Advantages of Hiring a Professional Company for Asbestos Removal
Homeowners whose properties were built before the 1980s should be wary about diving into a home reno. It’s not because the effort to beautify and upgrade an older home isn’t worth it, but because toxic asbestos fibers are most likely hiding beneath the surfaces. It could be in the insulation wrapped around furnace ducts or piles, in floor tiles, sealed behind walls, bound tightly in an intact product, or waiting in the attic. While it doesn’t pose a health risk when undisturbed, it does the moment walls are knocked down and floor tiles are ripped up. The toxic fibers are released into the air, and enough long-term exposure can lead to cancer, illness, and more. If the proper precautions aren’t taken, the asbestos removal process can increase the risk of exposure.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of six different naturally occurring minerals that are composed of soft, flexible fibers of more than 5 micrometers in length. Although toxic, which requires asbestos removal, these fibers are resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion, making them effective insulators. Because of their durability, they are also used in combination with other materials, like cloth, paper, cement, and plastic, to make them stronger. Based on these physical and chemical properties, asbestos is divided into two major groups:
1. Serpentine: Serpentine asbestos fibers are long, flexible, and curved, which makes them easy to weave together. The main type of this subgroup is chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, which is most often used in manufacturing.
2. Amphibole: Amphibole asbestos fibers are straight and rigid, and therefore, generally brittle and needle shaped. Because of this, their commercial uses are quite limited. There are 5 types of amphibole asbestos – crocidolite or blue asbestos, amosite, brown asbestos, actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite.
Why is Asbestos used?
Although asbestos is highly toxic, it does have useful manufacturing properties, like heat-resistance and insulation. It does not dissolve or evaporate when in contact with water, nor is it flammable. Before 1990, it was used to mainly protect buildings and homes from cold weather and noise as well as fireproofing. Used across a variety of sectors, asbestos can be found in building materials like roofing, shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, textured paint, paper products, house siding, cement and plaster; friction materials for automobile clutch pads, brake lining, pads, and transmission parts; fire and heat protection wear, industrial furnaces, heating systems, textiles, packing materials, plastic products; and filler in resins, caulking, and even asphalt. It has since been banned in 39 countries, and asbestos removal is recommended for anyone looking to renovate or upgrade their house or commercial property.
Advantages of Hiring a Professional Company for Asbestos Removal
When asbestos is dry, it can be crumbled, pulverized, or powdered, making it easy to be released into the air as dust. When it is inhaled, the mineral fibers can become permanently trapped in the body, causing inflammation, scarring, genetic damage, a rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma, and other cancers like lung disease. To avoid exposure, only professionals should handle asbestos removal. Here are the advantages of hiring a professional company:
1. Safety
Asbestos is highly toxic only when disturbed, so all precautions should be taken when trying to remove it. A professional asbestos removal team will have the proper safety equipment and procedures needed to safely do the job.
2. Experience
Not only does working with a professional asbestos removal team guarantee safety, but clients also benefit from their years of experience. Professional companies ensure each member of their team goes through the required training so they are knowledge and skilled in asbestos removal.
3. Proper Disposal
A good asbestos removal team knows the best ways to efficiently and quickly remove any materials containing asbestos and properly dispose of them. Because it is a hazardous material, it must be handled with extreme care and caution. Asbestos should be properly sealed off to prevent cross contamination throughout other rooms of a house or building.
4. Cost
There should be no corners cut when removing asbestos, and while it may be tempting to try and do the job without professional help, it will result in a higher cost. Dealing with asbestos removal without a company means having to rent specialized safety equipment and handling material; there are also fees for disposal, a follow-up inspection, and clean up fees.