If You Suspect You Have Asbestos In Your Home – Follow This Guide:
On this page we will explain what to do if you have asbestos in your home?
What To Do If I Have Asbestos In My Home?
If you are looking for advice on what you should do if you have asbestos in your home, then you will be happy to know that you have a few options.
We will cover the recommended options on this page and we will give you a step-by-step guide that will give you the quickest way of dealing with an asbestos problem.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a known carcinogen which can be dangerous if you inhale the fibres. The problem is, it was also a very popular building material and if you have a home that was built before 2000 then there is a good chance that you may have asbestos in your home.
What Does Asbestos Look Like?
Asbestos fibers: Asbestos fibers are thin, hair-like strands that can be easily inhaled. They are often found in insulation, textured paint, and other building materials.
Asbestos-containing material (ACM): ACM refers to any material that contains asbestos fibers. This can include insulation, floor tiles, roofing materials, and more. ACM is often found in older homes and buildings, as it was commonly used in construction prior to the 1980s.
Asbestos-containing products: Asbestos was also used in a variety of products, including brake pads, gaskets, and stove-top pads. These products may contain visible asbestos fibers.
What To Do?
The first thing is not to panic. Asbestos fibres are most dangerous when they are airborne so it is important not to disturb any material that you suspect may contain asbestos. In some cases, it may be safer to leave the asbestos where it is.
This of course depends on the condition of the building, asbestos and how likely it is to be disturbed in the future.
If you suspect you have asbestos, do not attempt to disturb the material as that can cause fibres to go airborne and cause more problems.
Testing:
The first thing that you can do if you are worried about asbestos is to have the material tested. This can be especially useful if you suspect a lot of asbestos and it means that you may save yourself money by finding out that it is not asbestos. The way this works is by taking a sample of the material and sending it to a lab for analysis.
Here at Asbestos Northampton we can provide the service for you.
Testing first can be useful if it is going to be a larger job to remove the asbestos or if you are dealing with a commercial building.
If you find that you do have asbestos it is best to have a professional to remove it.
This can work well for two reasons:
1. Safety:
Disturbing asbestos can be dangerous and by having a professional remove the problem it carries far less risk.
2. Disposing of Asbestos:
The other reason it is a good idea to have a professional to deal with asbestos removal is because disposing of asbestos does require a license.
You can also attempt to remove the asbestos yourself and there are safety guidelines which involve wearing protective clothing, using proper equipment and following safety regulations.
If you find that you do not have to remove the asbestos it is advisable to book in a survey yearly to make sure that the asbestos is not dangerous in the future.
What To Do Next?
Here At Asbestos Northampton we offer a free, no obligation quote.
If you suspect that you have asbestos give us a call on 01604 556557 or contact us on this page and we will get back to you asap.
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