Asbestos Inspection and Removal

The questions with any inspection are:

• Is the object present in this home?
• When is it dangerous?
• Is it dangerous in this home?
• How much does it cost to safely mitigate the problem?

Asbestos was once a widespread component of building materials, some of which may still be in an older home. If you plan to remodel, you may disturb asbestos-containing materials, so it's a good idea to be aware of their presence. The good news is that asbestos has long been recognized as a potential health problem, so it is easily detected and removed.

If the home was built before 1978, when asbestos was banned from use in homes, it is a good idea to have an asbestos inspection. An asbestos inspection is not automatically included in an inspection by a Texas Real Estate Commission Licensed inspector. 

The hazards of asbestos are fairly widely known--their small pointed fibers can lodge in lung tissue.

Some people work the fibers out of their system. Others suffer enough irritation from these asbestos fibers to eventually cause cancer, emphysema, and other diseases. 

Not all asbestos in a home needs to be removed. If it is not crumbling or friable or won't be disturbed by your remodeling project, you MIGHT be able to leave it there. It is only when the fibers get loose in the air that they cause problems. 

If asbestos is enclosed, the fibers usually are not released into the air and therefore present no immediate hazard.

Asbestos wrapped pipes that are sound can be protected from future damage by being enclosed in walls or having boxes put around them. 

However, asbestos wrapped ducts should be removed, both ducts and asbestos wrapping, because ducts are not airtight. 

Asbestos materials in good shape often can be “encapsulated” by an asbestos abatement contractor to add a layer of protection. This involves coating asbestos with a heat-resistant paint or sealant (approved by the EPA) that creates a protective barrier and converts surface fibers into a safer form.

We recommend removal because encapsulating can be temporary and it is almost as expensive as removal, depending on the project. It may even make later removal more difficult.

Asbestos is much easier to remove than mold because:
1. It does not "grow" or spread as mold does. 
2. Since asbestos is a well-recognized health problem, the infrastructure for testing and abetment is well established.

Warning: Don't do asbestos removal or encapsulation yourself. It is definitely a job for a professional

Contact Terry Jensen at 972 251-1532 or 817 545-0140.

Air-Quality Directory
Healthy Remodeling