Why You Should Get An Asbestos Inspection Before Remodeling Your Older Home
If you live in a home that was built before 1980, there is a chance it may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a material that was commonly used in building materials, but it was banned from use when researchers discovered that it is a dangerous, toxic material. If your house is this old, or older, and you are planning on remodeling your home, you should get the home tested for asbestos before you begin. Here are a few things to know about this.
The cost of asbestos testing
The cost of getting your home tested for asbestos varies, but it typically costs between $400 to $800 for an inspection. While this may seem like a lot of money, it is well worth the cost as it could prevent you and your family from developing health problems.
Why this is important
If you begin remodeling a part of your home that contains materials made with asbestos, you and your family could develop serious health problems. While it is more likely that you would develop these by breathing in asbestos fibers over a period of time, you can be affected by breathing them in even for short amounts of time.
When you get your home inspected before you begin remodeling, you will know how to proceed. If the inspection does not reveal any asbestos, you can go ahead and proceed with the remodeling project without worrying about these health risks. If the inspection finds asbestos, you can postpone the project so that you have time to have the hazardous materials removed before you begin. This will protect you and your family.
Types of remodeling projects that may contain asbestos
Asbestos was used to make a lot of different types of building materials. For example, if you want to remove the popcorn ceilings in your house, you should get them tested first. Popcorn ceilings from decades ago probably contain asbestos. You may also have asbestos in the boiler pipes in your home, ceiling or floor tiles, or siding on the outside of your home. It may also be found in the insulation you have in your home.
Because asbestos could be found in so many materials, you should hire an inspector to test your home for it before you proceed with any type of remodeling project. If you would like to learn more about asbestos inspections and whether you need one or not, contact a company that specializes in asbestos inspections and removal today.