4 Signs You May Have Asbestos in Your Home | Billy.com

When you’re checking for issues around your house, keep an eye out for these four signs you may have asbestos in your home. Remember, you shouldn’t remove any toxic household waste without consulting a professional removal service, as exposure to toxic materials could lead to health problems if you try to get rid of the materials yourself.

The Home Is Older

Many older homes are gorgeous from the outside, but issues can prevent anyone from living inside. For example, asbestos was once a popular insulation material used to trap dirt and keep warm air inside. However, scientists discovered that airborne asbestos particles created severe health problems, such as breathing issues. Since this fact wasn’t determined until sometime after 1970, no one saw an issue with using the material in houses built before then. Therefore, if your home is older, be aware that it could contain asbestos.

The Roof Is Corrugated

Many older corrugated roofs were made with asbestos, since it locked in heat and kept out unwanted weather elements. It also prevented homes from catching ablaze.

The best way to tell if your roof is corrugated is to look for shingles made from cement. The cement was made to resemble grooves and ridges. Furthermore, you can hire a professional roofer to properly inspect and change out your roof to prevent potential asbestos exposure.

There’s Vinyl Flooring

Old vinyl tiles did more than trap heat; they also added plenty of aesthetic value to a home. Vinyl flooring remains popular today because of economic value and durability, but vinyl tiles, in particular, contain a high amount of asbestos, which increases health risks for all household members. If you must tear out your floors due to asbestos risks but still want the look and feel of vinyl, try out vinyl sheets, which don’t contain any asbestos—it’s only vinyl tiles that contain it.

You Don’t Know the Insulation Type

It can be hard to tell what type of insulation your home has. Before you inspect the walls and pipework yourself, have a professional come in to thoroughly evaluate your home. After the evaluation, your inspector will let you know what they find and how you can safely move forward. If you have one of these three types of insulation, there’s a chance it contains asbestos:

• Vermiculite insulation
• Cellulose insulation
• Zonolite insulation

Keep everyone in the home safe by checking for signs of asbestos in your home, and start thinking about contacting a professional asbestos removal service that can safely remove the material without any chance of exposure. After it removes the asbestos, you can breathe easier and use materials that won’t harm your health.