Do You Suspect Asbestos in Your Home? How to Avoid Risks
by Audrey Ramos
When you acquire your home, the first few years are like a dream for most people, but a few years down the line, issues may begin to develop, and some of them can be dangerous. One such issue is asbestos.
Asbestos is a type of fibre that is quite strong and extremely resistant to chemicals and heat. However, unlike other common issues exhibited in almost every home, the asbestos problem is only found in buildings built after the 1990s. The reason this is an issue is that asbestos is used as a type of cladding material in shed and garage roofing sheets, and this can be a risk to you and your loved ones.
Why is asbestos a problem?
Despite its use on garage and shed roofing sheets, asbestos becomes an issue when its fibres are released in the air. Once these fibres are breathed in, they end up causing damage to the lungs.
If the asbestos level in your house is quite high, inhaling them over a particular period can lead to lung cancer. This is why it is essential to avoid a lot of movement around areas with asbestos: to prevent the fibres from getting released into the air.
Where can asbestos be found?
Like mentioned earlier, houses built in the 1990s have a high risk of containing asbestos. Some of the places you can easily find it in your home include:
Domestic equipment and heat appliances: Due to its resistance to heat, asbestos has been used in heat appliances and domestic equipment like oven gloves, fire blankets and iron boards.
Your walls: One of the most popular asbestos materials currently is asbestos cement. It has been used to construct wall cladding. It is also used in partition boards and roofing.
How to get rid of asbestos
Unlike other home issues, if you ever have asbestos issues, it is best not to disturb it, as this prevents the fibres from disbursing into the air. When it comes to asbestos removal, it is best to leave it to professionals.
Hiring a professional ensures that your home is thoroughly inspected and this helps to rule out other areas of your home that may be a potential site for asbestos. They also assess the type of asbestos and advice you on the way forward.
Since they have the right equipment, they can remove it without causing the asbestos to disburse into the air. So before you take matters into your own hands, call an asbestos removal professional. They will advise you on the way forward.
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About Me
Hello, my name is Carl and this is my construction and contractor blog. I do not work in the construction business but last year, my wife and I had a lot of work carried out on our summer home which is located on the Gold Coast. Winter storms had damaged the roof and a couple of seabirds had made a nest in there. The place was a real mess but thankfully the contractors did a great job of repairing the roof and fixing up the damage to the loft space. I learn a lot during the repairs so I decided to start a new blog. Enjoy!
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