5 Things Every Homeowner Should Know About Asbestos

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few decades, you will already know that asbestos is a potentially harmful material and when it comes to home renovations, there are good indicators for the presence of asbestos. If your home was constructed pre-1990, there is a good chance that asbestos was used in the build; at that time, asbestos was used in the manufacture of roofing panels, partition sheeting and other composite materials.

Here are some important things that you should know about asbestos.

1. Asbestos testing is possible – The same company that carries out Perth asbestos removal also tests buildings for the presence of asbestos. If your home is more than 40 years old, it is possible that asbestos was used in the building materials; this is something you can only be certain with asbestos testing.
2. Avoid disturbing suspect material – If you are renovating your kitchen and you are unsure whether or not the old cladding contains asbestos, we do not recommend disturbing the material. Call one of the state-approved asbestos removal contractors and let the experts determine whether or not there is a risk to you and your family.
3. No safe level exists for exposure to asbestos – This is such a deadly material that there are no safe exposure levels, even a single exposure could lead to a fatal disease. When material that contains asbestos is disturbed, minute slivers of this fibrous material become airborne and in such an environment, you should wear special breathing apparatus.
4. Asbestos can cause several serious lung disease – Asbestosis is a deep scarring of the lung tissue, which can be fatal. Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the tissue surrounding organs; most sufferers die within months. There are other lung cancers that can be caused by inhaling asbestos slivers. The best protection is to have your property tested for the presence of asbestos, which can be carried out by an asbestos removal contractor.
5. Products that may contain asbestos – Products that could contain asbestos include roofing materials, construction sheeting, pipe lagging, partition walls, ceiling tiles and some fire-resistant fabrics. While you cannot buy new products that contain asbestos in Australia, it is still legal in the US, which is concerning.

Material that contains asbestos is not a danger if it is undisturbed; only then do the slivers of asbestos become airborne and if inhaled, serious issues could result in the following years.