Why Asbestos Removal And Remediation Is Important?

Asbestos is one of the commonest construction materials used in the 70s and 80s. Most homes in the United States have this material in their plumbing, ceiling, or other areas due to its impressive durability, fire resistance, and insulation properties. However, older or damaged asbestos tends to fall apart over the years, leaving suspended asbestos particles in the air. The suspended particles are largely dangerous to human health as they could be inhaled. The continuous inhalation of asbestos particles has been linked to several health problems affecting the lungs, including lung cancer.

Considering the health risks of having asbestos in your home, it is important to know how to Test for Asbestos in your home in Los Angeles | ARLA. This article goes over the common areas to find asbestos, testing for the construction material, and tips for safe asbestos removal and remediation.

Common Places To Find Asbestos At Home

Older homes built in the 60s, 70s, and 80s mostly have asbestos in them. This is because asbestos was a great construction material in the past when the health effects hadn’t been established. Given the widespread use of asbestos in the past, there’s a high chance you may come across it in these areas of your home;

• Vinyl floor tiles
• Blown-in attic insulation
• Roofing material (most commonly found in flat roofs and occasionally in older shingles)
• Linoleum
• HVAC duct insulation
• Siding material
• Wood caulking and glazing
• Indoor and outdoor paints
• Ceilings
• The glue used to attach floor tiles to wood or concrete
• Fiber cement siding, etc.

While the above are the common areas where you could find asbestos in the home, it could also be found in other less conspicuous areas, depending on how old your home is and whether or not it has undergone extensive remodels.

Also Read: Why Should I Use Gasket for Machine Parts?

How To Test For Asbestos

Asbestos testing or inspection is the first step towards protecting yourself from asbestos-related health problems. There are several ways to test for the problem in your home. They include;

Check For Abrasions, Tears, Or Water Damage

It is possible to suspect that an area of your home contains asbestos. However, the true test of it is to watch out for abrasions, water damage, or tears. It is important to stay away from such suspected areas once there is water damage, tears, or abrasion. This is because the asbestos particles may easily be suspended in the air around the affected area. Seal off access to affected areas and contact an asbestos testing and removal company for help.

Call For Inspection 

A great way to confirm your asbestos suspicions is to contact a trained professional or companies offering asbestos inspection and remediation. Such firms have trained personnel who will come into your home to test the presence of asbestos.

If asbestos is present, the inspectors will tell you where the problem lies and map out a plan to remove the asbestos from your home. You can expect a detailed inspection report at the end of the evaluation. The report will state the extent of the damage and recommend possible solutions, such as asbestos removal and remediation or encapsulation.

Contact An Asbestos Abatement Contractor

Ensure you call an asbestos abatement contractor as soon as it is confirmed that you have asbestos in your home. The professional will work closely with the report delivered by the inspection company to ensure the problem is solved.

Please note that some companies offer both inspection and abatement services. These companies can be trusted to handle the entire process swiftly by setting up appropriate containment measures as soon as a positive result for asbestos testing has been discovered.

Tips For Safe Asbestos Removal 

As a homeowner, you want to ensure that you’ve done your best to remove asbestos from your property. Below are some important tips to keep in mind when removing asbestos from your property.

1. Ensure you get the asbestos disposal manifest before complete removal. This is to ascertain that the asbestos material is being properly disposed of by the company you have hired to do the job.
2. Ensure you have hired only licensed asbestos removal and abatement companies to handle the task. When hiring the asbestos removal company or contractor, ask for references for previously completed jobs.
3. Ensure that the contractor uses the right equipment, including safety gear, during the removal process. All workers on-site should have respirators, appropriate coverings, goggles, etc., to protect them from harmful material.
4. Check with your local authorities, BBB, and other relevant departments to be sure the company or contractor hired is in good standing. Dissociate from companies with safety violations or negative reviews.
5. Verify that the contractor has the right insurance cover to protect yourself from liability.

The above resource will help you avoid the health-related problems associated with asbestos while ensuring that the material is completely removed from your home.