Asbestos awareness for homeowners is very limited, yet being aware of this potential silent killer is very important. This article is intended to create asbestos awareness to homeowners. Homes built before 1980 are infamous for containing high levels of asbestos. Although the material is great as an insulator and resistant to heat and chemicals, it is an incredibly toxic agent that has been known to take the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. There are many homes with asbestos in them, which is why it is always important to speak with an asbestos inspector before you begin home renovations. Below are some of the main ways for homeowners to spot asbestos signs.
Can I Visually Inspect for Asbestos?
One of the most important things to consider when you looking for signs of asbestos is that it is incredibly difficult for even the most trained eyes to visually spot this material in your home. That is to say, it is almost impossible to see asbestos with the naked eye. Instead, you will want to hire an asbestos inspector who will be able to take samples of suspected materials to determine whether it is an issue in your home or not. These samples will then be sent to a certified laboratory for further analysis.
Researching Manufacturers
Since asbestos is such a prevalent problem in homes around the world, there are a variety of resources that you can use to determine if there is asbestos in your home. The most important thing to think about is the manufacturer of your drywall and flooring. Whether you use the internet or speak with a professional, they will be able to determine what type of materials were used in your home and if they are known to carry asbestos.
The Age of Your Home
As previously mentioned, homes built before the 1980’s have been known to have an abundance of asbestos, therefore, determining the age of your home will help you to decide whether you could have asbestos in your housing materials or not. In order to determine when your house was built you can speak with your local authority records office to obtain information. In most circumstances, when you are entering renovations that may disturb the materials, you will have an asbestos professional to thoroughly inspect the home.
Definitive Asbestos Signs
When you are looking for signs of asbestos any materials that have been more recently used will have definitive markings that state that the material has asbestos in it. As an example, a piece of your flooring may say “Contains Asbestos”. On the other hand, other materials may even explicitly state that they do not contain asbestos. Looking for markings is another great way to ensure that you’re not dealing with dangerous materials.