Are you Worried About the Presence of Asbestos?

PRM Inspections and Services Can Take Samples from Your Home and Get Them Tested

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was used to strengthen other materials and to provide fire resistance. The mere presence of asbestos in a home or a building is not hazardous. The danger is that asbestos materials may become damaged over time. Damaged asbestos may release asbestos fibers and become a health hazard. When these fibers are breathed in, they can damage the tissues, primarily those of the lungs. This leads to the two most common diseases related to asbestos: asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestosis is "simply" scar tissue in the lungs, reducing the ability of the lungs to function. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer. While short term exposure to asbestos doesn't typically lead to health problems, chronic exposure can lead to problems 20-30 years down the line. Asbestos ceased being used in 1978, but building materials manufactured before that time might have been used after that date. For example, here in Oregon, drywall manufactured before the year 2000 has to be tested before being accepted by the local dump.

The most common places to find asbestos in a pre 1978 home would be the tape around the HVAC ducting joints, floor tiles, spray textures, and joint compounds. Asbestos is mostly a danger during renovations, as that is when it has the highest likelihood of being disturbed and made airborne. Asbestos testing requires a sample to be cut from the suspected material and sent to a lab with the equipment and expertise to test it. PRM Inspections and Services try to make the sample taking as unobtrusive as possible. Both Paul and Steven have asbestos abatement experience, so they are aware of the risks of asbestos exposure.

For more information on asbestos, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has a good article on asbestos in the home. See the article article