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Do Home Inspections Check For Asbestos?
Asbestos is a rigid, shiny, highly toxic substance that is so strong that it can cause death by suffocation.
It was initially used as insulation in buildings, but many countries have banned its usage because it leads to lung cancer and mesothelioma when inhaled as dust.
However, in some countries, it’s still in use. Though generally banned throughout the world, one can find asbestos as fire retardant or as insulation for buildings.
Yes. Professional home inspectors check for asbestos, although they are not obliged to unless a seller requests it. They will, however, always warn the seller of any risks that may be present at the property that is closely related to asbestos.
A professional home inspector should thoroughly ensure that all asbestos are correctly and safely removed.
When you hire a home inspector for your next move, never forget about your family’s safety and well-being.
In older homes, one can find deadly asbestos fibers, especially basement and attic. But don’t panic.
Your home inspector should accurately tell you if there are any asbestos hazards at the property you are thinking of buying.
How Do Inspectors Test For Asbestos?
Inspectors test for asbestos by taking samples from different areas of the home, which they then send to a lab for testing.
If the sample has asbestos, inspectors will notify homeowners and recommend hiring a professional to remove it.
You must know what safety precautions to take before having any work done in your home, as there are often dangers associated with improper asbestos removal.
Hire a professional who can remove asbestos in an efficient, safe manner.
Do You Have To Disclose Asbestos When Selling A House?
No. The federal law does not compel the house seller to disclose asbestos. To disclose asbestos may cause the seller to be liable for damages.
For example, suppose an individual offers a home for sale, and there is asbestos on the premises.
Someone was to buy the home and subsequently develop an asbestos-related condition such as lung cancer, coughing up blood, etc.
In that case, the house buyer could seek legal action against both parties. The buyer would then sue both the house seller and the individual who caused their illness.
So, it’s essential to know that the seller is under no obligation to disclose the asbestos. If it becomes necessary to remove the asbestos material to sell one’s home.
Then you should call a licensed company to conduct the removal of the material.
It’s also crucial for anyone who has already purchased a home containing asbestos not to try taking action against the house’s previous owner.
It’s also crucial for anyone selling a home that contains asbestos not to disclose any information that may cause the buyer to take action against them.
If a seller or buyer of the home realizes the presence of asbestos, the best course of action to take would be to contact a company specializing in removing asbestos.
Do All Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos?
Yes. Popcorn ceilings have 1-10% asbestos, a known carcinogen. Popcorn ceilings comprise asbestos fibers in a cement-like paste.
If your health is a significant concern for you, it’s essential to avoid all popcorn ceilings.
Keep a high level of vigilance when cleaning up or remodeling any room with this type of ceiling because one can inhale dust particles from some types and become toxic over time.
Here is a list of popcorn ceilings with and without asbestos:
Without asbestos: Architectural Surfaces, Fabrics & Composite Surfaces, Gypsum Board, Interior Closets, Masonry, Non-Asbestos Cement Board, Panelized Walls & Ceilings.
With asbestos: All other types of ceilings, including popcorn or drywall.
Can You Side Over Asbestos?
No. It’s not possible to “side over asbestos.” People usually mean “side over asbestos” because you can successfully evict someone from your property for non-payment of rent.
Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with the safe removal of asbestos.
The only way to deal with asbestos is to take it away. If you leave it there, this will become illegal dumping and cause a danger to anybody who subsequently owns the property.
The actual cost of the clearance might be far more than the non-payment of rent.
Concerning a mortgage application, lenders want to see that the property is free from asbestos.
They are not prepared to accept a valuation by a surveyor who has carried out an inspection and taken samples but not done clearance.
So, with a mortgage application, any surveyor inspecting asbestos needs to ensure that they finish clearance before any valuation.
A surveyor must inspect asbestos before clearance because sometimes, you can find asbestos hidden behind skirting boards or in gaps between the floorboards.
They would not discover this during an inspection or missed if they did clearance first.
You have to remove asbestos before you engage a surveyor to carry out the valuation, and you have to be sure that it is safe. Asbestos can be dangerous if found while clearing.
In particular, people who work in the building should wear overalls and gloves and wash their faces with water if exposed to asbestos.
In addition, they should take all precautions when carrying out any demolition of ceilings or floors because this could bring asbestos dust into the air and potentially pose a respiratory hazard.
Can You Stucco Over Asbestos Siding?
Yes. Siding can be stuccoes over the asbestos siding, but the stucco will need sealing to avoid the asbestos particles from dispersing into the air.
Asbestos-siding removal is a complicated, multi-step process only professionals should do.
Removing asbestos siding and replacing it with stucco can make a home more valuable and appealing.
Using stucco as a siding material is an excellent alternative to asbestos. The homeowner can repaint the stucco and add texture and custom colors.
In addition, there are many styles of stucco homes available, including gable and Spanish styles.
Sealing is vital when applying stucco over older buildings with asbestos siding on them. Stucco is a cement-based material containing tiny, dangerous asbestos fibers.
If you leave the stucco on an older home with asbestos siding, these tiny particles would be immediately released into the air.
You would need to seal the stucco over the asbestos siding to prevent this from happening.
How Do You Check A House For Asbestos?
You can check for asbestos by examining the list of materials used to make your home. If you know what materials they used.
You can check to see if they contain asbestos. Examples of some common materials with asbestos are:
- Plaster
- Painted drywall on walls or ceilings
- Textured paint on walls or ceilings
- Asbestos paper used under vinyl flooring
- Pipe insulation that contains more than 7% asbestos
If you can’t find this information, the EPA recommends home testing for asbestos by a qualified inspector. If there is no asbestos present, the home is safe for habitation.
However, if asbestos is present, they should remove it before renovating.
How Can I Test My Ceiling For Asbestos?
You can test your ceiling for asbestos by shaking it. The best way for one to do this is to hold your arm up so that the ceiling shakes with your hand.
Then move your hand slowly back and forth across the entire surface of the ceiling. If you hear a rattling noise, asbestos is on the material’s surface.
If there’s no sound, then it’s safe for you to sit or stand on it without fear of harming yourself from inhaling asbestos fibers.
Remember that if it’s in the sheetrock, you can’t determine if it’s asbestos or not by testing it.
Your best bet is to keep away from the sheetrock and always have it removed or sealed by a professional.
Can One Sell A House With An Asbestos Garage?
Yes. Although you may not want your garage to become the next asbestos housing crisis, selling a house with an asbestos garage in some states is possible.
To help you prepare if you’re ready to sell your home with an asbestos garage, I have inscribed a list of the top nine steps to take before putting your property on the market.
- Add an asbestos warning label to your garage.
Do not hide your asbestos. Asbestos was once used in construction materials, particularly building insulation and floor tiles.
Even if the building inspector does not show up at your house, snooping neighbors will see the asbestos warning label on your garage and call it to the attention of homeowners insurance companies.
- Get a second opinion
Show your property to an asbestos inspector before listing it. You cannot be sure that your garage is asbestos-free unless an inspector has tested it.
You may need to remove some of your old carpets for the inspection, so do this first and consider hiring a professional cleaning service after the fact.
Since removing the chemicals yourself could be dangerous.
- Remove any asbestos from your garage that you can on your own
It would be best to remove the asbestos in your garage before listing your home for sale. If you can safely remove the asbestos yourself, it would be a brilliant idea to do so.
Some tasks you may do yourself include:
Getting rid of old carpeting containing asbestos and installing a new carpet.
Ripping up old linoleum flooring.
Removing or replacing any ceiling tiles made with asbestos-containing material (ACM).
- Create a list of all items you will need to remove
Asbestos removal can be a little tricky and time-consuming, but it’s worth it if you want to avoid a lot of hassle when getting your property listed with an asbestos garage.
Aside from having the tools needed for asbestos removal, you’ll also need your protective equipment (gloves, masks, and eye protection),
As well as some cold water buckets and soap to clean up the mess that inevitably results from asbestos removal.
- Find a qualified asbestos removal contractor
Ensure that your contractor has a license and insurance.
The EPA recommends you choose a contractor certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) or the state in which they operate.
You should also make sure the company is correctly registered with your state’s environmental agency;
And that they are familiar with any local building codes regarding the asbestos removal process, disposal of asbestos, and cleanup processes.
Can One Put Vinyl Siding Over Asbestos Shingles?
Yes. You can completely cover your house with vinyl siding and leave the asbestos shingles on top. Still, there are some crucial things to remember before taking the plunge.
This is a process that you should only attempt if you have a lot of experience working with asbestos shingles.
You should also note that this project will not remove all the asbestos from your home.
It may remain in small amounts around vents, pipes, and other areas that you cannot cover with vinyl siding.
For this project, you will need to:
1) Order your siding in a large enough quantity that you have cover for the entire house.
Asbestos shingles look very similar to other types of shingles, so it’s critical that the vinyl siding matches precisely.
If you have a tight budget, ordering too little may cause having to pay for new siding or hire someone to replace it all again later down the line.
2) Decide what kind of siding you want to order- the most popular choices are vinyl, wood, aluminum, or composite.
Under certain circumstances, asbestos shingles can damage vinyl or composite siding.
Remember that you now have only one layer (the asbestos shingle) protecting your home from air and water intrusion.
If you decide to use wood siding or aluminum siding, pieces of those materials can become dislodged and cause damage to the house below them.
3) Contact a local asbestos sampling and remediation company to get your home tested.
Asbestos is a serious problem, and you must know precisely where it is- you can use your universal insulation foam (UIF) testing kit to find out exactly where it is.
If you are looking for contractors specializing in replacing asbestos shingles, check out this listing on Angie’s List.
4) After the asbestos is completely removed, choose a supplier for the vinyl siding.
This is an essential step in this process- the worker who cuts and adheres to the vinyl must be well trained to handle asbestos shingles safely.
Asbestos can be dangerous, so you must decide precisely what type of siding you want to use and who will install it.
5) Install your new siding in your home- only qualified professionals must do all of this with the appropriate equipment.
It would be the best thing if you did your measuring and cutting, but don’t do any of the installations at this point.
Asbestos shingles can be dangerous if you don’t know how to use the proper equipment, so it’s best if a professional handle the job.
Installing other layers, such as drywall, is unnecessary after removing all the existing shingles and replacing them with vinyl.
By keeping everything functional and removing only the asbestos shingles, you are protecting yourself from asbestos fibers that can make you seriously ill.
You need to be aware of what asbestos shingles consist of and how to use them.
Knowing that it is possible to replace these materials is essential for both your health and your property value.
Conclusion
Asbestos is an insidious material that can build up your property and cause potentially dangerous problems.
It’s essential to be proactive about removing this substance before it brings you issues in the future, so don’t wait to get started on it.
At the very least, know what materials are harmful to you and how they’re related to your health- asbestos removal is essential for protecting yourself from the risk of exposure.
Ensure that your contractor is already registered and certified with the government.
Once you have removed the asbestos, it’s time to worry about replacing your vinyl siding and other materials.
