I’ve Disturbed Asbestos In My Home. What Can I Do?
At Avanti we’re always pleased to take calls from people who think they may have disturbed asbestos in their home. In the first instance, we’re usually able to reassure them that they’re not in danger of becoming ill as a result. And secondly, if there is a potential problem with asbestos in the home, as a licensed asbestos removals company, we’re able to deal with it quickly and efficiently.
The bottom line is that we want people to be vigilant about the possibility that their home may contain asbestos. BUT, we don’t want to scare people unnecessarily. So here are some facts to help you know what you do, and don’t need to be worried about.
What is Asbestos?
It’s a natural mineral that was first used by the Romans. It’s incredibly strong, and an effective insulator. Plentiful availability made it a popular choice for use in the construction industry throughout the 20th century. By the middle of the century, though, there was compelling evidence that the microscopic fibres of asbestos, if breathed in over a sustained period, can cause chronic lung diseases.
Asbestos was banned for use in the construction industry in 1999.
The Facts About Asbestos in the Home
- Asbestos was used in the construction of homes prior to 2000. If your home was built after this, it won’t contain asbestos.
- Asbestos in your home isn’t dangerous unless it’s disturbed or damaged.
- If you know that asbestos containing materials (ACMs) were used to construct your home, you should avoid DIY around them.
- If you think you have disturbed asbestos in your home, call Avanti immediately.
How Do I Know If I’ve Got Asbestos in My Home?
Asbestos was used in a range of construction products including Artex plaster, asphalt roofing, guttering and wadding. The best way to find out whether asbestos is present in your home is to have an Asbestos Management Survey carried out. This is a non-intrusive visual survey carried out by asbestos specialists. Should they find evidence of damaged or disturbed asbestos, samples will be taken for further analysis.
When Should Asbestos be Removed?
If a survey finds asbestos that is in a poor condition we will recommend removing it. Where asbsestos containing materials are discovered and are likely to be disturbed by DIY or normal household activities, we will recommend removal. If you are moving into a new home, and a survey has shown that there are risks, you may want to request asbestos removal, prior to the sale going through.
Avanti is a Licensed Asbestos Removals Company
The Avanti team will remove and safely dispose of domestic asbestos for you. We carry out asbestos removals under carefully controlled conditions to ensure that the fibres are contained within a sealed area. Air monitoring is carried out before, during and after removal. Sign off occurs only when we can guarantee that the concentration of fibres in the atmosphere meets current European standards.
If you’re worried that you have disturbed asbestos in your home, call Avanti straight away. We remove and dispose of asbestos promptly and safely -0333 3355974
