Asbestos related diseases and deaths have made a significant impact on society in the past twenty years based on several decades of it’s use as a component of building and insulation materials. These illnesses and deaths continue to mount as people who were exposed continue to develop symptoms years after their exposure. A part of the reason for this is because asbestos is still present in some homes and buildings and some people are being needlessly exposed to it because they lack information. The thing that exacerbates the problem is that many of the asbestos related illnesses take many years to develop after the exposure to the asbestos containing material.
Asbestos was widely used for its fireproofing and insulation capabilities which are why it can be found in many of the insulating components found inside a house. Aside from that, it can be found as a component of textured or popcorn ceilings, sheet flooring, floor tile, joint compounds, glues or mastics and other building materials. Even though it was widely used in a huge variety of applications, the problem was discovered that asbestos can cause a wide variety of diseases and illnesses. It is for this reason that various governments have established campaigns to raise the awareness of the potential of asbestos in homes so that exposure can be minimized or suppressed completely when repairing, renovating or remodeling a home.
The first thing you must do if you suspect that materials in your home contain asbestos is to have them tested. This must be done by a laboratory that is licensed or accredited to perform asbestos analysis.
To find out more about asbestos in your home including information about how to test materials for asbestos, download this free ebook – The Truth About Asbestos In Your Home.
If the laboratory results indicate the presence of asbestos, the next step is to contact a licensed asbestos abatement or removal company in order to have the asbestos removed professionally.
Please note that a reputable laboratory will not make any recommendations regarding an asbestos abatement company as this would imply a conflict of interest.
The basic process is as follows:
* You should have several samples collected from the area which is being remodeled or repaired. More than one sample is usually necessary since the asbestos may not be uniformly distributed through the material. This will help to minimize the potential for any false positives for the material being tested. This sampling should be done by a professional or you should contact the laboratory for specific instructions.
* Once the samples are collected they should be sent to the laboratory following the directions given by the lab personnel. It should be noted that if you are having the samples collected by a professional, you should be the one to select the lab that the samples will be sent to to avoid any potential conflict of interest. The results should be sent directly to you even if you are having someone collect the samples for you.
* You should receive the results from the lab within seven days or less. If the lab reports the presence of asbestos in the samples and you still wish to perform the repairs or remodeling, you should then begin the process of contacting licensed asbestos abatement contractors. They will need copies of the laboratory results and will come out to determine what materials need to be removed. You should get at least three estimates if at all possible. Also, be sure to check the credentials of the company.
Most reputable asbestos abatement companies will provide copies of their credentials as well as references upon request. Once you have contracted with one of these companies, they will begin the work of removing the asbestos containing materials so that you can then proceed with your repair or remodeling job.
Comments are closed