Asbestos Removal Adelaide – Why You Should Get Your Ceilings Tested For Asbestos By Structural Asbestos Removal Adelaide

If your house was built before 1990, it is highly likely to contain asbestos materials. It is essential to have any suspicious material tested to determine if it is safe.

Always use a licensed asbestos removalist and follow their advice for working with asbestos. Never cut, drill, sand or use a high-pressure cleaner on asbestos materials. For more information about the structural asbestos removal Adelaide, click here.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres that were once used in many building and industrial products because they are highly resistant to fire, heat and some caustic chemicals. However, asbestos can cause several fatal diseases when the tiny fibres are inhaled and trapped in the lungs. These include asbestosis (a chronic lung condition that makes breathing progressively more difficult), mesothelioma, and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestos can be found in older insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, textured paints and piping. Exposure is minimal if the materials are in good shape and not disturbed. However, if these materials are cut, ripped or sanded, they can release fibres into the air.

Asbestos Roofing

Roofing is one of the most common areas where asbestos can be found in older buildings. The material was used for its strength and insulation properties. It was later discovered that it posed health risks such as scarred lung tissue and cancer. It was, therefore, banned.

It is essential to have any roof built with asbestos inspected by professionals to determine whether it is in good condition or needs replacing. If the building is still in good condition, replacing only the damaged shingles with a modern roof system may be possible without removing all the asbestos sheets from the structure.

When removing roof shingles, it is essential to follow strict safety protocols and work only with trained asbestos removal professionals. It is to ensure the safety of all occupants and workers. Care must be taken to prevent friable asbestos materials from breaking apart and dispersing the harmful fibres. It is also essential to find a waste site that lawfully accepts this type of waste and adequately transports the material for disposal.

Asbestos Ceilings

Before it was banned, asbestos was used for building insulation, floor tiles, shingles and ceilings. If you live in an older home and suspect asbestos in your ceilings, get it tested immediately to keep yourself safe. It is especially important leading up to renovations that can cause the spread of dust and particles.

A professional NATA-accredited asbestos inspector can collect and analyse a sample in a lab. It can help you know if your suspected material contains asbestos so that you can make a plan for removal.

Popcorn or textured ceilings may contain asbestos sprayed onto the material to produce a decorative finish with peaks and patterns. Work on these textured coatings should only be done by professionals with special training who can handle the health risks. It includes shutting off ventilation, wearing a respirator when working in high or humid spaces, and carefully scraping, spraying, and bagging for particular disposal.

Asbestos Floor Tiles

Floor tiles can release toxic asbestos fibres into the air if they are disturbed, such as when sanding or sawing them. If these are inhaled, they can cause serious health issues like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

If you remove asbestos tiles yourself, shut off your HVAC system, tape plastic drop cloths over doors and floor registers, and return air vents. Keep a pump sprayer filled with water handy, and wet the floors as you go. It will help keep the asbestos fibres as damp as possible and reduce the chance of contaminating other rooms in your home. For more information about the structural asbestos removal Adelaide, click here.