Asbestos – Building a new home is a great thing, improving a home that you already have is another great way to get the fantastic look and feel that you want, without having to deal with building from scratch. The problem comes when you are remodeling older homes and the potentially dangerous materials that were used for building.
Issues to Watch Out For With Old Home Remodels
Remodeling older homes is a great way to save money, to get a fantastic amount of work already done, and to make use of a home that already exists. Often, it is simpler to remodel a home than it is to build from the ground up but that does not mean that there are not issues that come with remodels.
One of the biggest dangers of remodeling older homes is that many homes built before 1970 have the potential to have asbestos in the walls and in other building materials. So why is this so dangerous? This material is fire-retardant, it does help to keep fire from spreading within the building that it is used in. that however does not outweigh the risk.
Asbestos has the potential to cause a deadly type of cancer, mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are airborne, they are easily inhaled. When these fibers are inhaled they do embed deeply in the lining of the lungs which then causes cancer. This cancer is painful, it is drawn out, and it can cause trouble breathing, trouble being able to do normal day to day things, and even death in cases where the cancer is very progressed and is not treatable or overly manageable. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is painful and that does cause a great deal of overall pain and that can be avoided.
With remodeling older homes you can run into a great deal of danger and a great deal of cost associated with the removal of the problem before the project can go on and before the home can be finished. Asbestos removal can cost thousands of dollars as it does require special tools, methods, and professionals to remove the asbestos safely.
Dealing with Asbestos
If you are working in an area where asbestos is present is it important to take the time to truly understand the danger and to find out all you can about asbestos. Asbestos.net is a great resource for finding out all you need to know about asbestos, how to mitigate it, and what to do if you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos.
Equipped with the right information anyone can learn what the dangers of asbestos are, how to deal with it, and how to safely remove it from the homes that you are remodeling. Asbestos is something that is fairly common in older homes and buildings and as such, it is always a good idea to learn what you can about it. For those that are dealing with asbestos or the ill effects of asbestos the more you know the better.
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