When dealing with an existing home in Adelaide it is crucial to include an asbestos inspection.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre that found widespread use across Australia throughout the twentieth century in a wide range of applications in the home including fencing, roof sheeting, guttering, concrete formwork and much more. Asbestos has gone on to leave a deadly mark in history, posing a risk to both residents and workers living with asbestos containing materials.
With an estimated one third of all homes in Australia containing asbestos, inspections for the substance is needed before any renovation or maintenance work is commenced, locating the materials potential use throughout a building, its condition and how to move forward with planned works and removal.
Does all Asbestos need to removed?
Asbestos doesn’t always need to be removed. Hiring a professional inspector is the best way to find out not only if there is asbestos present but also the urgency that it needs to be dealt with. Some materials containing asbestos are relatively safe as long as they are properly maintained, and often don’t pose serious risks until they must be disturbed, in a renovation for example.
Common construction material where asbestos can be found during an inspection
- Insulation
- Weatherboards
- Roofing
- Flooring ceiling and roofing tiles
- Cement
- Ductwork and connectors
FAQ
What happens if a house has asbestos? Why do I need my home inspected for asbestos?
Often used in roof and ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, roof shingles, cement sheets and thousands of other products, asbestos used to be regarded as a material of choice for all manner of building materials.
These days, we have a better understanding of the significant health risks associated with exposure to asbestos. It is no longer used for construction – however, its legacy remains. It is thought that a third of all Australian homes contain asbestos. If your home was built or renovated in the 1980s or earlier, there’s a strong likelihood that it contains some form of asbestos-containing material (ACM).
An ACM is considered harmful if it is releasing asbestos dust and fibres into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested.
An asbestos inspection is recommended under the following circumstances:
- Your home was built before 1990 and you are planning renovation work.
- You are worried about the presence of asbestos materials in your home (e.g. because of old, worn and frayed tiles and insulation).
- You are buying a property that was built prior to 1990 and you want peace of mind on precisely where the asbestos is present – and whether it is safe. This is especially relevant if you are planning renovation work on the property.
How much does it cost to get an asbestos inspection?
The cost of an asbestos inspection depends on the characteristics of the property – and on where the material is located. You can talk to us about a no-obligation quote for your property here.
How safe or dangerous is the process?
The process of asbestos inspection and management is safe – so long as the job is left to the experts.
Accessing previously undisturbed areas and taking samples can in itself release dangerous fibres into the air. It also takes a trained eye to determine whether it’s best to remove an asbestos-containing material, to encapsulate it – or to leave it in the original area. In short, leave it to a trained inspector.