Learn how to get to the bottom of asbestos in your home
Buying a home with asbestos is a bit like buying a haunted house. You likely won’t be able to tell if a house has asbestos at first sight. Like natural gas, asbestos is invisible to the naked eye, and it‘s odorless. The best way to tell if a house has asbestos is to do a quick investigation and then hire a professional to test suspect areas. What should you consider? Keep reading.
What Is Asbestos and Why Should I Worry?
Asbestos refers to clusters of six natural minerals (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite) often used in construction materials like flooring tiles, insulation, and pipework, according to OSHA.
Both the EPA and OSHA regulate the use of asbestos because it’s considered highly toxic. Prolonged exposure to and inhalation of asbestos can lead to tumors in the lung and stomach.
History of Asbestos
Asbestos was commonly used in home insulation and building materials prior to the 1970s. In the ‘70s, OSHA and the EPA began to regulate the use of asbestos and significantly limited manufacturers’ ability to use it. Today, many consumer products still contain asbestos, but it must make up less than 1% of the total product.
In 2019, the EPA pushed for further regulations on the use of asbestos. The final decision resulted in the ban of more products containing asbestos, including:
Pipeline wrap
Adhesives, sealants, roof coatings
Cement products
Millboard
Roofing felt
Other building products
The EPA proposed a ban in April 2022 on chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos currently imported into the country.
There’s a good chance you’ve encountered low levels of some type of asbestos in your life. However, homeowners typically run into potential health dangers when products containing asbestos are damaged, like during a remodel or construction.
What Are Some Signs My Home Might Have Asbestos?
Some indicators that your home could have asbestos include:
Your home was built before the early 1980s
Your home contains vermiculite insulation
You have a home with vinyl flooring or millboard installed between 1952 and 1982
Your home has corrugated roofing
Walls or other areas in the home are constructed from cement sheets
Your home contains an older cement water tank (older cement products could contain asbestos)
How to Identify Asbestos
Unfortunately, asbestos is not easily identified and can often hide in plain sight in your home. While it can look like white, green, blue, or brown fluffy fibers, tiny pieces can also appear in materials like plastic or cement, making it impossible to properly identify on your own.
Plus, since asbestos is so dangerous when disturbed, you should never root around to try and find it. This job is best for a professional who can test for the material properly.
How to Check for Asbestos in Your Home
Again, you should never try and identify asbestos on your own. The only way to know for sure if your home contains asbestos is to have a professional test for it. If you have a reason to suspect that there is asbestos in your home, stop any home projects immediately and call in a local asbestos testing company to perform the proper tests.
Should I Have My Home Tested for Asbestos?
Many homeowners may never have to test their homes for asbestos. Asbestos particles are only dangerous if they become airborne. If you plan to do construction or you notice damage to portions of piping, siding, or drywall, you should hire a specialist to test for asbestos.
If you plan to remodel your home or have any concerns, you should have your home tested for asbestos just to be safe.
What Happens During an Asbestos Test?
Depending on the size of your home, the inspection process could take a few hours or a few days. While inspecting your home, the asbestos specialist will:
Shut off the heating and cooling system to minimize the spread of any particles
Cover the floor directly beneath the testing area
Wet the material that could contain asbestos with a mixture of water and detergent (this helps reduce the release of fibers)
Take small sections of the potentially contaminated material, aiming to disturb the area as little as possible
Put the material into a sealed container for transportation
Clean up the inspection area and discard any leftover materials
Use a wet cloth to collect any fibers or loose materials outside the covered area
Send the sample to an accredited laboratory or the local health department for testing
According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of asbestos testing varies depending on your location, the size of the home, and the complexity of the testing area. Plan to spend between $230 and $800 for testing. The average test costs around $500.
During the testing process and while handling potential asbestos, the specialist may wear protective gear, including gloves, overalls, appropriate footwear, and respiratory equipment.
Can I Perform an Asbestos Test Myself?
It depends. While the EPA highly recommends that you hire a professional to test for asbestos, some states do allow homeowners to test their properties themselves. You can purchase kits from online retailers. Check with your local health department to determine if your community requires you to hire an asbestos specialist.
What Do I Do If My Home Has Asbestos?
Your next steps after determining that your home has asbestos vary, depending on the type of asbestos, where it’s at, and whether or not it’s friable. Friable asbestos means that the material could easily break apart, allowing the material to become airborne (and dangerous). Some materials contain asbestos, but they are non-friable. These materials, in good condition, may still be safe.
Depending on the condition of the asbestos, the specialist may choose to repair the areas containing asbestos with an encapsulant or remove it. You should hire a professional to handle the asbestos clean-up. If the professional determines that the asbestos needs to be removed, you’ll need to stay out of the home until they perform an air test to ensure all residue is gone.
The cost of asbestos removal can feel expensive, but it’s well worth the price. Asbestos removal costs between $1,100 and $2,800 on average.
Never attempt to remove asbestos from your home yourself.
Can You Sell a House With Asbestos?
Despite strict regulations on the product, federal laws don’t require a seller to tell a buyer if the home contains asbestos, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, some states do require that sellers disclose the information. You should check your state regulations or talk to a realtor if you plan to sell or purchase a home.
