Today's Q&A: Asbestos Remediation - Northern Virginia
Asbestos removal in Northern Virginia is often an unexpected complication discovered by accident. Renovation can disturb dormant, completely safe asbestos-containing building products. If you are planning on selling or remodeling your home, the hazards of asbestos are an immediate concern.
You don’t have to be blindsided though. Why not eliminate the potential of an asbestos issue before you renovate or sell your home? The first step down that path is to have a reputable environmental services company investigate your home to certify it is free from any possible environmental issues, and if asbestos is found, determine what condition it’s in and recommend next steps.
It’s worth mentioning that you can’t tell at a glance whether a section of your home contains asbestos. You should also be aware that you put yourself at risk if asbestos fibers are released, so don’t try to handle it, or get a sample of it yourself.
Envirotex is licensed and insured to perform asbestos inspections in Northern Virginia. If you’re not sure whether or not your home contains asbestos, we’ll perform an inspection and take samples of any asbestos to determine its condition.
Once our inspection is complete, we’ll be in a position to give you our professional recommendation about next steps, including whether or not the asbestos should be removed, or if it can be safely encapsulated.
Asbestos can be found in different areas of the home’s structure or heating systems. Insulation has been a major source of asbestos in Northern Virginia homes for years. Asbestos insulation filled the walls in multi-unit housing and apartments to block noise, and the walls of single-family dwellings to contain warmth.
Attic insulation often used a product with vermiculite ore, which proved to have natural veins of asbestos running through it. Vermiculite is a mineral that when heated to a high temperature expands into particles, creating a lightweight fire-resistant material. Even water pipes were insulated with concrete compounds strengthened by asbestos.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 70% of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. from 1919 to 1990 came from a mine in Libby, Montana which was contaminated with asbestos. Houses built between 1930 and 1950 are highly likely to have one or all of these forms of asbestos insulation, and even houses up through 1990 may have some vermiculite [source: EPA].
Asbestos-containing insulation can be coated, or encapsulated, or even wrapped in protective coverings to seal it from potential deterioration. Or it can be removed, depending on the recommendations of asbestos experts [source: EPA]. Any cracked piping or crumbling spots of a wall or attic should be tested for asbestos and is best left alone altogether until assessed by professional.
Other areas in your home that may contain asbestos are:
- Shingles and Siding
- Vinyl Floor Tiles
- Pipe insulation in older homes
- And textured paint and wall patching materials made before 1977
Why It Matters
USA Today reported that asbestos removal, the largest environmental cleanup project in our nation’s history, has cost an estimated $50 billion over the past 20 years. In many cases, this involved public buildings, especially schools and medical facilities, or industrial facilities where potential exposure had to be mitigated for legal or health reasons.
Although millions of homes built between the 1950s and 1970s contain asbestos fibers, in most cases the health risks are quite small. As long as asbestos fibers are woven or manufactured into a stable substance that remains intact, that asbestos is not harmful.
Asbestos becomes a danger when it is released into the air. Damaged, crumbling, or torn asbestos needs to be remediated through encapsulation or abatement. This is where the process and sense of urgency becomes murky.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website has important information about how to deal with asbestos issues. They recommend hiring well-trained professional asbestos specialists to assess your potential asbestos exposure prior to any major remodeling or putting your home on the market.
When asbestos removal in Northern Virginia is necessary, be informed, stay involved, and make sure you find a firm qualified to perform asbestos removal. Their services can eliminate any murkiness surrounding your asbestos situation and guide you through the determination and resolution of your asbestos issue.
When Is Removal And Disclosure Necessary?
These are two separate issues, but they are closely intertwined and interrelated. The first thing to bear in mind is that homeowners are not mandated by law to remove asbestos, but it does come into play when properties undergo remodeling, significant damage or change hands. In all three cases, homeowners are usually left confused, uninformed, and unprepared.
If you’re selling your home, discuss the asbestos and disclosure forms with your Realtor. If you are absolutely certain your home has asbestos, you should indicate this in your legal disclosure agreement. If you do hire an asbestos inspector, you may want to include the inspection results in the asbestos disclosure.
If asbestos is in good condition (not damaged, deteriorated, or crumbling), no laws or regulations require that it be removed. Repairing damaged asbestos is usually cheaper than removal, depending on the area of the home that contains asbestos.
Note that doing even minor repairs yourself is not recommended since disturbing asbestos materials releases the fibers that are hazardous to your health. Your asbestos contractor, Envirotex, can remove or repair asbestos by either sealing or covering asbestos material.
Encapsulation of asbestos treats the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material, so fibers are not released. Pipe, furnace, and boiler insulation can be repaired this way. Only a professional trained to handle asbestos safely should undertake these repairs.
If you suspect you may have asbestos insulation in your home, don't attempt to remove it yourself. Call Envirotex. Serving all of Northern Virginia, we are the area's premier asbestos inspection, testing and removal contractors. Please call us today: 703-754-0892.
