Homes that have been built or renovated before 1990 and often up to the year 2000, which are likely to contain asbestos in flooring, ceiling, insulation, and cladding.
Asbestos is extremely dangerous for your health, and it’s something you should get removed professionally before doing any form of renovation work.
Whether you’re familiar with asbestos or not, here’s everything you need to know about it and how to get rid of it without it bringing harm to your household.
Key Asbestos Facts for Homeowners
Asbestos is not something to take lightly due to the incredible harm it could do to you and your family. Disturbed asbestos can lead to a wealth of health problems, which include Mesothelioma, a rare and almost always fatal cancer. Lung cancer can also be caused by inhaling asbestos, so you must handle it with care.
The location
It’s most common in Artex, which is a textured coating that was typically used on walls and ceilings back in the 1960s to mid 1980s. It’s also found in many other places, like floor tiles, vinyl, any corrugated roofing, lagging pipes, and asbestos insulating board.
When you have an older property, it’s good to be mindful of any of these areas of the home that might be hiding asbestos.
When it becomes dangerous
Asbestos is usually safe when it’s in good condition and it’s sealed. However, the moment it becomes dangerous is when it’s disturbed or damaged.
Once that happens, it only takes breathing in the fibres for it to have severe health repercussions.
Before you act
Before you do anything with an older property, it’s worthwhile hiring a qualified surveyor for a Refurbishment and Demolition survey. They’ll be able to check for the presence of asbestos so that you’re not discovering it on your own and potentially putting yourself in harm’s way.
Avoid DIY removal, sanding it down, or cutting the suspected material, as that’s only going to disperse the fibers further.
It’s best to use licensed asbestos contractors for asbestos removal to help remove it all on your behalf. They’ll have all the relevant safety kits needed to remove and dispose of the asbestos. Asbestos is classed as hazardous waste and, as such, should never be mixed in with the household rubbish.
Instead, you’ll want to contact your local council for safe disposal sites.
Common Asbestos Areas in the Home
There are several common areas to be mindful of when you’re approaching any sort of renovation work on an older property.
Look for textured coatings on walls and ceilings, as this may be the most common spot for it. Linoleum and floor tiles, plus the adhesive, are also worth being mindful of. Check the walls/structure for asbestos insulating board and cement wall sheeting. In terms of exterior, look for corrugated roofing, soffits, and gutters.
Being hyper-aware of the potential presence of asbestos is going to help you tackle the problem safely and with as little disruption to your renovation projects as possible.
