Get matched with top asbestos removal specialists in Brady, NE

Asbestos has many beneficial properties, including fire resistance, strength, and chemical resistance. It is also an excellent insulator, which is why it was used in pipe insulation and other building materials for decades. For all its benefits, asbestos is dangerous for human health, which is why it was eventually banned from use in certain products.

You are not really supposed to seal asbestos with paint, but in theory it could work—the caveat being that this is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. The only real way to seal asbestos is with the professional application of an encapsulating material like epoxy. Due to the negative effect asbestos can have on your home, however, it is usually the best course of action to accept a costly fix and remove the material entirely.

While asbestos can’t be directly absorbed through the skin—the fibers are too big—skin contact can still produce symptoms. Contact dermatitis can flare up in sensitive individuals but in most cases, the danger from asbestos comes from inhaling the fibers, or dust, that is produced when asbestos is disturbed. If you touch asbestos by accident, immediately wash yourself and your clothes.

You shouldn’t see a difference in your home’s value from your local property assessor if you have asbestos. Does asbestos affect home value when you are selling the home, though? If you are planning to sell the home, most jurisdictions require you to legally disclose the presence of asbestos to any buyer. Most buyers would have reservations about purchasing a home with asbestos, so they may offer less for the home. If you hire a pro to completely remove the asbestos, you do not have to disclose to buyers that the home once had asbestos.