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A mineral that is invisible to the unaided eye is asbestos. Before it was outlawed in Australia in 2003, asbestos was used to reinforce items and increase their resilience to fire and heat.
When asbestos is unprocessed, it can have a variety of colors, including blue, yellow, red, white, green, and grey. The type of asbestos has an impact on the coloration. When processed, asbestos breaks down into fluffy fiber. It is odorless and invisible to the naked eye. Here is a A SYDNEY GUIDE TO ASBESTOS IN HOMES.
RISKS RELATED TO ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
Asbestos is harmful in all forms. Long-term exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Sadly, the majority of asbestos-related illnesses are not discovered until at least 15 years after exposure.
Asbestosis, pleural thickening, and pleural plaques are only a few of the disorders that have been linked to heavy short-term exposure to asbestos. These conditions could also be a sign of mesothelioma.
To find out if you've breathed asbestos, there is no test. To identify illnesses linked to asbestos, there are tests, nevertheless. To look for certain conditions, your doctor could order imaging scans. It is recommended to get screened annually by a pulmonologist with experience.
RISKS OF ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME
Some items in your home that might contain asbestos include:
Adhesives
Cement
tin ceilings
Drywall
Carpet tiles
Insulation
Roof tiles
Steam conduits
paint with texture
Asbestos may be present in any room of a house constructed before 1990.
Keep an eye out for potential dangers in the following locations:
Older homes with asbestos-coated hot water and steam pipes
Adhesives, vinyl sheet flooring, and floor tiles
insulation in conduits, electrical metre boards, and roofing
Cement gutters, downpipes, and roofing
Wall and ceiling joints are patched with patching materials and textured paint.
door gaskets, coal and oil furnaces
Using cement sheets or asbestos paper to cover the walls and floors near stoves
WHAT ASBESTOS HOMEOWNERS ARE EXPOSED TO IN THEIR HOUSES
The following household chores could unknowingly expose homeowners to asbestos:
Self-Contained Renovation
A man discovered piles of what seemed to be brown insulation while upgrading his attic. He knew nothing about asbestos. He decided to replace it with fibreglass insulation. He covered the loose insulation with a trash bag. During this procedure, asbestos fibres are disseminated in the air.
Brake Dust In a Home Garage
The owner of a worn-out car fixed the brakes in his own garage. To get rid of the dust that was covering the brake drums, he utilised an air compressor. Accidentally, asbestos fibre was launched into the air.
Taking up Vinyl Flooring Tiles
A homeowner made the decision to swap out her kitchen's vinyl floor tiles. Before putting up the new tiles, her husband scraped off the old ones. The couple was not aware that vinyl floor tiles in older homes frequently contained asbestos. They were unaware that removing old vinyl flooring with a scraper could cause asbestos fibres to be released into the air.
Taking Down Popcorn Ceilings
A homeowner who was sick of her ceiling's popcorn texture scraped it off and painted it again with a smooth finish. She had no idea that asbestos was often hidden in textured ceiling coatings. Microscopic asbestos fibres were emitted into the air when the popcorn finish was scraped off.
Removing Pipe Insulation
A homeowner observed crumbling insulation around hot water lines. He removed the old insulation and installed fiberglass insulation in its place. The asbestos fibers were dispersed into the air when the damaged material was cut.
Home exposure to asbestos may also happen as a result of:
A natural calamity or a fire
dDamage from flooding or water
Ageing or home malfunction
TIPS FOR SAFETY FOR HOMEOWNERS
Homeowners are unable to recognise asbestos-containing products on their own. They must therefore seek out experts skilled in locating and verifying the presence of asbestos, including their current state.
Professionals in the asbestos industry are certified and trained in handling and disposing of hazardous materials. Before being disposed of in authorised sites, they need special packing and labelling.
Look for asbestos substitutes. They are comparable in nature and have less detrimental impact on health. These options could consist of:
Silica Amorphous Fabrics
Papeete Fibres
Fillers for Polyurethane Foam in Flour
HOW TO RESPOND IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME
Most likely, asbestos was used in the construction of your home if it was built before 1980. So, in that situation, what are you going to do (and what are you not going to do)?
Do’s
For asbestos testing, inspection, repair, and removal, work with qualified experts.
To determine which household goods contain asbestos, seek professional assistance.
If you suspect asbestos is present, regularly inspect the material.
Stay away from any asbestos items that are damaged.
Be careful not to harm any asbestos-containing products.
If you intend to perform a demolition, get in touch with the appropriate local regulatory body.
Don’ts
If you are unskilled and uncertified, avoid working with any asbestos-containing materials.
Avoid touching or disturbing asbestos material that has minor damage.
Don't vacuum, sweep, or dust anything that might contain asbestos.
Don't drill, saw, sand, or scrape the materials.
If you are untrained, avoid collecting asbestos samples for testing.
Never throw away asbestos-containing objects with regular trash.
Unless repair and concealment are impossible, asbestos removal should not be done.
A SYDNEY GUIDE TO ASBESTOS IN HOMES: Why Choose Memates Demolition
If you’ve found asbestos in a property, you need to hire highly qualified and skilled asbestos professionals to remove it effectively and dispose of it safely.
At Memates Demolition we provide professional and affordable Sydney asbestos removal services that you can trust.
As you would be very well aware asbestos is extremely hazardous and dangerous and should only be removed by qualified asbestos removal contractors with the skills and equipment to do the job properly, you also need to ensure they follow all required health and safety procedures.
At Memates Demolition our goal is to safely and correctly remove your asbestos making this process as stress free as possible for our clients.
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