Although the path to homeownership is an exciting time for you and your family, it is also a time when additional responsibilities are brought into your life. Having the assistance of an honest real estate agent can make all the difference. Many older homes and buildings may still have asbestos insulation or old corrosive building materials.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral used for a majority of the 20th century due to its fire resistant and durable qualities. Asbestos can still be found in attics, roofs, piping and flooring.  Potential Bellingham homebuyers or those remodeling older homes should be aware that homes built prior to 1980 may still contain asbestos. This should by no means make you jump out of your chair because asbestos exposure is easily prevented by taking simple precautions.

If any asbestos is suspected, the best advice is to leave it un-disturbed. Touching or breaking it off may cause it to become damaged and release its fibers into the air. A Professional home inspector can identify the materials and provide an expert consultation for you. If the materials are deemed dangerous, removal may be necessary.

Although un-damaged asbestos does not pose any harm, you should be aware that the prolonged inhlation of airborne asbestos fibers can lead to the development of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related lung cancer. Due to the fact many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, mesothelioma diagnosis is one of the more difficult tasks physicians encounter. This is also because it may take anywhere from 20 to 50 years for this disease to develop.

Removal of asbestos in public facilities, workplaces and homes should be performed by licensed abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. They must wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves to avoid any
exposure. The materials should be removed in as large pieces as possible and places in disposable bags.

With a steady growth on technology and public education, there are a variety of green alternative methods of insulation which make the use of asbestos obsolete. The United States Environmental Program states that the use of recycled building materials such as cotton fiber, lcynene and cellulose will provide many dividends for its users. Statistics show that the lcynene foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 25 percent annually.

© Ryan Martin for Bellingham Real Estate Blog, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Asbestos Prevention Tips