Enter your search terms Submit search form Web www.siteforarticles.com

Print | Send To Friends | Add To Favorites | Comment

Asbestos in the home By: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Article Word Count: 534 words  [Comments (0)] Total Views: 2 Views

Asbestos in the home Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company Asbestos is a mineral that has excellent binding qualities. It is a long-lasting, dependable material that is not soluble in water and has been used successfully in building products, components and insulations for many decades. In the 1960s, concerns surfaced about asbestos and its relationship to some cancers. Workers in some industries as well as miners were developing cancers caused by asbestos in the air they were breathing. These cancers affect the lungs and respiratory system. Public awareness evolved from testing in public and commercial buildings, schools and hospitals to testing in homes. Once it was determined that asbestos could have a negative impact on the health of people who are exposed, the production of asbestos was banned for use as building materials, insulation, etc. Production of asbestos ceased in 1973 and its installation was banned after 1978. Typical uses and locations found in homes are: 1) Insulation: Rockwool insulation is found mostly in attics and sometimes in walls. Ovens, ranges, toasters, dishwashers, heating pipes, ducts, boilers and furnaces would typically have insulations that contain asbestos during the years from about 1910-1975. 2) Building materials: Asbestos in cement siding and roofing were very common in the 1940s and \'50s. Transite ductwork was used below concrete floor slabs, as chimney flues and as 1/4\" thick sheets for fire protection. Vinyl: Asbestos floor tiles were the tiles of choice from 1930 to 1970. Ceiling tiles and some spray-on textured or popcorn ceilings have asbestos containing material (ACM). It is not likely that you will find asbestos in a home that was built after 1978. Mitigation occurs in two forms: removal and encapsulation. The presence and type of ACM can only be determined by analysis under a microscope. It cannot be determined visually. The mitigation process is very specific and the cost is not much higher for removal than it is for encapsulation. Removal requires the following: 1) Prepare the area with positive airflow to the exterior to capture and discharge airborne particles to the exterior. Small asbestos particles can remain airborne for days in still air. 2) Wet down the ACM as well as adjacent areas of concern, such as the floor. 3) Isolate the areas and the ACM. This is typically accomplished by building a plastic tent around part of the subject area. The tent is moved to isolate other areas with ACM as needed. 4) A proper respirator should be worn to capture the smaller ACM particles. Goggles and disposable coveralls should also be worn. 5) Removed ACM is captured in bags, transported in trucks designed for this use, and disposed of at designated hazardous waste locations. 6) The mitigator removes coveralls and then showers in a plastic tent in the mitigation area. 7) Air testing is performed after removal and clean-ups to determine if there are asbestos particles in the air. The cost for removal or encapsulation is specific to the contractor. Buying a home in New Jersey? www.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com has a listing of home inspectors in all counties of new Jersey. New Jersey Home Inspections are performed by the author of this artical Michael Del Greco in Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic Counties.

Print | Send To Friends | Add To Favorites | Comment

Related articles

Synthetic Grass: An Increasingly Popular Alternative for the Yard By: Allen Wilson - As Australia’s severe drought has turned many green, lush gardens and yards into brown, lifeless dustbowls, an increasing number of Australian homeowners are turning to synthetic turf as a viable solution.
 
Build a Rain Garden By: JD McGuire - Build a Rain Garden There's a new garden in town.
 
Bonsai Trees By: Andrew Green - What are Bonsai trees? Many people think of tiny little Japanese trees cut and pruned to a miniature size but literally speaking Bonsai means ‘plant in a tray’ and while they are smaller than their wild counterparts they don’t have to be a couple of inches tall; they can be grown in a pot in the garden and will be smaller than their wild counterparts.
 
Lawnmowers Guide And How To Save Time Installing Synthetic Turf In A Tennis Court By: Mr.Andrew Caxton - Why install synthetic turf instead of real lawn? Most of the following steps are not required when you choose to install synthetic surfaces rather than a traditional one.
 
5 Steps To A Better Lawn And Garden By: George Chapman - If youÂ’re lucky enough to have a lawn with a good topsoil base, much of the hard work of keeping a lawn beautiful is already done for you.
 
6 Indoor Plants That Love The Dark: A Tip From The Garden Center Nursery By: Flor Buenaventura - It was a long search that took me more than ten years.
 
Bonsai Care By: -JD - What are the basics of effective Bonsai care.
 
Using Popular Rose Varieties In Your Garden By: Steven Hall - When many people think of gardening, their thoughts turn first to roses, and there is no wonder.
 
A Beginners Guide To Garden Bridges By: Charles and Susan Truett - Just because you dont have huge, elaborate gardens does not mean you cant accentuate what you do have with l garden bridges.
 
Why Teak Wood is so Popular as Garden Furniture By: tobody - Why is Teak Wood so Popular? As the days go by, teak is becoming rarer, harder to acquire and more expensive to own.
 
Amazing Artemisias By: Susun Weed - WHO IS ARTEMIS? Amazonian moon goddess.
 
Handcrafted Garden Bridges Builds Traditional Arched Span Bridges with Modern Flair By: joeguraro - Though handcrafted wooden bridges have been used for many centuries for things such as draw bridges, spanning crevices, creeks, ponds, gulleys and anything from dips to depressions, a California-based custom bridge maker is currently receiving international recognition for spanning the divide between traditional to modern bridge making.
 
Reliable Lawn Mowers For Healthy Gardens By: A.Caxton - Learn how lawn mowers are able to save time when mowing around your beautiful garden.
 
Make A Coffee Can Herb Garden By: Katelyn Thomas - If you drink a lot of coffee, you probably have quite a few metal coffee cans on hand.
 
Flowers Are A Great Gift By: Alan Jason Smith - Flowers are a great gift, useful in home decoration or in landscaping.