Asbestos Removal Information and Resources

Throughout the years asbestos had been used in many building products. Its thermal and chemical resistance were some reasons why it was used. Even though it is a strong material it is very dangerous to our health. When it gets into the air and is inhaled it can cause lung cancer also known as mesothelioma. Since these products are so hazardous, laws have been put into place to prevent exposure. Now there are many requirements for removal of asbestos.

First, you should have any building or home inspected for asbestos before renovation or demolition activities. Anyone that is handling asbestos should be certified. A written asbestos report must be obtained from the owner or owner's agent. Plus, the report must be by an accredited AHERA inspector. AHERA stands for Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act. If you do not have an accredited written asbestos report some states will fine the contractor, owner, or both. It could cost around 250 dollars per day. If you are working on your own residence and you are not using it as a commercial purpose then you could be exempt from these requirements. However, If you do bring contractors in remember you must provide information to them and they should follow the standard requirements.

Contractors can charge as much as 30,000 dollars for a 1,500 square foot home with asbestos everywhere. If the asbestos material is in good condition it is recommended that you leave it alone. You will need to check the material regularly for wear, but don't touch it. Just look for damaged areas because that is when it will release asbestos materials and will need to be removed. You can have a sample analysis done for 25 to 75 dollars. For more information on cost visit www.costhelper.com.

There are several health and safety requirements to take when removing asbestos. To begin all doors and windows must be closed. The environment with the asbestos should be contained. Warning signs and barriers should be posted when removing asbestos. Workers should wear certified respirators and coveralls. Disposal of clothing and mask should be placed in bags with waste for removal. Some methods are used to keep asbestos from being air-born. Spraying the asbestos with PVA (polyvinyl acetate) paint or wetting the cement sheets with water could help. Of course these techniques will not be useful for all asbestos situations. Asbestos can come in all kinds of products like flooring, ceiling, walls, insulation around pipes, insulated cements, textiles, roofing, and stucco are just to name a few. There are a lot of requirements for asbestos removal, so I would recommend getting a professional. To find a contractor you can check www.1800contractor.com. If you do decide to remove asbestos yourself I suggest you visit www.asbestosresource.com for more information.

Resources:

www.asbestosresource.com

http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html#4