Asbestos Abatement
One of the main issues surrounding asbestos
abatement involves exactly who should be removing asbestos from
contaminated locations—is it safe for the average homeowner to remove
asbestos themselves, or should a licensed asbestos abatement contractor
handle this task? In reality, every homeowner has the legal right to
remove asbestos from their homes, as no federal abatement regulations
are extended to homeowners. Only owners of commercial and public
buildings are required to hire an asbestos abatement professional.
Since it is up to the
homeowner to either hire a licensed contractor or remove the
asbestos-containing materials themselves, it’s important to know the
risks involved with asbestos abatement and exposure to make a safe and
educated decision. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral once
extensively used in a variety of building materials through the late
1970s, and even into the 1980s. Throughout those decades, enormous
amounts of evidence proved that asbestos exposure can lead to an array
of health problems. Some of these ailments include asbestosis (a
persistent and progressive lung disease), lung cancer, and an extremely
rare form of cancer called
mesothelioma.
Where to Spot Asbestos
Wildly popular material,
asbestos products were fitted in nearly every home built prior to 1978.
It is important to note asbestos was still utilized in construction
after this year, just in much smaller quantities. Typically, asbestos
does not pose a health threat unless its fibers are released into the
atmosphere, and as such, countless homes built before the 1980s still
contain asbestos.
Employed in both indoor
and outdoor building materials, asbestos may be lurking in numerous
locations throughout older homes. In fact, some exterior asbestos
products such as cement siding and roofing materials are still legally
allowed to contain asbestos. Other exterior asbestos products that may
be found on older homes include, base flashing (weatherproofing
material), asbestos siding, shingles, clapboard, roofing felt, and even
sand (if made from crushed rock). Indoor uses of asbestos include the
following:
o
Cement pipes (such as sewer lines and water mains)
o
Caulk, putty, and other adhesives
o
Ceiling materials (the popular “popcorn ceiling")
o
Fuse box linings
o
All forms of insulation
o
Millboard and rollboard
o
Pipe coverings
o
Vinyl wall covering
o
Plumbing putty
o
Vinyl floor, wall, and ceiling tiles
Testing for Asbestos
If you suspect any of
these materials may be present in your older home, the next step is to
have the material tested for asbestos. It is best to hire an
experienced and licensed contractor or home inspector to perform an
assessment. These professionals may be able to tell by a visual
inspection whether certain products contain asbestos, but this all
depends on the material. But even this is not an infallible method, as
the only guaranteed way to know if a home is contaminated with asbestos
is to have a professional collect samples and have them tested. Samples
are sent to a special laboratory where tests will confirm if the
material contains asbestos.
Methods of Remediation
First and foremost, to
ensure the utmost in safety for yourself and your family, make sure to
hire a professional for all asbestos repairs and removal. If replacing
the asbestos material(s) is not an affordable option yet, have the
contractor seal off the product until thorough removal is a realistic
option. However, if the contaminated products become damaged or worn in
any way, or become friable or easily crumbled, they must be quickly
repaired or replaced.
There are four typical ways to deal with asbestos
in domestic homes, and they include enclosure, encapsulation, repair,
and removal. Enclosing asbestos-containing material essentially
involves the building of a box around the area. This theoretically
prevents damaged asbestos particles from entering the atmosphere. This
method is not foolproof and extreme care must be taken throughout the
construction of the enclosure to make sure asbestos fibers are not
disturbed.
Encapsulation sounds a lot like
enclosure, but these processes are quite different. This process
involves the application of an acrylic substance with a sprayer over the
asbestos material. Since the acrylic is sprayed on, asbestos fibers are
not disturbed in the process and the acrylic performs as a sealant.
Repairing damaged asbestos-containing products presents a severe risk of
exposure, as damaged asbestos materials may release deadly fibers during
the repair process. This measure is best done by a professional to
avoid unnecessary exposure. The same is true concerning removal since
this method of remediation presents the greatest threat of asbestos
exposure. Hiring an experienced and licensed asbestos abatement
contractor will not only offer peace of mind, it may prevent you and
your family from being exposed to this deadly substance.
For more resources on asbestos, the
various forms of
asbestos cancer and other illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos,
please visit Asbestos.com.
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