Asbestos in Older Homes: What You Need to Know

If you live in a home built before the 1980s, there is a chance it might contain asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos was a popular building material for decades thanks to its fire resistance and durability. However, we now know that it poses a significant health risk when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled.

These fibers are microscopic and can easily become lodged in lungs, leading to potentially serious health problems like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. These conditions often have a long latency period, which means that symptoms might not appear for many years post exposure. It’s important to be aware of the potential presence of asbestos in your home and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family.

Where Asbestos is Commonly Found

Because of its versatility, asbestos was incorporated into a large array of building materials commonly used in homes prior to the 1980s. This means asbestos can be lurking in many areas, often hidden from plain sight. Some of the more frequently places where asbestos can be found include:

Insulation: Asbestos was a common component in various types of insulation. This includes insulation within walls, attic spaces, and around pipes and heating ducts. Its fire-resistant properties made it seem like a perfect choice at the time, but it now is considered a hazard if the insulation is disturbed or if it deteriorates.
Flooring: Many older homes have flooring materials that contain asbestos. This can be seen in vinyl floors, sheet flooring, or even adhesives used to install these coverings. Asbestos fibers can be released during renovation projects or if the flooring becomes damaged over time.
Ceiling Tiles: Acoustic ceiling tiles, particularly those with a textured or “popcorn” finish, were often made with asbestos. These tiles can be a concern if they are damaged or removed improperly.
Roofing: Asbestos was used in roofing materials such as shingles, felt paper, and siding. Things like weathering and deterioration can cause asbestos fibers to be released from these materials.
Pipes and Ductwork: Asbestos was commonly used to insulate pipes and ductwork in older heating systems. This insulation can deteriorate over time, potentially releasing asbestos fibers into the air.

Health Risks

The fibers of asbestos are the primary health risk. When these asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, damaged, or deteriorate over time, the tiny, invisible fibers can become airborne. Normal activities like home renovations, drilling into walls, or even just moving furniture around can release these fibers into the air. Once airborne, they can be easily inhaled, which poses a severe threat to health. Inhaled asbestos fibers can lead to a range of debilitating and life-threatening lung diseases. These include:

Asbestosis: This is a chronic and progressive lung disease characterized by scarring and stiffening of the lung tissue. Asbestosis makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and can lead to respiratory failure.
Lung Cancer: Exposure to asbestos significantly elevates the risk of developing lung cancer. For individuals who have a history of smoking, this risk is even greater.
Mesothelioma: This is a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Mesothelioma is directly linked to asbestos exposure and often has a poor life expectancy.

Testing Procedures

If you think your home might contain asbestos-containing materials, it’s critical to have it tested by a qualified professional. Asbestos testing is not a DIY project. It requires specialized knowledge and procedures to ensure safety and accurate results. This process generally involves sample collection and laboratory analysis.

During the collection process, a trained asbestos inspector will carefully collect samples of the suspected materials. This professional will follow strict safety protocols to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during the sampling process, which helps protect both themselves and anyone living in the home.

These samples will then be sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. Lab experts will use specialized techniques to identify the presence and type of asbestos in the samples, if any, and will provide you with a report detailing their findings.

Safe Removal Processes

If your home is confirmed to have asbestos, the safest course of action is to have it professionally removed by a licensed and experienced asbestos abatement contractor. Asbestos abatement is a highly regulated process that requires specialized training, equipment, and procedures to ensure the safety of workers and occupants. Safe removal involves several essential steps:

Containment: Before any removal begins, the work area is meticulously sealed off using plastic sheeting and other barriers. This containment prevents the spread of asbestos fibers to other parts of the home during the abatement process.
Protective Equipment: Asbestos abatement workers are required to wear specialized personal protective equipment. This includes respirators with HEPA filters to prevent the inhalation of asbestos fibers, as well as disposable protective clothing to avoid carrying fibers outside the work area.
Wet Removal Methods: To minimize the release of airborne fibers, asbestos-containing materials are typically dampened during the removal process. This helps to keep the fibers contained and prevents them from becoming airborne.
Air Monitoring: Throughout the abatement process, air quality is continuously monitored using specialized equipment. This monitoring ensures that asbestos fiber levels remain within safe limits and that workers and occupants are not exposed to harmful levels of asbestos.
Proper Disposal: Asbestos waste is carefully handled and disposed of according to strict regulations. This typically involves double-bagging the waste in heavy-duty plastic bags and transporting it to a licensed asbestos disposal facility.

Don’t Take Risks with Asbestos

Dealing with asbestos is very serious and thus not a do it yourself endeavor. It requires specialized knowledge and strict adherence to safety precautions. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials yourself can have serious health risks for you and your loved ones. If you suspect asbestos in your home, contact a qualified asbestos abatement professional for testing and removal.

Above Board specializes in asbestos abatement and can safely and effectively remove contaminated materials from your home. Our experienced technicians follow strict protocols to protect your health and ensure proper disposal. Contact us today for a consultation and a peace of mind.