Asbestos used to be a popular material for wall, attic and pipe insulation, vinyl floor tiles and vinyl floor sheeting, roofing materials, cement pipe, sheet rock and spackle, wall coatings and textures and other building materials in homes built before the year 2000. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. It is essential to know whether you have asbestos present in your home so that you can take appropriate precautionary measures. This article discusses how to tell if your home has asbestos and what steps you need to take should this be the case.
- Inspect Building Materials That Could Contain Asbestos
First, you should identify if you need an asbestos inspection in your home by evaluating any building materials that could potentially contain asbestos by date, type and texture. This includes insulation, drywall, flooring, drywall and joint compound, wall or ceiling textures, mastics or adhesives, as these were known to commonly use asbestos in the past.
Asbestos can be very dangerous!
If you notice this type of material in your home at an age of 30 or more years old, it is a strong sign that your home may have been constructed with a toxic substance.
- Your Home’s Age
Whether your home was built recently or is older than thirty years, the primary factor affecting whether it contains asbestos is its age. Older buildings are more likely to contain asbestos materials that were commonly used as insulation, such as vermiculite, during construction. If your home was built prior to 1980, it is smart to perform an inspection for asbestos and take necessary precautions if it is found and is required by the EPA if you are renovating or demolishing a property. Ignoring this potential danger can cause long-term harm. It is never too late to take action and address the hazards of asbestos in your home.
- Respiratory Problems
One of the primary reasons to have an asbestos inspection is due to the latency period that it takes for symptoms to materialize after exposure. It takes 20-30 years after exposure before any symptoms show up even though the damage has already started. Shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain are all signs of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers that can lead to serious pathology-related illnesses such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is especially dangerous when breathed into the lungs because it cannot be broken down or dispelled from the body, due to this the body continually attempts to dispel it and continually creates scarring and over time the lungs lose their elasticity. If anyone in your household has reported symptoms that could be associated with asbestos it might be wise to consider professional testing done by an experienced contractor who knows how to properly identify hazardous materials and take steps necessary for removal.
- Professional Inspection
When it comes to your home, protecting it from damage and harm is top of mind for most homeowners. One way you can do this is by getting a professional inspection to determine if your home has asbestos. Asbestos can become dangerous when disturbed, releasing fibers into the air that can cause respiratory problems and other serious health concerns. It is important to have a professional inspect for asbestos to get an accurate reading of your home and determine the proper course of action if asbestoses are found.
Doing so increases safety in your home, in addition to giving you peace of mind that any materials containing this hazardous substance are identified and handled responsibly.
How is Professional Asbestos Inspection Conducted?
Professional asbestos inspections are an important process in ensuring a healthy environment. It involves trained professionals who inspect and identify asbestos-containing materials. The inspection begins with gathering information about the site to be inspected, including its history, type of construction, and any renovations that may have occurred. There are different types of sampling methods utilized during the inspection such as surface/ dust sampling and bulk collection of material to confirm if asbestos-containing materials are found in the ceiling or flooring tiles, insulation pipes or ducts, shingles or wallpaper. Finally, detailed reports outlining the results of all tests are shared with the contractor or building owner.
As you can see, the presence of asbestos in the home is serious and should not be taken lightly. It is important to have a professional assessment done on homes built before 1980 to understand the risks and any potential dangers that could arise from exposure. If you suspect your home may contain asbestos, then it is time for a professional inspection. Furthermore, proper precautionary measures should be taken if asbestos is found, such as wearing protective gear and avoiding contact with any of the materials that may contain this hazardous mineral. Working with experts will ensure that asbestos is properly tested, and if found, necessary measures are taken to eliminate it from your home, eventually making your house asbestos-free.
