What To Do If You Find Asbestos In Your Home?

When it comes to Asbestos, there simply is no time to mess around. By now, we are all aware of the dangers of exposure to Asbestos. If you, unfortunately, find Asbestos in your home, it can be a genuinely scary and disconcerting time.

Given that any home was built before the year 2000, there is a likely chance this building material may have been used in your home; then, it is strongly advised that you arrange domestic asbestos removal or survey.

What do I do? Do I need to move out? Am I at risk of illness? Well, to put you at some ease, Asbestos only becomes a risk to your health if damaged or disturbed. 

However, damage can occur through decorating and DIY work in your home, such as drilling, sanding and sawing. So it is essential to check before starting any projects around the house. Asbestos is most dangerous in what is known as this ‘friable’ state. meaning that the material is powdery, crumbled, or broken down when pressure is applied.

Where Would Asbestos Materials Have Been Used?

As Asbestos was mixed with building materials such as cement and plaster, there are many potential places Asbestos material could be present.

Examples and some of the most common areas include: 

• Cement products like gutters, water tanks and rainwater pipes.
• Insulation boards between wall partitions.
• Flooring (PVC tiles).
• Roof tiles, panelling and exterior walls.
• Sprayed coating and textured paints on ceilings and walls (Artex).
• Cement products like gutters, water tanks and rainwater pipes.

What Should I Do If I Find Asbestos?

Please don’t panic; it is fixable and manageable at the end of the day. However, you should do your best to leave the Asbestos alone and contact a domestic asbestos removal company ASAP.

If you are planning work or DIY in your home and you find an area with Asbestos, not only should you stop working in that area but in all areas of your home, as your house must be probably checked and inspected.

If you have found what you suspect to be damaged Asbestos, do not try to clean it up yourself as using a vacuum to hoover it up may spread the fibres even more than you have already.

What Do I Do In The Meantime?

When possible, avoid all contact with toxins in your home. If you can, never handle or try to remove them yourself.

If, however, you simply cannot avoid contact, and it is simply unavoidable whilst you wait for the assessment of removal, ensure to wear protective coverings. 

You can use a P2 disposable mask, half-face respirator, coveralls, and boot covers. 

It’s also good to ensure the area is properly ventilated and people thoroughly wash hands, hair, and clothes before and after.

Although this doesn’t guarantee completed safety, it will greatly help reduce the level of harmful exposure.

Ultimately the best cause of action in these situations is to rely on and listen to the advice of the experts.

Be sure only to let those who are licensed professionals test, sample, contain, remove, or otherwise handle the mineral.

If you have friable Asbestos, you legally must use an A-Class licensed asbestos removalist to handle the mineral.

Whatever the agreed cause of action, whether you choose to repair the seal or cover up the contamination whilst it may be considerably quicker and cheaper than removal. Please note that taking a shortcut now could make removing Asbestos later more difficult and expensive.