For many years, I had no idea what a damage contractor even was. However, all that changed when a pan of hot oil caught fire in my kitchen and set fire to my house. Half of the property was completely destroyed by the fire but thankfully, my family made it out OK. Once the fire service had finished doing what they needed to do, I called in a team of damage contractors who helped to clean up the property and to demolish the parts which could not be saved. I have since rebuilt the house on the same plot of land.
Asbestos is a controlled substance that needs special attention during removal and subsequent disposal due to the many health and environmental hazards. In Australia, asbestos was banned entirely in 2003, but it is still present in some homes that were built long before the ban came into force. However, homeowners wishing to remove asbestos from their property have to seek the services of a licensed contractor to safely dispose of this material in special landfills. Here are some top tips when you want to rid your home of asbestos.
Where Asbestos can Be Found -- Before embarking on an asbestos removal project, you must first have an idea of where this material can be found in your home. Asbestos lurks in almost every place in your home, especially those constructed between the 1940s through the 1970s. Typical materials to look for traces of asbestos include, but not limited to plaster, air conditioning duct insulation, basement boilers and pipes, ceiling tiles, roof shingles, vinyl tile floors, blown-in attic insulation and caulking. The best way to know for sure if your home contains asbestos is to hire an asbestos building inspector to take samples for testing.
Safety First -- During removal, asbestos dust and fibres can be released into the air and come into contact with people in and around your home. Therefore, it is vital for homeowners to leave only authorised personnel on site. It is a must for one to wear respirators and protective clothing to prevent contact with asbestos fibres and dust. It is also good practice to put signs at the site indicating that asbestos removal work is in progress. Yellow stickers should be placed on all asbestos-containing materials for ease of identification and safe removal. At no point should you attempt to kick, smash or break any content containing asbestos because the dust and fibres, which are invisible to the human eye, can contaminate the entire clearing site, and thus, pose a health hazard.
Certified Asbestos Removal Professional -- After testing samples from your home and determining that indeed there is asbestos, then an expert is best suited to remove the hazardous material from your home. The contractor will use specialised equipment to remove asbestos while keeping your home and neighbourhood safe. Notably, ensure that the expert has a valid working license to conduct such works. After removal and disposal, the contractor can have air tests performed to guarantee that your home is safe for habitation. Working with a professional commercial asbestos disposal contractor is recommended to leave your home compliant and asbestos-free.
Share11 July 2019
