Asbestos Surveys are a Great Place to Start
While many people have heard of asbestos and know that it can be harmful to your health, not as many know its prevalence in homes built between the 1940s and the 1980s. Asbestos was used in a great many different building materials, and if you move into an older home, there could be the chance of you finding asbestos.
A great way to know before you buy a property is to make sure you get a survey that includes identifying if any asbestos is in the house so you can make an informed decision when you buy it. However, not all home surveys are equal, and some might miss their presence if they don’t know where to look. Asbestos is typically found in new attic or basement conversions and was used to make the following;
- Basement boiler
- Basement pipes
- Plaster
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Ceiling tiles
- Roof shingles
- HVAC duct insulation
- Caulking
- Blow in attic insulation.
Asbestos in your home can be extremely damaging to your health and linked to many health conditions, including cancer. If you disturb the asbestos and breathe in the particles, it can negatively affect your health.
But, what are the symptoms of mesothelioma? They can include;
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
- Breathing problems
- Chronic cough
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Fluid builds up in the lungs.
Symptoms from asbestos exposure aren’t immediate and can occur any time from 10 to 50 years after exposure. This is why it is vital to ensure the safe and correct removal of asbestos from your home.
What Should You Do If You Find Asbestos?
Two of the main giveaways that you could have asbestos in your home are;
- Uninsulated pipes with white or gray insulation remnants on the fittings.
- An outline of flooring tiles in nine-inch square patterns, which was a common tile size containing asbestos.
However, this isn’t definitive, and if your home was built in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, or 70s, then calling in an asbestos expert can help you identify the presence of asbestos. Worryingly, the US hasn’t banned the use of asbestos even despite the overwhelming evidence of the damage it can cause. But these days, it is less common. Instead, it is used frequently as it once was.
If you find or suspect you have found asbestos in your home, you mustn’t attempt to remove it yourself. Clear the area and make sure no one has access to it at all. Then you need to call expert asbestos removal companies to have them come and remove all traces of asbestos and make your home safe again. Sadly many people live in the presence of asbestos and are oblivious to it until they become ill later in life.
The key to safe and effective asbestos removal is identifying it in your home and ensuring it is removed properly and replaced with safer materials. Bear this in mind when undertaking repairs on an older house, and always check with experts if you are unsure if you have uncovered asbestos in your home to avoid the possibility of it affecting your health.
