Find an Asbestos Removal Contractor you can trust in Chester Le Street.

A typical Homebuyer Report or Building Survey Report doesn’t usually involve checking for asbestos. Your surveyor may let you know that there are certain parts of the property that are likely to contain asbestos, but they won’t do any testing. This means that, if you want to be sure about whether a property contains asbestos, you need to get an asbestos survey.

It’s a legal requirement to get an asbestos survey done on non-domestic buildings and public areas of domestic buildings if they were built before 2000. So, if you’re responsible for maintaining one of these types of building, you must find out if an asbestos survey has been conducted, and get one done if it hasn’t.

For domestic properties, you only need to get an asbestos survey done if your home was built before 2000 and you want to do some building work. This is because if any materials containing asbestos are damaged during the work, they could pose a serious health risk, so might need removing first.

However, if you’re worried about asbestos in any parts of your home that are deteriorating, you might want to get an asbestos survey done anyway.

For some types of asbestos, you are not legally required to use a licensed contractor. However, it’s recommended that you always use one. These contractors will have all the relevant training and knowledge to make sure asbestos is removed safely. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the licensing body.

The ability to identify exactly what an asbestos looks like can possibly save you from deadly health conditions that can arise as a result of a prolonged exposure to the dangerous material. It is one of the most frequent questions asked by homeowners in the UK and for a good reason. However, this question is not as simple or straightforward as it sounds because asbestos can actually take on a number of forms. As a result, this makes it a lot difficult to identify asbestos just by visual analysis or comparing an area which you suspect to be an asbestos to an example online. Therefore, the best way to truly identify if the area you suspect is really asbestos, then you’d have to send away a sample of the material to a certified asbestos testing lab in a safe way.

This happens to be the most effective way to verify if there’s a presence of asbestos in your home or property. Legally speaking, commercial properties are necessitated to undergo a total asbestos audit which involves carrying out lab tests on each and every material that’s suspected to include the deadly asbestos fibre substance. From these tests, you’ll get to know whether the asbestos present are friable or non friable which can go a long way to help identify the level of risk that’s posed by various building materials.

Upon the reception of the suspected asbestos-contained material, a certified asbestos testing laboratory will incorporate a form of transmission electron microscopy to reveal as well as determine the type of asbestos fibres that are in the sample. In the event whereby you discover a material you suspect to be an asbestos in your home, do not just go ahead to remove it. It’s strongly recommended to call in a specialist who can help to safely remove and send the suspected material to the lab for verification before further actions would be taken.

Asbestos fibres are very small, so they’re not possible to identify with the naked eye. However, they’re common in particular materials of a certain age, so you can work out if there are any parts of a building that are likely to contain asbestos.

Start by checking the date that the material you suspect contains asbestos was installed. If it was in 2000 or after then you don’t need to worry, it definitely doesn’t contain asbestos. However, if it was fitted before 2000 it may contain asbestos, particularly if this was between 1940 and 1980.

Materials that used to commonly contain asbestos include ceiling tiles, guttering, soffits, fascia, external cladding and facades, vinyl flooring, artex, cement roofs and insulation.

In recent times, when about to purchase or renovate a building that was constructed before the 1980’s, most homeowners will be particular about knowing whether or not asbestos containing materials are present. Also when a property is being checked, a lot of individuals would want to know the peak years for asbestos to be used in homes.

Modern asbestos production started in the 1800s during the time of industrial revolution, but after some regulation were made to ban some asbestos products and uses in the late 1970’s, the production witnessed a significant drop. The United States was the foremost users of asbestos according to the USGS but this lasted until the 1960’s when it was overtaken by the Soviet Union. In this article, we’ll look at the years of use for asbestos containing materials like pipe insulation, vermiculite as well as wall systems.

✓ Insulation. Asbestos insulation was commonly used in homes with lots of focus on both piping and ductwork. This was started in the year 1908 but was ended between 1915 and 1920 by Air-Cell pipe insulation.

✓ Vermiculite. This refers to a mineral that’s popular for its insulating properties and mostly used as insulation for attics. It possesses a gold to brown kind of appearance and it’s also a pebble material that shimmers in the light. According to the EPA, if this material is suspected in a home it should be assumed to contain asbestos.

✓ Wall Systems. Plaster and drywall are very common wall types that are asbestos containing. And until asbestos was banned both wall systems are said to have asbestos. For example the drywall sheets as well as it’s joint compound both features asbestos from the 1930s to the 1980s.

How To Remove Asbestos

Asbestos are naturally occurring fibrous material that used to be incorporated into fabrics or mixed with cement for insulation purposes be it electrical or building. As it’s highly dangerous and life threatening if disturbed, the material has been in the UK since 1999, however there are some exceptions. If you happen to reside in a house that has been in existence prior to 1980, then there is a chance your house contains some asbestos. You may discover it in your home when carrying out some DIY tasks or renovation. And once you do, you should waste no time in having it removed as the longer you’re exposed to it, the more life threatening it becomes.

Removal of asbestos is a task you should never try to do by yourself as it becomes harmful when disturbed. In an event whereby you suspect something to be asbestos, do not touch but rather have it isolated and call in a specialist for help. So it’s therefore not recommended to attempt asbestos removal as a DIY project unless you’re are experienced in the techniques below:

✓ Before you get started, it’s crucial to wear the necessary protective gear. These include wearing a respirator, a disposable coverall, disposable rubber gloves, rubber boots as well as safety eye goggles. And ensure that you remove all protective gear clothing and gear before exiting the containment area.

✓ Remove the materials and place in asbestos waste disposal bags

✓ Ensure to remove the asbestos without breaking it up.

✓ Make use of double bag and seal all debris containing asbestos.

✓ Wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth

✓ Fold and roll the polyethylene sheeting on the floor and dispose them same way as the debris - double bag and seal.

✓ Clean all tools and equipments used.

✓ When done, ensure to wash face, hands and bathe thoroughly.

How To Dispose Of Asbestos?

As a homeowner, you certainly wouldn’t like to the word “asbestos” and understandably so. Due to its extremely dangerous fibres, the material was banned in the UK since 1999 and any structure built with it will be heavily fined. However, if you’re presently doing some home improvement project or buying a property that was built before the year 2000, then a chance exists that the property could contain asbestos. So if you’re unlucky to discover asbestos in your property, getting rid of it can be quite simple if you know way around it. In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to dispose of asbestos in your property. Let’s take a closer look!

✓ Careful Handling

If you happen to find asbestos in your property the best thing to do is to call in a reliable specialist who has the proper training and equipment to tackle the project. However, if you decide to handle it yourself, then it’s a must to do this with great care. For instance wearing safety gloves, dust mask, safety goggles and placement of asbestos into plastic bags would be a great idea.

✓ Take It To The Tip By Yourself

To save some money if you have access to a vehicle, then loading the bagged asbestos into your car and driving it to the nearest local tip would be a simple and cost effective alternative. However, you should check with your local authorities before attempting this.

✓ Use A Specialist

Hiring a professional asbestos removal contractor is simply the best way to dispose of asbestos. Their services may be a bit expensive, but they cover up for that in both speed and effectiveness.

✓ Use Your Council’s Asbestos Collection Service

Several councils off this services at a reduced cost. However, they are usually not as quick as a specialist contractor.