Asbestos

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. 

Where Can I Find It In My Home?

• Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement.

• Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.

• Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977.

• Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces may contain asbestos.

• Older products such as stove-top pads may have some asbestos compounds.

• Walls and floors around wood burning stoves may be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets.

• Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.

• Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.

• Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.

What Are The Health Hazards?

From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:

• lung cancer

• mesothelioma: a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity

• asbestosis: where the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue

The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. 

How To Identify Materials That Contain Asbestos:

You can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional. A professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. Only material that is damaged or will be disturbed should be sampled.  Call today for an in-home inspection.

How To Manage An Asbestos Problem:

If the asbestos material is in good shape and will not be disturbed, do nothing! If it is a problem, there are two types of corrections: repair and removal. 

REPAIR usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material.  With any type of repair, the asbestos remains in place. Repair is usually cheaper than removal, but it may make later removal of asbestos, if necessary, more difficult and costly. Repairs can either be major or minor.  

• Sealing (encapsulation) involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material so fibers are not released.  In regards to drywall, the sealant would be applied, allowed to dry and then covered with drywall compound to smooth out the ceiling or walls.

REMOVAL is usually the most expensive method and, unless required by state or local regulations, should be the last option considered in most situations. This is because removal poses the greatest risk of fiber release. However, removal may be required when remodeling or making major changes to your home that will disturb asbestos material. Also, removal may be called for if asbestos material is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Removal is complex and must be done only by a contractor with special training. Improper removal may actually increase the health risks to you and your family.  Call today for an in-home estimate.

Abatement/Removal:

South County Drywall provides licensed supervisors and workers to remove asbestos building materials from your home. These services include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct a walkthrough survey of the work area
• Establish a work zone perimeter
• Shut down the HVAC system
• Clean/Remove non-stationary items from the work area
• Cover and seal stationary items with polyethylene
• Establish a decontamination unit
• Utilize a negative-air pressure system equipped with a HEPA filter
• Employ wet removal techniques inside containment
• Clearance air sampling performed following abatement

Call South County Drywall today for an in-home estimate.
 

The above information can be found in more detail at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website: www.epa.gov

Back to the Top