Get matched with top percolation testing pros in Manilla, IA

According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos-related diseases can take anywhere from 10 to 40 years for symptoms to appear. The health risks increase with prolonged and heavier exposure. Risk factors also include:

• Amount of exposure

• Chemical makeup, size, and shape of the asbestos fibers

• Length of time a person is exposed to asbestos

• Genetic factors 

• Source of exposure (direct exposure or secondhand exposure from someone directly exposed)

Professional asbestos testers or environmental consultants are the best people to call to test for asbestos. An asbestos testing company specializes in collecting and analyzing samples and will be the most qualified to do the job for you. An environmental consultant may not specialize in handling asbestos, but should still have the knowledge and know-how to safely collect a sample and send it off for analysis.

Some pros may recommend covering a popcorn ceiling that tests positive for asbestos with beadboard ceiling planks or drywall. The cost to install a beadboard ceiling averages more than $5,000, but you likely will pay more than the average for the installer to deal with the asbestos safely. Installing a beadboard ceiling or new drywall will disturb the asbestos and release some microscopic fibers, so the installer will need to take precautions. 

Knob and tube wiring is an older type of electrical wiring that's no longer used and generally not considered safe. However, some homes still have it, or may have a knob and tube wiring system that was incorrectly modified or rigged to work with a modern electrical system. Knob and tube wiring may contain asbestos insulation, but the only way to know is to have the material professionally tested.