Loose fill asbestos is most commonly found in lofts as loft insulation, but it can also be found under floorboards an inside cavity walls, both in domestic and commercial properties. It's very easy to identify as it has a fluffy, almost candyfloss like appearance, which is usually white or a blueish grey colour.
Asbestos is considered very dangerous to your health, so it must be handled carefully by an attic services professional. The primary danger from asbestos is that it will find its way into your lungs if it becomes airborne. If you find asbestos in your home, the first rule is to leave it alone!
Asbestos was used in a variety of insulation products for nearly a century. From the mid-1860s through the late 1970s, the mineral was used in many types of insulation.
The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. EPA only recommends testing suspect materials if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if you are planning a renovation that would disturb the suspect material.
You can't tell if a material contains asbestos just by looking at it. Identifying asbestos requires testing by a licensed asbestos lab. If in doubt, follow the golden rule - if you think it might be asbestos, treat it like it is, and contact a licensed asbestos assessor.
Cost of Asbestos Removal: Average Ranges
Nationally, the cost to remove asbestos can range significantly based on the factors we've discussed. On average, property owners might expect to pay between $1,000 and $4,000, with the cost per square foot ranging from $5 to $20 for interior asbestos.
Your older home probably did not come with an inventory of all asbestos containing materials, but if the house in which you live was built before 1980, there's a good chance that you'll find asbestos containing materials in the walls, ceiling, roof or floors – or all of the above.
For instance, many schools were built during the 1950s and 1960s when asbestos was very commonly used for building materials. Most old asbestos ceiling tiles look light colored, slightly textured and powdery white. They often have small dotted indentations.
Asbestos, however, does not have a smell. Rooms with the carcinogen built into the floors, walls, and ceiling do not have a detectable odor. Even heavy amounts of asbestos dust are odorless or smell like normal dust. Yet, people usually inhale tiny (nearly invisible) asbestos particles through the nose or mouth.
One way is to look for a brown or black coloration on the shingles, which is indicative of the presence of asbestos. Another sign that you may be looking at asbestos shingles is the presence of a greenish coloration on the shingles, which is indicative of the presence of copper sulfate.
Tests may include: a chest X-ray. a CT scan of the lungs. lung function tests to see how well your lungs are working.
We recommend using a trained and certified asbestos professional to conduct asbestos removal work using a “negative pressure enclosure” technique. This technique prevents asbestos fibers from escaping the attic into the rest of the house.
The only way to identify asbestos with complete confidence is to examine it under a specialized microscope. To do this, an EPA-certified contractor collects a sample and sends it to an EPA-certified lab for examination. If the test comes back positive, rest assured that yes, it's legal to sell a home with asbestos.
Asbestos abatement and remediation are not generally covered by home insurance. However, due to the potential health risks, it's important to have knowledgeable professionals inspect an older home before major work is done.
Approximately 12% of current homes in the U.S. were built prior to 1940. This data from the U.S. Census Bureau means more than half of U.S. homes were built with asbestos in or around the walls, floorboards, ceiling tiles, roof tiles, insulation, pipes and electrical wires.
As for how to test for asbestos yourself, only some states allow homeowners to perform a home asbestos test. Check with your state's environmental agency or health department first. If they allow it, you'll be able to purchase a kit with instructions on how to test for asbestos in the air.
It may take five to 20 years before symptoms develop. The accumulated, inhaled asbestos fibres produce scarring (fibrosis) of the lung. The lung develops a 'honeycomb' appearance. The scar tissue, or 'fibrosis', is hard and inflexible – this makes the lungs stiffen and stops them working properly.
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.
If your popcorn ceiling is older and likely to contain asbestos, you may want to have it tested. You can't tell if a ceiling contains asbestos just from its appearance or age. Testing is the only way to know for sure.
If you think there may be asbestos in your home, don't panic. Asbestos-containing materials that aren't damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk. Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos-containing material alone if it is in good condition.
It is difficult to tell when asbestos is in the air. The tiny fibers have no odor or taste, and they do not irritate your eyes or throat or make your skin itch. If you know or suspect there is asbestos in your home or workplace, leave the material alone.