Asbestos In Older Homes
If you are planning on remodeling or renovating a home that was built before 1980, it’s important to understand what asbestos is, the hazards that it presents and how to recognize it in your home so that you can avoid those hazards. Knowing how to properly identify, handle and dispose of any asbestos that might be disturbed in the process of renovations will protect you, your family and your community from a serious health hazard.
Why Asbestos Is Dangerous
Asbestos only becomes a hazard when tiny fibers of the mineral become airborne and can be inhaled or swallowed. Once asbestos is in the body, it may remain there for the rest of your life. In your body, asbestos can cause many kinds of cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, and asbestosis, a progressive scarring of the lungs that destroys their ability to function. Generally, those health problems do not become obvious for decades, but they are incurable and invariably fatal. For more information on asbestos cancer and mesothelioma treatment please see the resources at Asbestos.com.
Asbestos and Renovations in Older Homes
In general, asbestos is not a hazard unless it is airborne. That can happen when the materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged. There is a high likelihood that some renovations will disturb or damage asbestos containing materials. Following the steps recommended below can help reduce the risk that your renovations will create a health hazard.
Find out if your home contains asbestos and where it is. The best way to find out of your home contains asbestos is to hire a professional asbestos survey company to conduct a full survey of your home. In some areas of the country, you may be allowed to conduct your own asbestos survey, particularly if you live in a single family detached home. Before beginning, though, be sure to check with your local health department or code authority to find out about the regulations concerning asbestos and renovations in your town, city or county.
A professional surveyor will provide you with a full report that includes the locations and conditions of all the asbestos found in your home. Keep a copy of that report, and be sure to share it with any contractors or others who will be doing work on your building.
Decide what to do if the survey finds asbestos.
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If the renovations you are considering will not disturb the areas where asbestos is
found, you have three options other than removal.
- Leave it alone. Asbestos is only a health risk if it is disturbed or deteriorated. If the material is in good condition, you can safely leave it untouched and monitor its condition to make sure that it remains in good condition.
- Repair or encapsulate the asbestos containing material. It may be possible to seal off the asbestos containing material so that it can’t release asbestos fibers into the air. This is best done by a professional asbestos abatement company. Encapsulation involves treating the asbestos surface with a sealant of that binds the asbestos fibers.
- Isolate the asbestos containing material by enclosing it. Enclosure involves wrapping or covering the asbestos containing material in another material that prevents it from releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
Professionals who are trained in removing asbestos will use special equipment and methods to remove the asbestos without exposing you, your family or the community to asbestos. In addition, a professional asbestos removal firm will take care of proper disposal of asbestos containing materials.
If you do decide to do the asbestos removal yourself, check your local health department or environmental agency to find out which regulations you must follow. Failure to follow all of the regulations when removing asbestos can open you to fines and civil charges, or even criminal charges in some cases. That’s in addition to increasing the health risks for you and your family.
You’ll find detailed instructions on three of the most common asbestos removal tasks at the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:
Removing Popcorn Ceilings: http://www.pscleanair.org/regulated/asbestos/homeowners/asb-popcorn.pdf
Removing Sheet Vinyl Flooring: http://www.pscleanair.org/regulated/asbestos/homeowners/asb-vinyl.pdf
Removing Cement Asbestos Siding: http://www.pscleanair.org/regulated/asbestos/homeowners/asb-siding.pdf
Properly dispose of asbestos-containing materials.
There are specific regulations regarding the disposal of asbestos containing materials. Check with your local health department for regulations concerning the disposal of asbestos in your county, city or town. In most cases, you will need to ensure that all materials containing asbestos are securely sealed, transport them in a closed vehicle and take them to a landfill that has the capability and the certification to handle asbestos-containing materials and construction debris.
For more information on asbestos exposure and abatement please visit the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.
