Asbestos and Home Inspections in Manassas, VA

Leave Asbestos and Home Inspections in Manassas, VA to the Experts

You might now be looking into buying your dream home in Manassas, VA. Perhaps the house you may be interested in is an older home, probably put up in the 80s. You might have heard that such constructions may contain asbestos. It was, after all, a popular building material then.

Envirotex is a licensed, asbestos inspection and abatement contractor. We offer:

• Safe and vigilant containment and removal following the highest safety procedures
• Thorough site decontamination
• Lawful disposal
• All asbestos testing performed by an independent, certified lab

The question you may now have is how the asbestos material impacts the safety of the home. Before signing on the dotted line, please read this article. We will share everything you may need to know about asbestos and home inspection in Manassas, VA.

What Does Asbestos Entail?

Asbestos is a durable and malleable silicate mineral fiber. It provides a lot of flexibility such that you can use it when constructing. Asbestos materials are very strong, heat resistant, and incombustible, and sound absorbent. It could explain why it was such a popular material for construction items.

You can find asbestos in different parts of the home, like insulation for heat or fire. Other places include the floor and ceilings. Outside of construction, the motor industry was also a big consumer of asbestos. Some car parts like gaskets and brake linings would therefore use the material.

Types of Asbestos

There are six different types of asbestos.

• Chrysotile is the most common, and you may find it in floors, roofs, ceilings, and car parts. It offers the best flexibility due to the fine fiber textures and heat– resistant qualities. Some people refer to it as white asbestos because of how it looks.
• Amosite is brown, and manufacturers typically use it in pipe insulation cement sheets. You may also find it in pipe insulation, tiles, and cement sheets. It is firm and resists heat very well. Unfortunately, its risk potential is very high, and exposure may result in cancer.
• Crocidolite or blue asbestos was a popular component in steam engine insulation. You may also find it in pipe insulation, cement products, plastic products, and spray–on coatings. Blue asbestos is very brittle, making it one of the more harmful varieties.
• Anthophyllite can be white, green, or grey. Though its use was not very widespread, you would still find it in some construction and insulation material.
• Actinolite and Tremolite are not common in commercial use. They appear as transparent, white, brown, green, or grey. They may, however, be present as contaminants in sealants, paints, and talc products.

From the above, it is easy to see that identifying the different asbestos requires expertise. That is why you should let an expert carry out asbestos and home inspections at your Manassas, VA property.

Asbestos can have severe health implications if you have long–term exposure to it. Asbestosis, mesothelioma, and cancer are some of the adverse effects. What makes it especially scary is that you may not realize you're sick for a very long time. Some people only get to see the symptoms after 20–30 years of exposure.

It can be easy to ignore some of the common symptoms of asbestos poisoning. Chest pain, wheezing, and difficulty breathing are attributable to so many other diseases. Such include the common cold or flu. By the time the patient seeks treatment, it may, in some cases, be too late. Another fascinating thing about asbestos is that once it enters your body, it can remain there permanently. It does not behave like other toxins that the body can flush out.

Unfortunately, restrictions on the use of asbestos in buildings only came into force in the late 80s. Countries like Russia, Indonesia, China, and the UK have total bans on asbestos. That’s why it is crucial to schedule a home inspection if you are buying an older home.

Essential Things to Note about Asbestos Home Inspections in Manassas, VA

If you are buying commercial property, the onus is on the seller to ensure there is no asbestos present. For private property, it is your responsibility to ask for a home inspection. What does this mean if you buy a home with asbestos? The only time you can go after the seller is if they were aware that there was asbestos on the property.

You also have the responsibility of proving that that was the case. If the seller manages to convince the court that he did not know, you may lose the case. Some sellers are willing to share the cost of a home inspection with potential buyers. If you feel that you still want to purchase the home, this step should not be a deal–breaker.

Avoid any disappointment or legal issues by contracting asbestos experts like Envirotex to carry out home inspections. When looking for a company, determine that they have the relevant expertise for the job. It requires special training and the right equipment for safety.

When is Asbestos Dangerous

Asbestos is dangerous only when you disturb it, and it becomes airborne. There are two classifications you need to be aware of.

• Asbestos, in a friable state, is hazardous. It crumbles easily, and the danger of inhalation is very high. The more you inhale it, the more you will likely develop profound health implications in the future.
• Asbestos in a non–friable state is relatively safe. You should not, under any condition, disturb it. In such a situation, the home inspectors may advise that you leave it alone.

What Can You Expect During an Asbestos Home Inspection?

You may be wondering what goes into the process of an asbestos home inspection in Manassas, VA.

Note that you cannot see asbestos particles in the air with the naked eye. Experts use special equipment when carrying out an inspection. Most importantly, they take a sample from different parts of the home. At Envirotex, we target those areas that you know may contain asbestos. As we have indicated above, such may include flooring, steam pipes, roofing, and furnaces.

We handle every step of the process with utmost care. We mustn't contribute to any situation that could lead to the release of asbestos into the atmosphere. We avoid things like sanding, scraping, or sawing.

We then send the samples to specialist labs for careful analysis. It is a critical step because it helps to know what we are dealing with. Only then can we recommend the next course of action.

Asbestos Removal or Remediation

Once we determine that there is asbestos in the property, the next step is to recommend the best course of action.

We have two basic steps you can choose to take; remediation or removal.

• Asbestos Removal

Removing asbestos from the property is not something we would typically recommend. The process can be expensive and may release more asbestos into the atmosphere. That is why we must keep reiterating that only experts should handle the task.

It is, however, the right course of action depending on the state of the asbestos. If the particles are already airborne, meaning they are friable, we have to remove the asbestos. We may, therefore, recommend the total replacement of some parts.

• Asbestos Remediation

Remediation is the best course of action if the asbestos is in a non–friable state. We do everything we can not to disturb the asbestos. We may cover it with a protective wrap or seal the area. It presents a cost–effective option without the danger of further exposure.

The experts should also advise you on what the steps above could mean in the future. With remediation, for example, home renovations or improvements can present some challenges. Since the asbestos may still be present, it can limit what you can do. You may eventually need to incur the cost of total removal; without a doubt, it may drive up the cost of whatever you want to do.

Envirotex is the Company for an Asbestos Home Inspection in Manassas, VA

Asbestos inspection in Manassas, VA, requires expert handling. Envirotex has been handling asbestos removal and remediation for over 30 years. We train our teams properly on safe handling. We have invested highly in the right equipment for such jobs. If you need more information on the process, do not hesitate to contact us through our website. One of our team members can book a consultation at your convenience.

About Envriotex Environmental Services

Established in Northern Virginia in 2000, Envirotex Environmental Services was founded on military service. While serving his country, the company's owner Mr. Freeman gained vast knowledge and experience in the environmental services field. His expertise in air monitoring and hazardous materials testing prepared him for his post-military career.