Common Asbestos Exposure Scenarios

It doesn’t take a major renovation of your home for asbestos exposure to occur. Cleaning certain areas of your home or performing minor alterations can still put you at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. Here are common asbestos exposure scenarios you should be aware of:

Removing Popcorn Ceilings

Unfortunately, asbestos is commonly mixed in with popcorn ceilings, If you scrape popcorn ceilings, you may be at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers, as well as exposing your eyes to the harmful particles.

Cutting Insulation on Pipes

Asbestos is a great insulator. For example, pipes are often wrapped in asbestos insulation, so beware of cutting into any insulation.

Drilling into Drywall

Asbestos is a common component that makes up drywall, so if you drill into, or are renovating the walls within your residence, you may disperse asbestos fibers contained in the drywall, into the air.

Removing Vinyl Floor Tiles

In the 1950's especially, vinyl floor tiles containing asbestos were popular. If your home was built during that era and you're planning to scrape the tiles, have the area tested first, rather than being exposed.

Renovating the Attic

Asbestos was commonly used to insulate attics, in older homes. While you may be tempted to remove and replace asbestos insulation with fiberglass insulation on your own, don't risk it. Contact us and we'll properly remove and dispose of any asbestos insulation.

Cleaning the Chimney's Flue

Asbestos is naturally fire-resistant. As a result, asbestos was used to line the flue (the passageway of your chimney) to help reduce fire risk, in older homes. If you attempt to clean the flue, you may dislodge asbestos fibers. Even if you rarely use your fireplace, if your chimney experiences downdrafts, then asbestos fibers may be infiltrating your home's interior.