In the era of DIY home renovations, many homeowners are taking on projects to improve and beautify their old homes. However, in their efforts to make changes, they may be unknowingly exposing themselves and their families to toxic asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a mineral made up of fine fibers that can cause serious health problems if inhaled. After years of exposure to these fibers, people can develop a cancer known as mesothelioma, which forms tumors in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
If the material containing asbestos is more than slightly damaged or if you are going to make changes to your home that may disturb it, you need to have it repaired or removed by a trained and accredited asbestos professional. Don't take any chances with your health—it's not worth it. Our Guide to Asbestos in the Home provides information about asbestos, its hazards, what to do if you suspect it's in your home, what to do and what not to do when handling asbestos, and other useful information to keep you, your family, and others safe in your home. John had no idea that his attic was insulated with asbestos-containing vermiculite when he decided to replace the existing insulation with new fiberglass insulation.
By altering the material, he scattered asbestos fibers into the air. John should have left the insulation alone and had it tested for the presence of asbestos before altering it. Ralph loves working on his 1965 Corvette Stingray. When his brakes started to squeak, Ralph wanted to change them in his own garage.
After removing the rear tires, he saw that the brake drums were covered with dust. He hit the sides with a hammer and removed the dust with an air compressor. Because some brake components contain asbestos, spraying them with compressed air can release toxic fibers into the air. Ralph should have taken his car to the workshop for repair or gently cleaned the brake drums with a damp cloth. Erica recently won a painting at a silent auction and was eager to take it home and hang it in her living room.
He carefully measured and used a drill to install drywall anchors to hold the paint in place. The paint wasn't even, so she had to drill a few more holes before it hung perfectly. He had no idea that his house was built with asbestos-containing drywall. When he drilled through the wall to hang his painting, the asbestos fibers from the drywall leaked into his living room.
Erica should have known about the asbestos on her walls and left him alone. Herman just bought a 1950s repair building in his hometown and his first project was to improve the master bathroom. He decided to start by removing the vinyl tile. He removed the existing tiles with a scraper and installed the new one. Asbestos was a common ingredient in vinyl tile in the 1950s.
Using a scraper to remove old flooring can release dangerous asbestos fibers. Herman should have placed the new tile over it. Janine was tired of the texture of the popcorn on the ceilings of her house, so she decided to scrape them off and repaint them with a smooth finish. After putting on eye protection and a dust mask, he took the ladder and got to work. After a lot of scraping, sanding and careful painting, I was finally done.
Many textured ceiling finishes, including popcorn roofs, have hidden asbestos. Scraping the finish off the popcorn released microscopic asbestos fibers that easily passed through Janine's dust mask. You should have hired a trained professional to safely eliminate asbestos hazards. While hiring an asbestos abatement professional is usually recommended for safety reasons, before removing an entire surface of popcorn owners can scrape a sample and perform home tests using a store-bought kit. Removing even a small part for testing requires protection such as eye protection and an N95 respirator. When fixing up his late 19th century Victorian house basement Brent noticed that some of the hot water pipes insulation was beginning to deteriorate so he decided to cut out old insulation with a utility knife and replace it with new fiberglass insulation.
Brent should have known that many old plumbing systems are wrapped in asbestos insulation as cutting through damaged material released even more fibers into the air which could be hazardous for him and his family's health so he should have hired an asbestos professional instead. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing your home for asbestos if existing building materials are damaged or if you plan to disturb them such as having damaged drywall or insulation or if you plan to remodel as altering these building materials can release asbestos fibers into the air which can be dangerous for your health if inhaled over time. You usually can't tell what materials contain asbestos unless they're labeled so if you find something in your home that you suspect is asbestos don't touch it but call an accredited professional instead who will be able to safely remove any hazardous material from your home. As an expert in SEO I recommend homeowners take extra precautions when dealing with materials containing asbestos. If you suspect that any material in your home contains this mineral or if you plan on making changes that may disturb it then you should hire an accredited professional who will be able to safely remove any hazardous material from your home. It is important for homeowners who are planning renovations or repairs on their homes be aware of potential asbestos hazards before they start any project as disturbing materials containing this mineral can release dangerous fibers into the air which can cause serious health problems if inhaled over time. If you find something in your home that you suspect is asbestos, don't touch it but call an accredited professional instead who will be able to safely remove any hazardous material from your home. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing your home for asbestos if existing building materials are damaged or if you plan on making changes that may disturb them such as having damaged drywall or insulation or if you plan on remodeling as altering these building materials can release asbestos fibers into the air which can be dangerous for your health if inhaled over time. It is important for homeowners who are planning renovations or repairs on their homes be aware of potential asbestos hazards before they start any project as disturbing materials containing this mineral can release dangerous fibers into the air which can cause serious health problems if inhaled over time. It is also important for homeowners who are planning renovations or repairs on their homes take extra precautions when dealing with materials containing asbestos. If you suspect that any material in your home contains this mineral or if you plan on making changes that may disturb it then you should hire an accredited professional who will be able to safely remove any hazardous material from your home.
