Should you worry about asbestos?

Asbestos is the name for a group of very heat and chemical resistant fibrous minerals that are mixed into building materials. Asbestos can be found in floor and ceiling tiles, coatings, texturing materials and insulation. Only when materials containing asbestos are disturbed or when the fibers separate and become airborne are they a hazard to your health, which leads to the most common form of exposure, breathing in these asbestos fibers.
The body cannot breakdown or eliminate inhaled fibers and a slow buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs (called asbestosis) can occur. Asbestosis has typically been observed in asbestos workers and asbestos is known to cause cancer. There are no symptoms of exposure such as coughing, sneezing or itching and therefore you cannot tell if asbestos is in the air or if you have inhaled it.

We receive many calls regarding asbestos, what it is, and if it is included in our pre-purchase inspections. The following statement comes directly from one of our reports on a property which contains asbestos;
‘Although we are not qualified in the detection of asbestos material, this item appears to contain asbestos. Asbestos material should not be disturbed or damaged and should only be removed or altered by a licensed asbestos removal contractor. Asbestos is hazardous to health and should be sealed to prevent exposure. Recommend an analysis by a qualified removal expert be conducted of these materials to confirm the amount and importance of the asbestos present, and the cost to seal or remove.’

All of us here recommend any owner or potential purchaser who comes across this statement in a pre-purchase or vendor inspection obtain an asbestos audit.

Essentially asbestos is not a deal breaker however it is important to seek advice from a licensed asbestos auditor, who can tell you: the amount present, if there are immediate concerns and who will put it into perspective. If you have any questions or your own experience, please post a comment or send us an email.