Asbestos cement is the most prevalent substance used in residential buildings. Typical asbestos cement products include 10-15% asbestos. Asbestos removal is quite harmful. Definitely not something you can DIY as this is a very fibrous material that could easily be inhaled, and can be lodged in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. The danger is determined by the total number of fibres ingested, and the length and frequency of exposure. The majority of people who have developed asbestos-related diseases have had significant exposure to asbestos as a result of unsafe removal, and could be linked to diseases like pleural plaques (thickened patches of scar tissue on the lining of the lungs), lung cancer, asbestosis, and a type of cancer called mesothelioma.
Given all these risks, it is extremely important to seek help if you suspect that asbestos products have been used in the construction of your home.
Okay, so which parts of my house have asbestos?
Since the late 1800s, friable asbestos materials have been widely employed in commercial and industrial settings for soundproofing, insulation, and fireproofing. Such friable products were also utilized in houses prior to 1990, and some can still be found in older homes. So, as a general rule, if your home dates back to before the mid-1980s, then it has a huge possibility of having asbestos-containing cement. There are two types of asbestos products that are probably in your home — bonded asbestos and friable asbestos.
Bonded asbestos means that there was, well, a bonding agent that holds it together like cement. These could be found in eaves, cement fencing, thermal boards around fireplaces, roofing, shingles and siding, water or flue pipes, and your interior and exterior wall cladding. Sounds like it’s everywhere, right? And no, that is definitely not a good thing.
Friable asbestos is the one that could be pulverised under hand pressure. Remember, though, that bonded asbestos could turn into the friable kind over time as it degrades with wear, tear and ageing. These friable asbestos items may include spray-on insulation or soundproofing, asbestos-rope door gaskets in wood stoves, insulation on hot-water pipes, domestic heaters and stoves, textured paints, decorative ceiling coatings, brick and plaster sealants, fillers and some adhesive products, heat-resistant fabrics, backing material on floor tiles and vinyl flooring, loose fill roofing insulation (less common), low-density asbestos fibre board, carpet underlay (not common), brick and plaster sealants, fillers and some adhesive products, and hail or fire damaged, or badly weathered asbestos cement materials.
Sounds like a lot, what should I do?
It is a lot, and again, not something you should remove on your own as it is a huge health-risk. Make sure the experts you’re going to call have a 360-degree asbestos service from testing, to removal, to ensuring your house is clean of asbestos, to proper disposal like the true tried, tested, and positively reviewed Ryno’s Asbestos.
Consider giving a call to asbestos removal experts Ryno’s Group. With almost a decade in the business and over 1500 projects completed, they’ll be able to get the job done well. They follow all health protocols, so you can be assured that quick and safe work will be done by the best of the best. Enquire now!
