If you’re buying a home or doing some makeover, you need to be careful about the presence of asbestos on the walls and other surfaces. Asbestos refers to a mixture of naturally-occurring minerals that are used in building materials. However, the use of this mineral is curtailed because exposure to it can lead to a variety of severe diseases. While your naked eye can’t see asbestos due to its colorless and odorless nature, there are ways to determine whether your home is contaminated with this toxic mineral.
Keep reading this article to learn a few signs that can indicate the presence of asbestos in your house.
You Live In An Older Home
Ideally, there’s nothing wrong if you prefer living in a vintage house. Aside from the fact that they’re packed with history, having an old-fashioned house that was built a long time ago can offer plenty of charm and character. Not only that, but you can also enjoy its stunning architectural styles.
However, despite these advantages, living in an old home can increase your chances of getting exposed to asbestos. Most homes constructed before the 1980s have high asbestos content. If you’re wondering, what is asbestos? it is a naturally occurring mineral known for its heat resistance and insulating properties. This is for the reason that the toxic mineral was used for pipes, ducts, fireplaces, and boilers, among others, due to its insulating properties. Moreover, asbestos may also be present in sidings, pipe cement, floor tiles, and even ceiling tiles.
When these building components are broken or damaged, you and your family are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma cancer from asbestos in your home. Mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs; when it’s not appropriately treated, it can be fatal.
Therefore, if you’re buying an old house built in the 1980s, be sure to get it tested for asbestos to avoid health problems in the future.
Your Home Has Corrugated Roofing
If your home has corrugated roofing, you may also be at risk for asbestos exposure. Generally, manufacturers of corrugated roofing sheets add asbestos to make the materials more durable, heat-resistant, and weatherproof.
But, regardless of their durability, living in a home with corrugated roofing sheets comes with health hazards. In the event your roofing gets damaged due to harsh weather conditions and fire, it releases asbestos fibers to the surroundings. As a result, you might inhale them and cause inflammation and infection in the lungs and your entire body.
So, if you notice your home’s roofing is made of corrugated sheets, and some of them need replacement, call a professional for asbestos roofing sheet disposal as early as you can.
Your Home Uses Vinyl Flooring
Up to these days, vinyl flooring remains to be one of the most preferred floor coverings for many homes across the world. Due to its appearance, durability, and economic value, many people are looking for this type of flooring. Unfortunately, most vinyl flooring sheets contain high asbestos content, which can pose a potential health risk to everyone living in the household.
If the vinyl flooring is working properly and in good condition, it’s not harmful because the hazardous mineral is covered in vinyl, which prevents the fibers from escaping. However, when the flooring gets damaged due to wear and tear and other causes, this building material is more likely to release a considerable amount of asbestos into the environment. This, in effect, can lead to several respiratory diseases, including cancer.
For this reason, if your home has damaged or broken vinyl flooring, it may be an indication that you and the rest of your family members could already be exposed to the dangers of asbestos. To safeguard your loved ones from any health risk, contact professionals for the immediate removal of the flooring.
Your Home’s Building Materials Use Cement Sheets
Typically, cement sheets are building materials used for internal and external walls, ceiling paneling, and other commercial and industrial purposes. However, using these construction materials isn’t advisable since they contain asbestos to increase their durability.
That’s why it’s best to check whether your home uses cement sheets for the walls, ceilings, and many more. If these building components get broken, you and your family will more likely be exposed to asbestos, leading to several adverse health consequences.
If most of your home’s building materials are made from cement sheets, and they’re not in good condition, be sure to disrupt them immediately by calling an asbestos removal company in your area.
Final Thoughts
By keeping this information in mind, you can quickly determine and test the presence of asbestos in your home. And, if your abode is positive for asbestos content, have a reputable company come over and perform the necessary removal of the harmful minerals.
While you have nothing to worry about materials containing asbestos, especially if they remain to be in good shape, it’s still important to closely monitor them for any future deterioration. By doing so, you can ensure that your family is safe from health risks.
I didn’t know that many homes that were built before the 1980s have a high chance of having asbestos. My husband and I just moved into an older house that we are planning to fix up, but we’re nervous we’re going to run into asbestos. We’ll have to look into companies that could help us get it removed in a safe way so that we won’t have to worry about it while we remodel the house.
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