Asbestos at home can be dangerous for all that live there.
1 in 3 homes in Australia has asbestos at home. If your home was built before the mid 1980’s (when asbestos stopped being used in building materials), you will find asbestos. If your home was built after the 1990’s, then its unlikely you will find it. It is important to know where you would find asbestos, so here is a short list of where to start.
Where to find asbestos at home.
Asbestos was used extensively as a building material, that means it could be found in any room of your home. Common asbestos materials are roof sheeting and capping. Guttering, gables and eaves are also commonly made from asbestos. Flat or weatherboard style wall sheeting and vinyl sheet flooring are also on the list. Some carpet and tile underlays have asbestos particles in them.
The yard also has its dangers.
We know that houses can be full of asbestos, But what about outside? Many garages built before the 1990’s are made of materials containing asbestos. Imitation brick cladding, fencing, carports and sheds are also on the list of places to start searching for asbestos products. These small buildings can be damaged easily, and this makes them a higher risk to the people living at the home.
What you should do about it?
If you suspect that you may have asbestos at your home and want to know the best ways to manage it, then you should have a licensed asbestos inspector come and assess your property. See the blog post on asbestos surveys for more information about this. The only way you can know for sure if a product is asbestos, is for materials to be tested in a laboratory. Hiring a licensed professional is the safest way to have samples taken. They will also be able to give suggestions on how to manage the materials. Some damaged asbestos may need to be contained or removed. Other asbestos in good condition can be sealed and left as it is. Your safety and that of the people who live and visit your home, should be the priority of all home owners.
