Things to watch out for - From a qualified Asbestos inspector

The number one mistake that is typically made by a building owner is to assume that there is no asbestos because a building is newer than 1980. It is true that asbestos was used a great deal in the 1950’s and later and that use decreased over time. There were several court proceedings held in the 1960’s and 1970’s that examined the risks of hazardous materials in buildings, so asbestos was rarely used in large amounts in homes built after 1980. It is not true that no asbestos was used or that it was even illegal in all cases.

Asbestos may be present in some imported building products

The second mistake often made is to assume that asbestos was eventually completely banned and that it would not be present in something made in the present-day. Asbestos is not mined in the United States today, but it is still available for import and it is used in some products.

Asbestos inspections may not be done if a renovation is a “little job”

This issue is quite common and serious — building owners who know there may be asbestos present in a building may not have an asbestos inspection done if they are only doing minor renovations. With the popularity of “Do it Yourself” projects and online videos showing people how to do small home and office reconstruction, some people assume that a minor project will cause no harm and just jump in. In reality, the safest route is to have an asbestos inspection done before doing any sort of renovation of any building. Not doing so may or may not lead to a health hazard, but if they do the consequences can lead to court cases or worse.

Substandard removal — get a certified asbestos inspector

After asbestos testing is done and a building owner has discovered that asbestos is present, a real DIY fan may think it’s possible to just gear-up and remove the asbestos personally. The removal of asbestos should never be done by anyone but a professional who has been carefully trained in the safe way to do the removal. Researching asbestos removal online is a useful endeavor, but the actual process should never be attempted by someone without extensive experience.