It is for all you homeowners or renters of Vancouver! If you read this, you are probably interesting in a pretty unappetizing matter: asbestos in flooring. It is a word that’s somewhat ominous, so don’t worry! We break it down for you in simple words.
Asbestos is a mineral, occurring naturally, which was widely applied in construction materials because of their fire retardant properties and inexpensiveness. You may find asbestos dust sitting anywhere in your home, from the ceiling coatings to boiler flue pipes or ducts, and even floor tiles and cement panels, among many other protective materials in fire protection. Though it was commended for its durability and heat resistance, health risks because of the exposure to it have made it lose the good books in new constructions. If your house was constructed before the years 1990, good chances are that some of these materials may still be present in a building, especially on the flooring.
However, if the asbestos-containing materials are damaged or deteriorated, those tiny fibres can enter the air. The fibers are absolutely invisible to the naked eye. Inhaling fibres over long periods of time leads to severe health issues such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. This is why it’s essential you learn how to identify asbestos in your flooring and why you must get professionals if there’s a confirmed existence of this dangerous material. So, let’s learn more about asbestos removal in Vancouver!
What is Asbestos Flooring?
Asbestos was used as a building material before doctors knew the risks for health. Its form resembled fibers, which made it heat-resistant, making it suitable to be used as building insulation. It is until the professionals in 1970 identified the carcinogenic nature of asbestos.
Health Risks of Asbestos
With asbestosis exposures, asbestos fibers often end up lodged in the lungs, causing inflammation in lung tissues. Such exposure to asbestos has been medically linked with the following health problems seriously:
- Asbestosis
- Chest pain
- Coughing
- Difficulty in breathing
- Mesothelioma
- Multiple types of cancer, including lung cancer
The disease occurs only with persons who come into contact with asbestos; not every individual exposed to it. Probability of illness varies with several factors, for example: Does the exposed party have pre-existing conditions? How long would the exposure be? Rate at which asbestos leaks into the air.
If you suspect that you are harboring asbestos in the flooring in your home, you should take immediate steps to confirm it through a lab test. Then you can start taking remediation steps-such as the replacement of flooring material.
How to Detect Asbestos in Your Flooring
Discovering asbestos in your flooring is not exactly the easiest thing to determine at first glance, but there are ways to determine if your home might contain this dangerous material. So here’s a friendly guide to help you through the process:
- Age of Your Home: Generally, if your home was built before the 1990s, it is worth checking further.
- Identify the flooring material: Vinyl tiles and linoleum are the most common sources of asbestos. If your flooring is installed in a pattern that appears to have been done between the 1970s and 1980s, you should get it checked.
- look for any signs of damage. If you have damaged floors made up of asbestos, then it would release asbestos into the air. It would be perfect to check it on cracks, tears, or peeling.
- Don’t Mess With It: If you believe that your floor has asbestos, do not disturb it. Disturbing the substance will put dangerous fibers into the air, thus increasing chances of exposure.
- Book a Professional Asbestos Inspection Today! A simple way to prove that you have asbestos in your floors is by hiring a professional for asbestos inspection. These experts will find a safe method of taking samples and sending them to a lab for testing.
How to Remove Asbestos Floor Tiles Safely
It is always a good idea to let asbestos flooring removal be carried out by asbestos-abatement professionals. Employees are expected to wear equipment to prevent exposure to asbestos, and even in a controlled operation, they must exercise extra care to prevent the complete fogging of a structure.
In all provinces, the law requires experienced asbestos removal experts in handling asbestos removal in commercial buildings.
Some allow private house owners to take on the task of removing asbestos materials themselves but never encourage DIY removal of asbestos.
Prior to when you remove the asbestos floorings for yourself, you should check with your state and city government on the rules for the removal and disposal of asbestos. You will have to take precautions like these experts in case you are not to risk danger from you or your household.
Why Professional Asbestos Removal is Essential in Vancouver
If your flooring contains asbestos, you would need to seek the services of Vancouver asbestos removal firms. Here’s why:
- Expertise and Experience : The professional asbestos removalists have been trained and licensed to execute safe removal practices on asbestos. They are experienced individuals with knowledge to identify asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and check the level of risk involved. Their expertise guarantees the removal process is executed efficiently and effectively, which reduces the exposure to asbestos.
- Safety Protocols : Professionals also observe certain measures that ensure their protection as well as those who happen to be within the premises. Some of these include the use of particular equipment, personal protective equipment, and ensuring the asbestos fibers do not spread. With this in mind, the measures reduce the risk of contamination and exposure as well.
- Legal Compliance : Government authorities regulate the handling of asbestos removal, and practicing removalists are aware of the regulations. As such, removal through this professional means happens in a manner that obeys all legal ramifications. It is both a means of health security and a precaution against probable legal wrangles arising from unprofessional methods in handling asbestos.
- Proper disposal : Disposal of the asbestos-contaminated products is another very essential component of removal. Professionals, who are well trained, collect the asbestos wastes, and ensure proper disposal in hazardous materials facilities that are fully equipped to handle hazardous wastes; improper waste disposal might cause environmental contamination and increased Health risks of asbestos exposure for the public.
What to Expect During Professional Asbestos Removal
If you decide to go ahead with professional asbestos removal, here’s what you can expect during the process:
- Sealing of Contaminated Area Process of Removing Asbestos : One of the most indispensable steps of any asbestos abatement procedure is the complete and thorough sealing of the area that has been contaminated. Asbestos-containing materials are easily disturbed while removing them, and when such disturbance takes place, asbestos fibers can be released into the surrounding air. He should seal off and close the site where asbestos is to be removed using thick, plastic sheets as well as negative HEPA filtration. This sealing process will definitely ensure protection to you and your family while working in that process.
- Complete Decontamination of Materials : Once your home is completely sealed, your asbestos abatement contractor will start the careful removal of the asbestos materials from your house. With insulation, flooring, and everything in between, there are numerous potential asbestos contamination sources throughout your house. Once removed from your house, asbestos materials are placed in sealed disposal containers where they must stay during removal from the house.
- Thorough Cleaning of the Contaminated Area : Asbestos removal will conclude with a thorough cleaning of any asbestos left on your property. During asbestos removal, your abatement team will use special vacuums, filtration tools, and other cleaners to painstakingly remove any trace of asbestos fibers from your home. After all this, the asbestos contamination will be confirmed to be fully eradicated through the implementation of an air test. You can then go back to your home for your day to day activities.
- Occupation: The occupation of the area will then be ensured after a final inspection that will confirm if all the asbestos was removed and that the place is safe for re-occupation.
Conclusion
Asbestos in flooring is a serious concern, but it needn’t give you a panic attack. You can have an understanding of how to detect it and the importance of professional removal to go about preventing more health dangers for you and your loved ones. If you suspect that your flooring contains asbestos, don’t wait around. Schedule a Professional Asbestos Inspection Today!!
Remember, your health and safety are worth it. Let’s keep our beautiful Vancouver homes safe and sound! If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here to assist you in finding your way through that tough subject with ease. Take care, all!
