How to Hire the Best Chicago Asbestos Removal Company
Is your home making you sick? If you have a persistent dry cough, trouble breathing, or pain in your chest that won’t go away, you might be suffering from long-term exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a building material that’s often found in homes built between 1900 and 1980. It may be found in shingles, attic insulation, and floor tiles. When a building made with asbestos is in poor condition, it poses serious health risks to home and business owners.
If you suspect that your home contains asbestos, it’s time to find a licensed and trained Chicago asbestos contractor who can remove it the right way.
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a mineral that is highly resistant to fire. For that reason, it was incorporated into a wide variety of building materials for many years. In addition to shingles, insulation, and floor tiles, you can find asbestos in:
- Paint
- Ductwork
- Tile adhesive
- Soundproofing material
- Furnace covers
If asbestos is left undisturbed, it remains inert and does not pose any major health risks. If asbestos starts to fragment due to age or normal wear and tear, however, its toxic fibers can become airborne and cause diseases like:
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lung and heart
- Asbestosis, permanent scarring of the lungs
In general, routine home inspections do not check for the presence of asbestos. If you’re in the process of buying a home or building that was built prior to 1980, you should get professional lab tests performed by the best asbestos company in your area.
How to Identify Asbestos in Your Home
Asbestos is impossible to identify by sight, but there are a few clues you can look for. Vermiculite, for example, looks like small, irregular pebbles and was used as an attic insulation material for many years.
If you see vermiculite in your attic, do not disturb it or let children play nearby. Talk to a local asbestos removal contractor about testing and removal.
You can also frequently find asbestos in floor tiles that are 9-inch squares. They are commonly found in finished basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. In these cases, the tiles themselves and the glue underneath them will need to be tested, then sealed or removed.
The thing to remember about sealing off asbestos tiles is that you’ll eventually need to remove them if you’re planning on selling your home. It’s more cost-effective to go ahead and get them completely removed.
If you’re planning on selling your home, it’s a good idea to start the asbestos abatement process at least three months before you put the home on the market, just to make sure that it’s done in time.
Asbestos Project Management can often conduct a site visit the same day that you contact them. They’re also available for 24-hour emergency services. When you call them, they will:
- Inspect building materials and send samples to the lab for testing
- Receive results within 24 hours
- Give you a free estimate for removal or sealing services
- Dispose of toxic materials in compliance with local and state laws
- Leave your home clean and in good condition
If you’re buying a home that tests positive for asbestos, you should ask the seller to cover the remediation costs.
Removing Asbestos: Why DIY Is Not an Option
Asbestos can be found throughout the home: in drywall, in paint, and in ceiling tiles. You may not realize that its fibers are polluting your air until you get sick, which may take 15 years or more from the time of your first exposure.
The most important thing to remember about asbestos, however, is that you shouldn’t try to remove it yourself. Look for a trained and licensed asbestos removal contractor with positive customer testimonials and a good rating with the Better Business Bureau.
The reason that homeowners shouldn’t remove asbestos themselves is that cutting or sanding asbestos-containing materials will release toxic fibers into the home. Proper asbestos removal requires cordoning off the area and making sure that the asbestos “dust” does not flow into the rest of the home.
There is also, unfortunately, an epidemic of unscrupulous contractors who claim they know how to remove asbestos. Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration heavily fined two contractors in Missouri for failing to follow proper asbestos removal procedures.
The contractors didn’t protect their workers from asbestos, didn’t train them properly in its removal, and failed to provide proper safety equipment.
Some signs of substandard asbestos contractors include:
- Failure to contain dust and particles
- Breaking asbestos-containing materials into smaller pieces
- Allowing children or pets to enter the work area
- Using a regular vacuum instead of a HEPA vacuum after the work is done
As you search for the best asbestos company, look for one that will provide free estimates and a written remediation plan before the work begins.
How to Find the Best Chicago Asbestos Company
To find the best Chicago asbestos removal company, you can start by asking for referrals from friends and family. Look for a company that has more than a few positive customer reviews. Asbestos Project Management is proud to say that we don’t have any reviews that are under five stars.
The best asbestos company for your residential or commercial project will have trained and licensed technicians that have undergone a background check. They will be trained in state and federal removal guidelines and will be able to demonstrate a track record of success.
Asbestos Project Management has been in business for almost three decades. Our technicians are trained and certified through OSHA, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).
We offer fast and reliable service and have worked with thousands of customers to quickly remove asbestos and protect their families’ health and safety. Contact us today for an asbestos removal consultation.
Back To Blog