During the fifties, asbestos building material was widely used in home construction. Asbestos was used in many different building materials because it was cheap and an excellent fire retardant. Most commonly it was used in siding material as the preferred siding rather than wood siding. It was inexpensive as well as durable. There are thousands of homes that still have this siding installed. In addition, asbestos was used in other home building materials that included insulation, vinyl floor tiles, roofing materials, drywall, and textured ceiling paints.

As a result, many home builders and homeowners were and still are exposed to the health hazards of asbestos, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

Unfortunately, asbestos is a natural mineral fiber and when it is disturbed, microscopic thin crystal like asbestos particles are released into the air. Once in the air, the suspended particles can be inhaled and ingested. The result is that the particles can become lodged in the lungs. Once lodged in the lungs, various forms of lung illnesses and cancers can occur.

Checking for asbestos in your home is important if you plan to disturb the materials that may have asbestos in them. If your home was built before the late 1970s, it is highly likely that asbestos was used in some of the building material. In itself, the asbestos material is not necessarily dangerous if the asbestos materials are left undisturbed or are encapsulated in another safe building product. Also, small exposures to asbestos particles will not necessarily results in lung diseases. Typically, prolonged exposure to asbestos particles is what causes the various lung diseases.

If you live in an older home you should have it check for asbestos before beginning a DIY remodeling project. Hire a licensed asbestos testing firm or asbestos abatement firm to check your home before starting a remodeling project. They have the skills and tools to safely check your home for asbestos.

The most likely areas that you will find asbestos building material is in the basement and ceiling finishes. Old insulated plumbing pipes and furnaces were commonly insulated in asbestos insulation.

After determining if there is any building materials in your home that has asbestos in them, you can take the necessary action to eliminate it or you can leave the asbestos where it is as long as you don’t plan on disturbing it. If you wish to remove the asbestos, abatement contractors are qualified to remove it safely.

See related DIY construction articles:

Brick Veneer Siding

Building Your Own Sauna

Building a Floor On top Of Concrete

Building a Half Wall