of Asbestos Ceiling
Despite having these amazing advantages, it has a few disadvantages. We have listed some of them below:
Could trigger lung cancer
Asbestos ceilings contain silica mineral fibre. This means that using asbestos ceilings in your house can result in the release of dust under some conditions. Inhaling this dust can result in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
Results in respiratory tract infections
There are several causes of upper respiratory tract infections. One of these causes is asbestos dust. The dust from asbestos ceilings can affect the respiratory tract. Some of the symptoms of these infections include chest pain, shortness of breath, inflammation, etc.
