![]() While asbestos abatement is typically best left to the pros, a lot of jurisdictions allow homeowners to remove asbestos from their own homes. Bear in mind that there may be some leftover stock materials that were used up after the bans went into effect, as the bans mostly pertained to manufacturing of asbestos materials. While new construction should not have any ACM's, older homes still have a lot of material that is original to the house and may contain asbestos. Once the adverse health effects of asbestos were determined, a series of bans were implemented throughout the 1970's and 1980's. This should by no means be considered a complete list of areas of the home where asbestos will be found, and any suspect material should be taken to an independent lab for testing. Popcorn ceilings & spray on ceiling textures ![]() Pipe and boiler and duct coverings (thermal system insulation)įloor tiles and vinyl flooring, backing and masticĬeiling tiles and spray-on coatings (acoustic and fireproofing) A general list of where these can be typically encountered in home constructed prior to the 1980's is: If you have a home that is 40+ years old, there is always a potential to encounter ACM's. We do know that most of the identifiable asbestos related diseases are correlated with high exposure for extended periods of time.Īsbestos was used in a number of applications from floor to ceiling in homes from the late 1800's through the mid to late 1900's. A major portion of the caution surrounding it is that we know it is hazardous, and can be deadly, but we don't have enough data to establish safe exposure criteria. If you encounter suspect asbestos, it is always best to treat it with care and have it tested. Yes a majority of the people who had issues in past years were factory workers who were around it for years, but that doesn't mean that you will not have an adverse reaction after minimal exposure. To expand on this a bit, no one really knows at what point asbestos becomes a hazard to human health so there is considered to be no safe level of exposure. Buy something rated for flooring and be sure it won't restrict or damage whatever flooring you plan to put in over the top. If you are worried about the remaining mastic, purchase some encapulant to cover the remaining glue. But only use that for around a day as it may be too restrictive for your furnace fan. You can buy a section of hepa filter to use as well. Keep your furnace fan on for a few days and change the air filter after a day or two. If you want to walk yourself off the ledge a bit, try putting a few box fans pointed outwards at several windows and let them run for a day or two. The amount of exposure from anything short of pulverizing ACM tile is minimal. Once the risk of damage to the ACM is removed to prevent the tiles from becoming friable, the hazard of asbestos is contained. If you have, say, asbestos containing floor tiles that are in rough shape, you can add a layer of flooring, epoxy, or other permanent measure to prevent any damage from the underlying asbestos containing tiles. The alternative to abatement is encapsulation. They will seal off the work areas and create an area of negative pressure to prevent spread of asbestos fibers. If you decide on removal, you can reach out to local abatement contractors who should have undergone special training in asbestos abatement. If you have ACM's in your home, there are steps you can take to either remove (abatement), or cover up (encapsulate) the asbestos to reduce the hazard that asbestos poses to your health. While any level of asbestos exposure is considered hazardous, the major risks come from prolonged exposure over a number of years. Realize that asbestos only becomes a hazard when it becomes friable (easily crumbled) causing it to become airborn and inhaled into the lungs.
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