How to Contain Asbestos Contamination During a Home Remodeling Project

With new housing cost skyrocketing and the current difficulty most people experience when attempting to obtain a mortgage, it is no wonder why so many home owners are now opting to remodel their existing home as oppose to selling it and moving out. A number of the homes being remodeled today are in the 30 to 35 year old range. During that time a lot of asbestos base merchandise was used in construction product manufacturing and and also in general construction practices. For these reasons, when remodeling your home, you should exercise extra precautions when removing certain items because they may contain asbestos fibers and by products.

One of the first things you should do before beginning your remodeling project is contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission Hot line and obtain detailed information about which products in the area of your remodeling project could possibly contain asbestos materials. Bans on many products that were included in the EPA's Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule were set aside by the U.S. courts in a 1991 decision. You may also wish to find out which products were set aside by this ruling. The next recommendation is you contact your state's department of health. Many states allow homeowner's to remove asbestos materials from their home without prior approval. Obtaining suggestions and instructions on proper abatement practices and procedures from a knowledgeable source is a wise step.

If your project involves the removal of old flooring you should be concern. Resilient floor tiles and vinyl sheet flooring as well as the adhesive products used to attach them to the sub floor base historically contained asbestos. Familiarize yourself with the proper removal techniques, handling, and disposal of asbestos contaminated floor materials. Some recommended practices include; sealing the room and the flooring disposal container to trap any particles that may become airborne, wear a good air respirator to avoid inhaling any contaminants, thoroughly wet down the area before removal begins to reduce the releasing of fiber and contaminants into the air, and also use a vacuuming system to keep all fibers contained. Asbestos fibers are most hazardous when they become airborne and are inhaled.

If you are not comfortable and doubt your ability to correctly perform this process, you should consider securing the services of an asbestos abatement contractor. They are listed in your local telephone directory. The safest option to prevent all contamination is to leave the old floor as is and install the new flooring directly over it. This will reduce the risk of asbestos contamination for all. Remember, cellulose fibers contained within asbestos materials are unsafe when they are airborne and inhaled. As they currently lie, undisturbed, asbestos fibers do not present any problem or hazard, however, disturbing them will generally create actions which will make them airborne. When selecting remodeling projects around your home, consider the asbestos factor and select solutions that will not place your family at risk.

Resource: Asbestos Hazards in Your Home, Handy Magazine - January, 2008