Four Things You Should Do When You Find Asbestos During Home Renovation Projects

Posted on: 17 December 2015

When you do home renovation projects, you may encounter many surprises. Some of these can be good, such as hardwood flooring beneath carpet. You may also encounter problems; such as mold or asbestos materials. These are hazards that need to be dealt with by a professional service to ensure the safety of your family. Here are some things you should do when you encounter asbestos during a home renovation project:

1. Understanding Areas Where You are Most Likely to Find Asbestos Beforehand

Before you get started doing renovations, you will want to know more about asbestos and where it is used. You can find this material in insulation in attics and around pipes. It has also been used for textured ceilings and tiles inside homes. Outside of your home, you can find asbestos in old siding, drain pipes and roofing materials.

2. Let Dust Settle and Ventilate Area Where Asbestos Has Been Found

If you find asbestos in walls for insulation or behind other materials, let the dust settle, open a window and get out. Contact an asbestos abatement service, such as ENVIROTECH Inc., to test the materials for you before doing any further work. If it is asbestos, work in another area of your home until the asbestos can be safely removed. Whenever working in a dusty area, always wear a mask, even it there may not be asbestos.

3. Make Sure That Asbestos Materials are Disposed of Properly

You do not want to handle asbestos like you would with other construction debris. It has to be bagged and disposed of properly. It also needs to be removed properly to minimize dust and health risks associated with asbestos. You should seek the help of certified asbestos abatement contractors before you attempt to remove any of these materials.

4. Try to Stay Out of Areas Where Contaminated Materials are Located

If there is a contaminated area, try to stay clear and do not disturb the material, especially if it is loose material like insulation or wall texture. If possible, tape off openings to these areas with construction plastic to keep dust from getting to other areas of your home. In addition, ventilate these areas to allow particles to settle.

These are some of the things that you will want to do if you encounter asbestos during your home remodeling project. If you think there may be asbestos materials in your home, contact an asbestos abatement contractor to evaluate and remove and hazardous materials.

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