Hire the best asbestos expert and save up to 40%

Asbestos has been widely used in construction due to its versatility, tensile strength, heat resistance and insulating properties. It was the perfect ingredient for producing hardwearing cement mix however, it has also been found to be highly toxic and is now restricted in many countries.

While the mere presence of asbestos in your home does you no harm, it can pose serious health hazards when it is damaged. Read the following information if you are planning to have any asbestos material inspected, repaired or removed.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that exists in six different commercial forms: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. This mineral can only be identified using a special type of microscope.

Asbestos was commonly added to textiles, cement and other products to boost their strength and fire resistance. However, breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres can lead to lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses that are often hard to diagnose until they are already fatal.

Where can I find asbestos at home?

Products that contain asbestos are required to have special labels. But until the 1970s, many building and insulating materials contained this mineral.

If your home was built around that time, you can possibly find asbestos in some structures and fixtures such as steam pipes, furnace ducts, boilers, cement sheets, door gaskets, soundproofing products, patching compounds, textured paints, cement roofing, shingles, siding, ironing board covers and fireproof gloves.

If you suspect there are asbestos materials in your home, do a visual inspection for signs of wear and tear. If those materials are in good condition, it is best to leave them alone. When in doubt, always treat a material as if it contains asbestos.

Do I need an expert for an asbestos problem?

If there are obvious signs of damage on a suspected material, call a licensed asbestos professional right away.

Professionals can tell at a glance whether a material contains asbestos or not, but they will normally take samples for analysis. When handling asbestos, it is important to have as much information as possible to ensure the fibres are not disturbed. Some asbestos professionals offer a full service including testing, assessment and correction.

When choosing an asbestos specialist, look for proof of licence, certification, and insurance. You can conduct your search on Oneflare, where you can find verified professionals with all the necessary trade requirements.

If you have an asbestos problem at home, don’t wait until someone gets ill. Get a quote now to resolve the issue right away and keep your family safe.