Asbestos is super fine fiberous material found in the make-up of many products used to build homes prior to 1980. While regulations now control the asbestos in the construction industry, it is important to be aware of the age of the home you may be looking to purchase as these materials can still be found in homes today. Some homes may contain vermiculate attic insulation contaminated with asbestos. Some newer houses may also contain asbestos if standards or quality were not paramount in the construction of the home.
There are two basic types of asbestos:
Friable asbestos can be easily crumbled or reduced to a powder and can become airborne. Non–friable asbestos is more tightly bound with another material and its fibers cannot easily be made airborne unless they are sanded, cut, or sawed.
Asbestos can be extremely dangerous and even deadly when particals are inhaled. Asbestos fibers become imbed in the lungs and respiratory system causes severe pain, infections, and inflammation among other symptoms.
Testing for asbestos should be performed by a licensed and properly equipped professional. In the event you do have asbestos, it is important that a professional extract samples carefully to submit for testing. Again, disrupting asbestos and making the fibers airbourne will be very dangerous. Your licenesed inspector will be able to submit your samples with proper handling and will be able to tell you if you do have asbestos and which type. Your inspector will be able tell you which affected areas of your home need repair. Just like your inspection, if you need repairs related to asbestos you need to make sure that a professional company handles this hazardous material removal.
If you have concerns about asbestos in your home, please contact us right away so we can ensure that you and your family are safe.
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