What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made of tiny silica fibers that almost look like cotton to the naked eye. There are six known types of asbestos, although Chrysotile, the “white asbestos,” is the most common that people see in their homes or places of business.
Until the late 20th century, asbestos was a common building material and insulator worldwide—until people discovered it was a deadly carcinogen. Then, this substance was phased out, but millions of homes and buildings still contained asbestos.
In the 20th century, asbestos was used in the following items within a home:
- Plaster
- Drywall
- Electrical and pipe insulation
- Gas masks and other air filters
- Vinyl sheets and tiles
- Roofing shingles
- Curtains
- Fire blankets
- Fireproofed clothing
- Brake pads
- Caulk
- Popcorn ceilings
- Several other applications
For those who own a building before 1980, it’s guaranteed to have asbestos in the home. Many structures built after that may contain asbestos, but this is rarely the case.
Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos is soft to the touch, but on a microscopic level, the silica fibers are like tiny knives. If inhaled or ingested in the body, it can get trapped in the body—most commonly the lungs—and this can produce ongoing damage to someone’s health. In particular, asbestos exposure can increase the risk of developing lung cancer and other types of cancer.
Despite how dangerous asbestos is, it has never been entirely eradicated from the United States. There are still millions of Americans every day that continue to come into contact with the dangerous substance. Because of this, tens of thousands of people still die from asbestos exposure. Because asbestos isn’t banned in America, it is the responsible property owners to eliminate asbestos wherever it may still be an issue. If you own a property that contains asbestos, it is a genuine health threat to anyone nearby. Therefore, you need an expert trained in asbestos removal to inspect your property, remediate, and prevent any other hazardous situations.
The Impact of Asbestos on Residential and Commercial Properties
When it comes to your residence or even a commercial space, the presence of asbestos is an unfortunate situation, and it can cause problems if not dealt with swiftly. Disturbed asbestos is the worst. This has been linked to asbestosis and mesothelioma, both lung diseases caused by breathing in airborne asbestos fibers.
When asbestos is airborne it poses big problem. This may occur in remodeling, demolition, or even material deterioration. Asbestos is a significant health hazard in your home or at your workplace. Trained professionals must remove it as soon as possible to ensure a safe environment for you, your family, or your business customers.
Our Asbestos Removal Process
If you suspect that you have found asbestos in your property or residence, do not go near it; instead, give us a call as soon as possible. ACM is highly experienced and only employs trained professionals for asbestos removal; we have a thorough process to ensure that your home or business is adequately taken care of. Here’s what we do for your home, property, or place of business to ensure that your location will be safe.
Step 1: Inspect and Test the Substance
The first step before scheduling a removal is to confirm that the substance is asbestos. ACM will inspect your property, test the substance, and report back to you with the results. If you have had the substance tested by another third party, ACM will still confirm that proper asbestos removal is required for your property with a thorough investigation of the space in question.
The inspection begins with a visual overview from our trained and licensed asbestos removal professionals. With over twenty years of experience in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and southern Maine industry, we ensure the safe removal of asbestos on the property after we properly detect any asbestos in your property.
There are different types of asbestos surveys that we perform, including:
- Asbestos Screening
- Limited Asbestos Survey
- Path of Construction/Pre-Renovation Asbestos Survey
- Pre-Demolition Asbestos Survey
The survey can take only a few hours or potentially days if there is a larger property to survey. Several samples will be taken from any relevant suspicious substances. The samples will take about a week to ten days for analysis, but then after that, it will be apparent if this is asbestos or another substance.
Step 2: Schedule Your Asbestos Removal
After confirmation that the substance in question is asbestos, our highly trained experts will use proper safety gear to remove the asbestos. The exact removal process will depend on what form it was found in. However, our standard protocol is to block off the area, completely seal it and make it airtight, and then work to ensure safe removal and containment.
After physical removal, there will also be high-powered air filters used to help remove any asbestos that might have become airborne during the removal process. In the end, we will ensure that your space is entirely asbestos-free. ACM will also schedule a follow-up to destroy the asbestos in a safe location to eliminate the potential for any further contamination.
Why You Need a Safe Removal Process for Asbestos
When it comes to your health and safety, asbestos is a danger to you, your loved ones, and your patrons if you find the substance in your place of work. However, even if you want to save money, asbestos removal is not as simple as it seems, and improper disposal could drastically affect your health and your space. Therefore, only highly qualified professionals should be in charge of asbestos removal.
ACM will handle your commercial or residential asbestos inspection and removal, and we have the experience you can trust to get the job done correctly. Don’t risk your health and safety. If you are located in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Southern Maine, give us a call today to get started and restore your home or business to a safe, healthy environment.
