Important Things You Should Know About Asbestos

You might have heard people say that asbestos is bad for your health. What you might not know is where you can come into contact with it and, if you do, how to handle it. If you own an old home, especially one that was built before the year 2003, there is a high probability that asbestos might be present in the building materials used. The reason behind this is that asbestos was used in Australia between the years 1980 and 2003.

If You Fall Under the Above Category, What Should You Do?

Contact an asbestos removal company to inspect your home. If you try to carry out the inspection yourself, you might not know where or what to look for. Without this knowledge, you can place yourself in harm's way. Breathing in asbestos exposes you to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

What If You Live in A Newer House (2003 To Date)?

This does not mean you are 100% safe from asbestos. There is a small probability that asbestos can be found in some places. It can be found in roofs, ceilings, floors, walls, fireplaces, boilers, pipes, ducts, sheeting, attics, etc. It is therefore important to have your home inspected regardless of whether it is new or old.

What Happens When Asbestos Is Found During the Inspection?

Asbestos exists in two forms: a loose form and a compact form. The loose form, known as friable asbestos, is the worst kind because it can easily float in the air for you to breathe. The compact form, known as non-friable asbestos, is not that risky, but it should be removed before it becomes friable asbestos.

When asbestos is found in your home, the asbestos removal company informs you how the removal process will be carried out and what you are expected to do.

Depending on the number of areas contaminated with asbestos and the quantity of asbestos, you might be requested to live at a friend's or relative's place for some days. This is mainly to keep you safe, especially if you have children who love exploring or playing in different areas of your home.

Asbestos Removal

Note that asbestos removal is a delicate process, which should not be conducted by a non-professional. It needs to be packaged in a particular manner and disposed of at a specific location that needs to be licensed to collect asbestos. The professionals removing asbestos from your home need to wear protective gear as well. Keeping this in mind, you can see why the removal process should be left to a professional.    

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