What Homeowners Should Know About Asbestos

What Homeowners Should Know About Asbestos

Because of how infamous asbestos has become as a hazardous material, you would think the use of asbestos would have been completely outlawed. Unfortunately, asbestos is still legal. To protect yourself and your family, allow us to teach you what homeowners should know about asbestos so you can more easily identify and address it before it becomes a bigger problem.

What Is Asbestos?

Before the 1980s, asbestos was a widely used building material in homes because it’s a naturally occurring mineral composed of thin, heat-resistant fibers. This heat resistance and composition made asbestos effective as insulation in walls, floor tiles, cement, and pipes. It can be challenging to determine if your insulation has asbestos, but a common sign of asbestos is if your insulation contains spindly white fibers that resemble a spider’s web. If you suspect asbestos in your home, consider purchasing an asbestos testing kit.

Ready to find your dream home in Denver?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents.

How Asbestos Affects Health

The two predominant health risks of asbestos are asbestosis and mesothelioma. These are both respiratory diseases that affect the lungs and airways. Asbestosis scars the lungs and restricts breathing, affecting the body’s ability to intake oxygen. Symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and dry coughing, in addition to enlarged fingertips and a loss of appetite.

Mesothelioma is worse, as it’s much more fatal. A mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that begins to form along and around the lungs, heart, or abdomen when asbestos fibers are inhaled. The symptoms of mesothelioma are nearly identical to asbestosis, but a diagnosis is guaranteed to be fatal.

Ready to find your dream home in Denver?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents.

Common Spots Asbestos Is Found

Now that you’re better aware of the dangers, the most important thing homeowners should know about asbestos is where it is commonly found in the home. This knowledge enables you to thoroughly inspect and address any issues quickly. Asbestos can be found in locations as common as cement, as out-of-the-way as roof shingles, or as unlikely as steam pipes. However, it is most often found in spray-on insulation. 

However, if it is present here, it may be throughout the house. So, how do you get rid of asbestos? First, we should stress that you should never try to remove asbestos alone. It’s simply too risky, especially if you don’t have the right personal protection equipment. Make sure you always contact professionals for the removal of asbestos.

Contact Kenna Real Estate

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Post a Comment