What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of flexible fibers that are resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make the mineral useful. However, asbestos exposure is highly toxic.
Asbestos was widely used in construction as an effective insulator, and it can be added to cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials to make them stronger. But when asbestos dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibers can become permanently trapped in the body. Over decades, trapped asbestos fibers can cause inflammation, scarring and eventually genetic damage.
Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health conditions. A rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis. The carcinogenic qualities of the mineral are what makes asbestos dangerous.
Testing for Asbestos
Home inspectors do not include testing for asbestos in their base inspection, but will notify you if the home is the proper age and contains materials that could commonly include asbestos.
Testing is recommended to see if the property contains asbestos and if plans of remodeling or repairs would disturb materials that might contain asbestos. If the inspection reveals that asbestos may be present, it is not a cause for alarm.
Asbestos removal is pretty standard when identified since so many older homes contain building materials containing asbestos. Removal and disposal must be done correctly to eliminate the threat of exposure to toxins which can cause certain types of cancers and other risks to life. In some cases, it doesn’t require removal but can be sealed by painting, which is still best left to the professionals.
An asbestos test is an add-on service that can be added later if asbestos is found in the home. We do not offer abatement services.