How to Tell if You Need Asbestos Abatement Services
Asbestos, once commonly used as insulation for electrical wiring and buildings, has since been found to have deadly effects. Exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of respiratory issues, ranging from mesothelioma to lung cancer.
Many homeowners assume asbestos is a problem of a bygone era. Unfortunately, estimates indicate that asbestos exposure still kills 12,000 to 15,0000 Americans every year.
To protect your family, it’s important to know how to avoid asbestos exposure. This way, you can take proactive steps to have asbestos abatement done.
Here are some factors to consider.
The Age of Your Home
The dangers of asbestos were identified as early as the 1960s. But the United States government did not ban the use of asbestos in construction until 1989.
If your home was built before this time, there is a chance that asbestos was used for insulation.
Common Places for Asbestos
It’s important to know where builders might have placed asbestos in your home. This way, you can take caution if damage to a part of your home exposes underlying asbestos.
Builders used asbestos because of its sturdiness and resistance to heat. For this reason, you can expect to find it in insulation, between walls, in roofing shingles, and around pipes and boilers.
In some cases, you may notice that you have pipes that aren’t insulated but have remnants of gray or white installation around them. This could be an indicator of a shoddy asbestos removal job.
Asbestos was also often under flooring for installation. Older flooring patterns that feature 9X9 tiles are more likely to contain asbestos.
Another common place for asbestos is in the attic. If you purchase an older home, it’s a good idea to have an inspector check the attic for asbestos before you put the Christmas decorations up there.
Are You Planning a Renovation?
Since asbestos was mostly used for insulation, it’s often contained in homes behind drywall or under flooring. Left undisturbed, this underlying asbestos can be relatively safe for a while. But renovations can lead this asbestos to crumble, and allow it to become airborne.
So if you’re planning a renovation in an older home, it’s important to consult a professional before you start tearing down walls. Otherwise, you could inadvertently expose your home to asbestos.
Materials Damage by Asbestos
Keep in mind that, once asbestos is exposed, any items affected by the exposure can be just as dangerous. So, if you tear down a wall and find out it contains asbestos, you would need to dispose of any furniture in that room. This is why it’s important to consult a professional before attempting demolition.
Deciding to Get Asbestos Abatement
If you suspect that your home might have asbestos, it may be time to call for asbestos abatement services so this project can be handled by a professional. Contact us today for a free quote. Our trained professionals will be able to inspect your home for asbestos, and safely remove any hazardous materials they find.
Remember, when it comes to your family’s health, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
