Asbestos in our homes

The very mention of the word asbestos sends a jolt of anxiety through most homeowners - and for good reason. The utilization of asbestos fibre in construction material was wide spread until the early 1980’s when it was proven that exposure to it posed a significant health risk.  There’s a lot of it out there and no one wants it in their homes.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral found in rock that for centuries has been recognized for its superior strength, durability and resistance to high temperatures. Until its dangers were discovered this multi-functional super mineral proved very valuable in the building industry and was widely incorporated in floor and ceiling tiles, insulation board, asbestos cement, shingles, exterior siding, roofing felt, wall board and textured and latex paints as well as in loose-fill vermiculite insulation where the more dangerous type of asbestos called ‘amphibole’ was utilized.

If you live in an older home chances are you have asbestos somewhere inside it, but don’t panic, asbestos only poses a danger when the fibres become airborne. If the likelihood of this is minimized so is the risk. That said when asbestos is inhaled in any significant quantity it is very dangerous and can cause asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs) or cancer. It needs to be treated with utmost care.

For dense materials such as insulation board, exterior siding, clapboard and floor and ceiling tiles, risk only arises if the material starts to deteriorate or is cut, sanded or disturbed in some way that might allow fibres to become airborne. For loose-fill vermiculite insulation it’s critical that it remains undisturbed and contained behind walls, floors or ceilings and doesn’t become exposed to the interior environment.

The real risk with asbestos is when construction disrupts it, disturbing its otherwise benign condition. Here are a few scenarios that could be of concern:

1.   Coming in contact with loose-fill vermiculite insulation. This is easy enough to do if you’re removing a wall or moving around an attic space.

2.   Removing vinyl asbestos floor tiles or asbestos acoustical ceiling tiles by crumbling, scraping or sanding.

3.   Sanding or scraping older water-based asbestos coatings in drywall, roof coatings, sealants, paint or caulking.

4.   Sanding or scraping older plasters that contain asbestos.

5.   Generally, any sanding, scraping, drilling or sawing (or any similar means) of an asbestos containing product that might allow it to become airborne.

When demolishing a home the standard protocol is to have the various materials within the house laboratory tested for asbestos. This is a simple procedure and is not expensive and can be done right here on the North shore. I’m currently working on a project requiring the demolition of a 1950’s era home that we discovered has asbestos in its floor tiles. The floor tiles are in good condition and pose no threat to the inhabitants but the upcoming process of demolition will pulverize them and potentially send asbestos particulate into the air. As a result the floor tiles must be removed by a certified removal team before demolition starts.

Asbestos is always a concern for the prudent homeowner but is not something to panic about. The most important thing a homeowner can remember is that asbestos fibre is only a danger when it’s airborne. So if you’re planning on making some alterations to your home make sure you know what’s in what you’re altering before you begin.