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Own An Older Home? 4 Places An Inspection Might Uncover Asbestos

by Martin Williamson

If your home was built before 2003, there's a good chance that it contains some asbestos. Because of that risk, it's a good idea to schedule an asbestos inspection. You could wait until you find the asbestos on your own, but that's not a good idea. This is especially true if the asbestos in your home is already in a friable state. Friable asbestos is a health risk for you and your family. That's why you shouldn't try to inspect your home on your own. Another reason for a professional inspection is the fact that you might have asbestos throughout your home. Here are four of the places your inspector might find friable asbestos in your home. 

Walls and Ceilings

When it comes to looking for asbestos in your home, most inspectors will focus on your walls and ceilings. You might not realise this, but a lot of older building materials contained asbestos. Some of those materials include insulation and wall boards, such as corrugated sheeting. Asbestos can also be in cement tile underlay, which was used for kitchen splashbacks. 

Floor Coverings

If you have the original floor coverings in your pre-2003 home, it's time for an asbestos inspection. If you've installed new flooring over the original flooring, you might think that you're safe from asbestos-related problems. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Asbestos dust can still escape into the air. Luckily, an inspection will determine if you're at risk for asbestos exposure. 

Roofing Materials

If you own a home that was built before 2003 and you haven't had the roof replaced yet, now's the time to schedule an asbestos inspection. Many older roofing shingles were manufactured using asbestos materials. Because shingles are exposed to the elements, they can become friable due to damage. An asbestos inspection will determine if your shingles have become friable. If they have, they'll need to be removed and replaced. 

Rain Gutters

If you haven't replaced the original rain gutters on your home, it's a good idea to have them inspected for asbestos. Your rain gutters could have been manufactured using materials that contained asbestos. An asbestos inspection will help you decide whether it's time to replace your gutters. 

Don't take chances with your health. If you own an older home, schedule an asbestos inspection right away. You could have asbestos hiding throughout your home. If you do have asbestos in your home, don't try to remove it yourself.

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