Asbestos is one of those things that almost everyone is aware is hazardous, yet only a small number of individuals have really
experienced the hazards of asbestos firsthand. Although we are aware that asbestos exists, identifying asbestos may be a challenging
task. In case you have a reasonable suspicion that you may have asbestos in your house, here are some tips on how to identify and
address the situation.
How Do You Know If You Have Asbestos in Your Home?
For decades, asbestos has been revered in the construction and industrial industries for its qualities as a strong, cheap, and fire-resistant
building material. However, asbestos is now being phased out due to environmental concerns. We now understand that asbestos
exposure over an extended period of time can result in illness, respiratory difficulties, and other long-term health complications. Despite
the fact that asbestos was more often utilised in homes built before 1970, asbestos-containing construction materials are still available
today.
By simply looking at something, it is virtually difficult to determine whether or not it includes asbestos. However, there are certain types of
materials that are more likely to contain asbestos than others. To begin your search for asbestos in your house, check for the following
typical culprits:
Textured paints: Until the 1990s, asbestos was frequently utilised in the production of paint ingredients.
In the case of a fireplace or a wood stove, older homes, particularly those with fireplaces or wood stoves, are more likely to include
asbestos in the building materials used for fire resistance.
Siding shingles are made of a variety of materials. To make shingles more fire-resistant in older homes, asbestos was occasionally
included in the manufacturing process.
Vinyl floor tiles are a type of flooring that is made of vinyl. Some floor tiles, as well as the adhesive that was used to hold those tiles in
place, contained asbestos.
Insulation for the attic: It’s possible that any insulation in your attic was polluted with asbestos if your house was built between 1920 and
1980.
Sadly, because there isn’t a comprehensive list of all of the brands or goods that contain asbestos, it’s hard to tell for certain whether the
items in your house were constructed using asbestos or not. Damaged drywall, siding, shingles, or floor tiles, frayed piping or insulation,
and corrugated cement roofing are all indicators that your house may be contaminated with asbestos. However, none of these signs is a
guarantee that you have asbestos in your home.
Tests for asbestos contamination are the only means to determine whether or not a given location contains asbestos. It is critical that you
never test for asbestos on your own. Always use the services of a competent asbestos testing organisation.
Precautions Should Be Taken When Working Near Asbestos
The safest course of action if you aren’t sure whether a portion of your house has asbestos is to leave it alone until it can be tested and
either removed or controlled. Keeping activities in that part of your home to a bare minimum is also a good idea.
It is not harmful to inhale asbestos fibres until the fibres are discharged into the air and subsequently breathed. Therefore, avoid
disturbing places where there may be an asbestos problem. You should, on the other hand, make an effort to keep an eye on that area of
the house. It is possible that such fibres may be discharged as a result of structural damage, and prolonged exposure will increase the
likelihood of health problems. If you are planning any remodelling work in an area that may contain asbestos, you should first have the
hazardous materials removed by a competent asbestos removal service before proceeding.
What Are the Benefits of Having an Asbestos Test Done?
It is doubtful that asbestos-containing materials, if they are intact and in excellent shape, would cause any danger to you or your family. It
is, however, difficult to guarantee that asbestos that is in good condition will remain in good condition. Various events such as fires, floods,
and earthquakes, as well as renovation efforts and natural wear and tear, can release asbestos into the air and cause it to become
airborne. It is extremely vital to have your house tested for asbestos if you live in one of the following situations:
You intend to rebuild your home, but you are concerned that the construction would disturb asbestos-containing materials.
Renovation of an older property, since the tiles and old adhesive used to lay the tiles might contain asbestos.
In certain areas of the structure, such as drywall or insulation, there is apparent structural deterioration.
You’ve had some type of damage, such as water damage, in an area of your house where you believe there may be asbestos present.
If you live in a house constructed between 1920 and 1989, you have an insulated attic.
Asbestos: Identifying It and Managing It
There is no disputing that having asbestos in your house can pose a multitude of health risks to you and your family. If you do decide that
you want to have asbestos testing done, it is critical that you contact an expert because collecting samples yourself may be considerably
more dangerous than simply having the chemical in the vicinity.
Asbestos identification can be a difficult task to do. In the same way that an unskilled individual should not attempt to wrangle a bear in
the wild, homeowners would be better served by enabling a professional to handle any possible asbestos concerns. If you think that you
have asbestos in your house, take a deep breath, take a step back, and call Swift Asbestos Removal right away.
