Asbestos was used in homes and other buildings in the late 19th century. It was ideal at the time because it was good for soundproofing, had a decent tensile strength, and was pretty much resistant to heat, electrical and chemical damage. We now know that asbestos can be very harmful to your health, as it has been known to cause malignant lung cancer, forms of pneumonia and other rare cancers.

So, if you find asbestos in your home, or if you think your home may have asbestos what should you do?

The Effects

Asbestos releases particles when it is cut, drilled, broken or moved in any way. These particles are the most dangerous part about asbestos, if they are breathed in you can get very sick. If you are conducting renovations or anything of the sort, you should investigate to see if you have asbestos in your home.

Locate the culprit

Asbestos is found in blown insulation, on ducting around furnaces, water Calgary tanks that were made before 1980, plus popcorn textured coatings on ceilings and in drywall compound, lathe and plaster on walls. It is also sometimes found in vinyl composition tile and linoleum flooring.

Leave it alone

If you are unsure if you may or may not have asbestos in your home, the best thing to do is leave it alone until you are sure. In this case, it is definitely better to be safe than sorry, so follow the next two steps before you start renovating.

Get it tested

The best way to figure out if you have asbestos in your home or not is to get it tested. Contact an asbestos removal company in Calgary, they usually do testing as well. Asbestos can only be identified with a laboratory test – so no tasting it or basing your finds on the colour.

Call an asbestos remediation/abatement company

These certified companies have the experience, knowledge and equipment to remove all the asbestos from your home so you can go ahead with your remodeling – or just give you peace of mind. Most asbestos removal companies can provide testing services as well.

If you live in a home built before 1986, you should definitely look into the possibility that there is asbestos in your home and consider consulting asbestos testing experts. Before you pick up that hammer or cut a hole in your wall, ensure that it is safe for you to do so.

For all of your asbestos removal in Calgary needs contact the experienced and asbestos removal certified team from Phoenix Restoration – start with trust.