Many old homes were made with asbestos. Asbestos was once a commonly used material used for home insulation. The asbestos insulation often helped reduce fires because of its heat resistance.
Unfortunately, asbestos is also a very dangerous mineral. People who are exposed to asbestos may inhale airborne microfibers that infiltrate the lungs. The microfibers can scare the lungs. The scars then may heal, but this may cause asbestos-related diseases, such as cancer or mesothelioma.
If you’re considering remodeling a home, you may need to be prepared to find asbestos. Here’s how you can do that:
Know where to find asbestos
As stated above, asbestos was used in nearly every product used to build and model homes. Because of this, you may need to be aware of where asbestos may lie if you’re planning on tearing up floors and walls. Not only was home insulation made with asbestos but so was fabric, pipe insulation, flooring, drywall and roofing – you name it and it likely has asbestos.
Don’t disturb asbestos-contaminated areas
If you’ve come across an area of material that you believe has asbestos, then the best thing you may do is not disturb it. By ripping or moving a product with asbestos, you’re potentially putting microfibers in the air, which often leads to the aforementioned asbestos-related diseases. You should also consider avoiding vacuuming or sweeping areas or doing any actions that would cause asbestos to go airborne.
Reach out for professional asbestos removal
There are people who are trained to remove asbestos. If you believe you’ve found asbestos in your home or place of business, then it may be time to reach out for a cleaning crew that knows how to handle the issue safely.
Understand your legal options
If you were exposed to asbestos, it may be too late to avoid future problems. If you develop an asbestos-related illness, it’s wisest to get some guidance and understand your legal options for compensation.