Asbestos Removal for Home Renovation

If you’re considering a home renovation project you need to be aware of the dangers posed by existing building materials in your home that may contain asbestos.  Once considered an ideal insulating material, it is only in recent times that a shocked world learned of the health hazards posed by asbestos.  Breathing asbestos fibers has led to mesothelioma and other forms of lung disease.  Truly a silent killer, it can take years for the disease to exact its toll.

While many uninformed homeowners may think asbestos was only used for insulation purposes, the facts are that asbestos has binding and fire resistance properties that made it an ideal additive for a wide variety of building materials, including flooring tile, siding, ceiling tile, roofing shingles, and sheathing.  In Australia, asbestos building materials largely disappeared around 1987, so if your home is older than that, chances are you have asbestos laden building products somewhere in your home.  What can you do?

In the belief that an informed consumer is more likely to make sound home renovation decisions than an uniformed one, self-education is an essential first step.   An informed homeowner will know there are two different types of ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) -- friable and non-friable.  The danger posed with asbestos comes from breathing the fibers.  Non-friable ACM uses bonding agents to join the asbestos with the building material in which they are contained, in effect cementing in the dangerous fibers.  Fibers are only released when the material is broken or pulverized.  With friable asbestos the fibers can be released with simple hand pressure, as in ripping insulating material from ductwork.   So how can you learn enough about the ACM that may be in your home to determine the best removal method when renovating?

An uniformed homeowner might start by contacting a professional asbestos removal contractor and relying on their recommendations without question.  You could end up paying for removing material that could be left in place and protected to prevent becoming airborne.

However, it is possible to remove certain types and quantities of ACM by yourself.  Requirements vary by state but it is legal in all Australian states.   Regardless of which removal option you elect, you’d be well advised to visit a consumer education website like www.asbestosandyou.com/au.  There are other sites  -- like www.asbestosinfo.com/au --  but asbestos and you is one of the best.  Here you can watch a video presentation that will teach you much of what you need to know about asbestos removal when renovating an older home.  They also offer training courses that go into much greater detail.  Why bother?

You’ll learn that non-friable ACM, like certain flooring tiles, can be protected simply by installing a new floor over them.  You’ll learn that some ACM ceiling tiles can be protected by painting or spraying a special protective lacquer over them.  Finally, they offer an Asbestos Home Identification Pak, which will help you identify Asbestos Containing Materials in your home.  With this tool, you can first find out what needs to be removed before deciding whether it is appropriate to call in an asbestos removal contractor or attempt to remove it yourself.   Removing some types of ACM is not difficult, but requires specialized protective clothing and tools and are subject to disposal restrictions.  For more information about the regulations imposed by Australian states, visit www.asbestosremovalguide.com.   The site also contains a step by step guide for selecting an asbestos removal contractor.