Asbestos used to be a common building component material that was used as insulation in homes before 1990. Many older buildings across the GTA have asbestos inside their walls, attics, plumbing and other areas. Asbestos is considered a health hazard, and inhaling asbestos particles can lead to respiratory issues, disease and even cancer. If you suspect you have asbestos inside your home, it’s imperative that you have a professional inspect your home and carry out the asbestos abatement process. At Inch by Inch, we have a team of very qualified professionals who can career out asbestos testing in Toronto. Read more below about the asbestos testing and abatement process and how you can protect your home.
What Are the Dangers of DIY Asbestos Testing
Asbestos is considered a hazardous product, and inhaling asbestos fibres or materials can lead to cancer and death. Asbestos testing involves checking your walls, plumbing, attic and other areas for asbestos. It is very dangerous to conduct DIY asbestos testing as it’s possible to easily damage and crumble the asbestos inside your home, leading to particles floating around in the area. Asbestos testing often involves securing a location and using specialized equipment to prevent this from happening. If you suspect you have asbestos inside your home, ensure that you have a professional to carry out the test and confirm.
What Does An Asbestos Test Include?
Asbestos testing involves going around the house and looking for familiar places and areas where asbestos may have been used. For example, the attic is commonplace asbestos used as loose-fill insulation, which contained asbestos particles. Another area is the popcorn ceiling, which was predominantly made with asbestos before the 1990’s. It’s difficult to tell if a material is asbestos just by looking at it. An asbestos test includes taking samples and sending them to a lab to verify the materials. Asbestos tests are completed by certified professionals who know what material to look for and what pieces to take.
The Asbestos Abatement Process
The asbestos abatement process must be completed by a certified crew and is standard in how the work is to be carried out.
Testing
The first step to asbestos abatement is carrying out the testing process and verifying asbestos inside the home. Samples are taken of materials around the home, and a test is completed to verify if asbestos is involved. At Inch by Inch, we have a team of highly qualified professionals to safely and thoroughly test your home for asbestos.
Protective Clothing
When carrying out asbestos abatement, all workers are required to wear full PPE equipment to ensure that they don’t breathe in any asbestos. Their PPE equipment consists of a full hazmat suit to prevent any particles from latching onto their clothes and to prevent any inhalation.
Containment
When removing asbestos from an area, the room or space must be sealed off to prevent asbestos particles from spreading throughout the building or outside. All doors, windows and any penetrations are covered beforehand to ensure that the asbestos remains inside the area.
Asbestos Abatement
The process of asbestos abatement involves removing the drywall, insulation or any other material inside the home which may contain asbestos and disposing of it. Asbestos can not be thrown into the trash and must be handled carefully to a facility that can safely dispose of it.
Certifying Work
Once the abatement company finishes the process, they will provide a certificate certifying that all asbestos has been removed.
If you suspect that your home has asbestos or need a team to conduct asbestos abatement, contact us at Inch by Inch today!