Removal of Asbestos in Your Home

The dangers of asbestos have been clear for many decades now. Everyone at some point breathes in traces of asbestos daily because it is naturally found in the environment. However, exposure to significant amounts of asbestos can have serious health problems on a person. This article and subsequent ones will discuss what to do if you find asbestos in your home, focusing on asbestos removal.

If you suspect that your home has asbestos material, understand that you do not always need to take action. It is true that asbestos exposure can lead to serious health problems. However, asbestos materials do not always pass a risk unless the fibres are disturbed and become airborne. If the asbestos material is likely to be disturbed or for your sanity, you can fix or remove the problem.

Removal of Asbestos

Asbestos removal is a permanent but often an expensive solution. Because the biggest risk of releasing asbestos fibres is as a result of removing the asbestos in the first place. Therefore, asbestos removal should be your last option, unless:

• Removal is required under your local or state laws
• There are major changes being undergone to your home that could result in the disturbance of asbestos material
• The asbestos material is too damaged to be repaired safely

Many homeowners consider themselves to be DIY (Do It Yourself) gurus. However, it is important to adhere to specific precautions when it comes to dealing with asbestos. Take note of the following dos and don’ts:

Do:

• avoid contact, disturbing, or damaging asbestos material
• have any repair or removal work done by a qualified asbestos professional
• keep use or activity to a minimum in areas where harmful asbestos material may be present

Don’t:

• Vacuum or try to clean debris or dust that may contain asbestos
• Drill holes or use a saw, sander or other tools on asbestos materials
• Track asbestos materials into or through your home or allow others to do so

If you are suffering the effects of asbestos exposure, speak to an asbestos attorney today for legal advice and representation.