What to Do If You Find Asbestos on Your Property

What should you do if you find asbestos in your home or commercial building? Let’s pick the brains of an experienced demolition company in Stanly County, NC and get some answers!

What is asbestos?

You’ve likely heard of asbestos, but may be not sure what it is. Here’s an explanation: asbestos is a group of six types of naturally occurring minerals that are made up of fine and durable fibers. They are heat and corrosion resistant, which, in the past, made them an ideal choice for use in everyday products like pipe insulation, floor tiles, common building materials and even vehicle brake systems. However, you’re probably more familiar with asbestos exposure causing mesothelioma, a type of cancer.

What to do if you find asbestos in your home

First and foremost, do not touch anything you suspect is asbestos. The most common way asbestos becomes a risk in homes and buildings is when it’s disturbed to the point that it produces dust containing asbestos fibers, such as while tearing out walls and ceilings during a remodel.

In a lot of cases, materials in the home that contain asbestos are okay and can be left in place, as long as the material is not damaged, degraded or worn through. For instance, your home may have internal asbestos cement sheet ceilings or walls. If they are in good condition and painted, then they may not pose significant health risks. In short, leave these materials alone, but do inspect them occasionally for signs of damage or deterioration.

Testing for asbestos

There is a number of laboratories around the country that can analyze your home’s or building’s materials for asbestos. You have a couple options for testing: call a company to come and inspect your home and test for asbestos, or order an at-home testing kit. You will collect a sample of the suspicious material yourself, then send it back to the laboratory for analysis. The lab should be available by phone to give you advice on the proper way to take and send a sample.

Careful considerations

If you want to remove an asbestos-containing material from your building, there are some important things you will want to consider:

• The material is still in good condition. It’s not damaged and is firmly in place. Would you consider leaving it alone?
• Think about the alternatives to removing a material containing asbestos, such as covering it with a non-asbestos product, sealing or paining it.
• Your state or city will have laws and safety procedures in place for working with asbestos. Are you familiar with them, and will you be able to comply?
• Unless you’re trained to remove asbestos, your best course of action is to hire a licensed asbestos removal specialist.

Do you suspect you have asbestos in your home or commercial space? It’s better to get it checked and tested and know for sure rather than risk your health.

Are you searching for a reputable demolition company in Stanly County, NC? Look no further than Thompson Grading & Hauling, Inc. Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation.

Categorised in: demolition

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