After we had a solar power system installed on our home, I realized that we needed to work hard to create a stronger sunlight flow. We had large trees that hovered over our home, and although they provided a lot of shade, they also kept the sun from producing the kind of power we needed. I really wanted to work hard to create excellent energy stores in our home, so I decided to make this blog. I wanted to spread the word about responsible energy use, so I started writing all kinds of articles about the environment, energy use, and protecting our resources. Read more here.
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Creating Excellent Energy Stores
What an Asbestos Inspection Reveals About a Home Before You Buy It
Marion Rogers
If you plan to buy an older house, you may want to have an asbestos inspection first for your peace of mind. If the home has asbestos, it could add to the costs significantly when you remodel. Plus, you may worry about the possible asbestos exposure to your family. Here are some things the asbestos inspection reveals.
Presence of Asbestos Dust
Asbestos isn't usually a problem in a home unless it is in bad shape. When it crumbles, it releases asbestos fibers into the air. This is a dangerous situation because you can breathe the fibers into your lungs. The inspector may test the home for the presence of asbestos dust. This indicates that asbestos has been disturbed somewhere in the home and is releasing the dangerous fibers.
Suspected Asbestos Materials
Some building materials can automatically be ruled out because these don't contain asbestos. Wood, glass, metal, concrete, and stone are building materials that shouldn't have asbestos. However, asbestos can be found just about everywhere else including in insulation, flooring, siding, and roofing. Your inspector will list all the suspected materials so you have an idea of how much asbestos could be in the home.
The only way to verify asbestos is actually present is to have a sample of each material tested in a lab. You may not want every suspected material tested. Instead, if you're thinking of tearing up a floor or taking off old siding, you may want those tested so you'll know in advance if you'll have to call in an asbestos company to do the work rather than do it yourself.
Condition of the Materials
Another important part of an inspection is a report on the condition of the asbestos materials. Since asbestos isn't a problem unless it's disturbed, you may not have concern with materials that are still in good shape that you can cover over, such as putting new flooring over old asbestos flooring. If a material containing asbestos is decaying, crumbling, scratched, or cracked, you want to know about it as that could pose a medical hazard for your family. In addition, the asbestos inspector may recommend a course of action for dealing with the asbestos. This could include sealing it in place, leaving it alone, or having it removed.
Having an asbestos inspection before you buy an old house that probably used building materials with asbestos in them is a good idea so you know exactly what you're dealing with. Asbestos removal can be costly, and you want to factor in the cost of removing it with the price you pay for the house. Plus, if you enjoy DIY home improvements, you may be limited in what you can do if there is a lot of asbestos in the house. To learn more about asbestos inspection, contact services such as Hutzel & Associates, Inc.
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