Asbestos In Residential Attics

Some contractors have a minimum fee of 1 500 3 000 no matter how small the job is.

Asbestos in residential attics.

Asbestos is a set of natural silicate minerals. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. In homes built prior to 1975 asbestos is most commonly found as thermal insulation on basement boilers and pipes. While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home john found piles of brown pebble like insulation.

In those rare cases the asbestos containing materials used for insulation were manufactured for some other purpose. These fibers consist of millions of microscopic fibrils. These are thin visible fibers. Until its international ban in 1979 it was used extensively in both commercial and residential construction.

These fibers are carcinogenic meaning they can cause cancer particularly in the lungs and stomach. Unfortunately it can also be found in a myriad of other household materials including. Asbestos was incorporated in the insulation of different types including attic insulation. Other than vermiculite it s actually quite rare to find thermal insulation in residential attics that contains asbestos.

The epa asbestos web site contains general information on asbestos sources exposure and health effects what to do if you suspect asbestos training and laws and regulations. Removing a 10 foot section of asbestos pipe insulation could be 400 650. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. And a complete removal in a 1 500 square foot home with asbestos everywhere walls floors ceilings attic roof pipes could be as high as 20 000 30 000.

He decided to replace the existing insulation with new fiberglass insulation to save money in the winter months. There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Asbestos in the home one of the places you might find asbestos in a home is the duct system.

Attic insulation in older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks. Asbestos is dangerous because it contains what is known as fibrous crystals.