Asbestos Removal Alternatives: We Don’t Recommend Them
Asbestos can be a hidden intruder in your home, office, or building. Although, living or working somewhere with intact asbestos isn’t necessarily an immediate health risk; it is important to know that most people who suffer from asbestos-related major health problems are exposed to the substance over long periods of time.
There are a number of places where asbestos can be found in your home and it was used in home construction for much of the 20th century. Products such as paint, fiberboard, siding, roof shingles, soundproofing tiles, floor tile, cement, insulation, and vermiculite, which is the small Styrofoam-like pellets found in potting soil, have all included asbestos at some point and some of these products are still in many homes.
Asbestos Project Management discusses asbestos removal alternatives and why we don’t recommend them in our informative article below. Continue reading to discover if you can live with asbestos if you can seal asbestos material, and why asbestos removal is not a DIY project.
Can I Live With Asbestos?
One of the questions we often receive is “If I don’t disturb the materials that contain asbestos, can I live with asbestos in my home?”
It is true that in its intact and undisturbed state, asbestos is not typically harmful to your health. It’s only when the fibers are released into the air that it becomes cancer-causing. However, its presence in your home is a problem waiting to happen, and if you are aware of asbestos in your home some states require that you inform buyers if you sell your home.
Visit our page Asbestos in Real Estate to learn more about what to do if you want to sell a home with asbestos.
While you are living in your home with asbestos materials, keep in mind any number of unseen actions could take place to degrade the materials. This can cause asbestos particles to be released into the air without you ever knowing it, putting your health at risk.
Can I Seal Asbestos Safely?
After telling homeowners about the dangers of asbestos materials, we then are often asked: “Well, can I just seal the asbestos-containing materials?” Encasement (or sealing) includes using specially created products that are designed to coat asbestos-containing materials and bind the fibers together permanently.
The short answer is yes you can seal asbestos. However, this only delays the inevitable, which is that one day you will likely be forced to remove the asbestos-containing products should you try to sell your home.
Asbestos encasement typically costs 75 to 80 percent of the cost of asbestos removal. So, while you may seal it, you will be paying the cost of the initial sealing, the additional cost of having the sealing removed, and the full cost of complete removal later on. So, what may seem like a cost-saving measure upfront will actually double your costs in the end.
Not to mention asbestos can be found in a variety of materials including asbestos flooring, asbestos ceiling tiles, insulation, and even more asbestos-containing materials. Instead of trying a temporary solution, opt for a permanent fix that won’t hurt your pocketbook or your health!
What to Do When Asbestos Is Found in My Property?
If you have been notified that asbestos has been identified on your property you should contact your local Chicago asbestos abatement company. First, make sure the asbestos inspection and testing service you use is a certified asbestos professional.
Ask the asbestos company you contact for proof of their license as an asbestos abatement contractor or inspector. Licensing requirements vary from state to state and may include several categories, such as:
- Asbestos abatement worker
- Asbestos abatement supervisor
- Inspector
- Management planner
- Project designer
Then check out the companies’ testimonials to discover if their customer service reviews represent a company you want to work with.
After, before, or during this process we recommend checking out Asbestos Project Managements blogs for additional resources that can help guide you on what to do when asbestos is found on your property.
- What Happens Before Asbestos Removal
- Can I Renovate My Home if Asbestos is Present?
- How to Find the Right Asbestos Abatement Company in Chicago
Why Asbestos Removal Is NOT a DIY Project
It’s important to consider the risk of asbestos exposure before attempting a DIY removal. Asbestos can affect your health in many different ways. When materials or products containing asbestos are disturbed they release asbestos fibers into the air. If you attempt to tackle an asbestos removal project yourself you run the risk of increasing your asbestos exposure for yourself and those who spend time around the residential, commercial, or industrial property.
After being breathed in these asbestos fibers can get trapped in the lungs. Once there they can remain there for a long period of time, which when combined with repeated exposure results in the increased risk that the fibers will most likely cause scarring and inflammation. Scarring and inflammation from asbestos exposure can lead to breathing problems and other serious health issues.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have all classified Asbestos as a human carcinogen, a substance that is known to cause cancer.
Due to the difficulty of an asbestos removal job, as well as the health risks associated with manipulated asbestos, DIY asbestos removal is never a good idea. Please consult with your nearest asbestos abatement company for asbestos testing services, asbestos removal services, and any asbestos inquiries or questions.
Find Asbestos Testing and Removal Quickly and Cost Effectively
Asbestos Project Management offers some of the top Chicago asbestos removal services. We also offer additional services including at-home asbestos testing kit options. We also provide professional asbestos inspection services to residents and properties in the Chicagoland area. These asbestos removal services are quick and cost-effective which in turn will relieve pressure on you and those inhabiting the property.
Asbestos Project Management understands the stress of discovering that asbestos is present on your property. This is a scary issue to discover, and that’s why APM makes it our priority to answer any question you have, offer our asbestos removal services, and get the job done right.
“We emailed Asbestos Project Management at 8:00 am, and received a call from Clyde at 8:20 to set up an appointment for that very morning at 11:00. He was very empathetic about our situation, very informative about our options, and supportive.”
TODD M., CHICAGO, IL
Asbestos Removal Frequently Asked Questions
Many questions arise during the asbestos removal and asbestos testing processes. Asbestos Project Management has created a FAQ section to hopefully provide your questions with answers. Get answers to questions like, “If there is Asbestos in my home, am I safe?”, or “I need a cost estimate for asbestos removal services. How much would APM charge for asbestos estimates?”.
If you have any additional questions after checking out our asbestos removal frequently asked questions page then please contact us and we will be happy to get you the information you are looking for.
Asbestos Removal Services Near Chicago
If you have asbestos in your home, the most cost-effective and safest option is to remove it completely as soon as possible. If you can ensure it will be forever undisturbed, living with asbestos is possible. However, removal is the only way to have complete peace of mind.
Chicago asbestos removal company Asbestos Project Management is an expert in testing and removing asbestos from homes, commercial units, and municipal buildings and we’ve been doing it the right way for 40 years. Contact us today to receive a no-obligation asbestos removal quote.
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